Thank you to all of the men and women of the Armed Forces who have protected us and continue to do so every single day. Always Remember. Never Forget.

Arlington National Cemetery

Hazel Adella Williams Obituary

Today’s obituary is of my great grand aunt, Hazel Adella Williams (Wilson), the wife of Ottis Ray (O. R.) “Doc” Williams (see obituary below), and was featured in the 3/10/1981 edition of the Lancaster Eagle Gazette:

Mrs. Hazel A. Williams, 83, of 603 E. Sixth Ave., died Monday in Lancaster-Fairfield County Hospital.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the Order of the Eastern Star, M. Z. Kreider Chapter 145.

She is survived by her daughter, Mrs. William (Betty) Echstenkamper, Frankfort, Ky.; one son, William Fred Williams, Milton, Ohio; one grandson, William Ray Echstenkamper, Shelbyville, Ky.; one sister, Mrs. William R. (Ruth) Leyshon, Lancaster; one brother, Hiram Wilson, Lancaster; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, O. R. Williams, and one sister, Cassie Frey.

Funeral services will be Thursday, 1:30 p.m., in the chapel of the Frank E. Smith Funeral Home; the Rev. George S. Brown officiating; burial in Elmwood Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home Wednesday, 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr. – Ralph Scott Williams Sr. (brother-in-law of Hazel Adella Williams)

Waits Family Portrait

Picture of the Waits family taken approx. 1919-1920 in Ohio.  Pictured (from left to right): *Ralph Scott Williams Sr., Nellie Ruth Waits, William “Bill” Henry Waits, May Belle Waits (Hatch), Elmer Hedges, Grace O. Waits (maiden name unknown), Paul Allen Hedges, Perry Robert Waits, Lydia May Hedges (Waits), Nellie Rowena Hedges, Mellie Waits (Milligan), Charles Richard “Dick” Waits, Florence Waits, Harmon Clay “H. C.” Waits, Mary Louise Waits (Morris), Eli D. Waits, *Sallie Anna Wilcox (Waits), May Waits, Nellie Alberta Waits, Jennie Waits.

* Unconfirmed

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr. – Nellie Ruth Williams (Waits)

O. R. "Doc" Williams Obituary

Through the kindness and generosity of Charlotte Dittmar, a Lancaster, Ohio resident, I have recently received copies of several obituaries from the local newspapers.  I will try to feature an obituary daily, until they are all posted.

Today’s obituary is of my great grand uncle, Ottis Ray (O. R.) “Doc” Williams, and was featured in the 6/2/1965 edition of the Lancaster Eagle Gazette:

O. R. ‘Doc’ Williams Dies; Longtime Furniture Dealer

O. R. “Doc” Williams, 71, of 603 E. Sixth Ave. and a longtime furniture and appliance dealer in Lancaster, died Tuesday 5 p.m. in Lancaster-Fairfield County Hospital.

He boasted more than 40 years experience as owner of his own business in various locations in the city starting in 1924 and was also an employee of the former Wiseman and Harpster and Helser stores.

During World War II, Mr. Williams was coordinator of civilian defense. His affliliations included First Methodist Church, U.C.T., Fraternal Order of Police Associates, Sheriffs Assn., Moose Lodge, K. of P. Lodge, Tri-County Sportsmen’s Club,Valley View Golf Club, state and county Democratic clubs. He served as assistant sergeant at arms in the Ohio House of Representatives 1959-1960.

Williams leaves his wife, Hazel; a son, William F. Williams, Tipp City, O.; a daughter, Mrs. William Echstenkamper, Frankfort, Ky.; grandson, William Ray Echstenkamper; a sister, Mrs. Essie Mast, north of Lancaster; a brother, Ralph Williams, Columbus.

Funeral, Friday 10:30 a.m., Frank E. Smith Funeral Home, Rev. George W. Herd officiating; burial Elmwood Cemetery. Friends may call at Smith’s after 7 p.m. today.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr. – Ralph Scott Williams Sr. (brother of Ottis Ray Williams)

Micky and Beth Cross Wedding Picture

Many thanks to Beth Cross (Hargrave) for providing this photo of the Davis family, taken at her wedding to Micky Cross on 5/21/1977.

Front Row:  Steve Jackson, James Davis, Bobby Harris, Mike Davis (Brian Davis on knee), Johnny Davis, Allan Davis, Mike Hargrave, Paul Hargrave

Middle Row:  Pat Davis, Lynda Hargrave, Virginia Bauer (Davis), Georgia Davis (Barlow), Judy Kay Harris (Davis), Chris Davis (Williams), Annell Hargrave (Davis),  Anna (Hargrave family), Margie Hargrave, Beth Cross (Hargrave), Micky Cross, John Hatridge (groomsman)

Third Row:  Stew Bauer,  Dolly Jackson (McClinton), Ivan Neal Jackson Sr., Woody Davis, Margie Davis (Johnson), Mary Voight (Hargrave family)

James Isaac Kirkpatrick Military Headstone

James Isaac Kirkpatrick, my 4th great grandfather, was born 10/13/1827 in Tennessee.  He later moved to Cherokee County, Texas and married Martha Margaret Fulton there on 12/9/1949.  “Isaac”, as he was known, lived in Cherokee County the rest of his life.  He prospered as a farmer, and, according to the 1860 United States Federal Census, owned a 12 year-old female house slave.

Isaac served as a Private in the 17th Texas Cavalry (Confederate States of America) during the Civil War.  He passed away on 4/15/1912 at the age of 84 and was buried in Union Grove Cemetery in Jacksonville, Texas. 

To this point, I have been unable to locate any information on his lineage.  I hope to visit the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research in the near future, with the hopes of uncovering more information.

Brian Davis – James Michael Davis – James Nead Davis – Marjorie Leaine Davis (Kirkpatrick) – Woodie Tarrant Kirkpatrick – John Marion Kirkpatrick – James Isaac Kirkpatrick

My wife and I recently returned from a cruise aboard the Disney Wonder.  We had a “wonderful” time aboard the ship and visiting Blue Lagoon Island and Castaway Cay in the Bahamas.  Click here to view the picture set from our vacation.  I’m refreshed and ready to do some genealogy!

My aunt, Terry Kaiser (Williams), contributed these photos of my grandfather’s (Ralph Scott Williams Jr.) United States Naval Training Station class, taken 11/17/1942 in Great Lakes, Illinois.  He is in the second row, second from-the-right. The original photo was torn in-half and had considerable damage as can be seen in the above pictures.  I decided to have the photos retouched and put back together.  I contacted Miles Abernathy at 399Retouch, asking if this could be done.  For an affordable price and fast turnaround time, I thought they did a great job.

Ralph Scott Williams Jr. Retouched USNTS Picture

Now, I need to find a reputable online professional photo printing service to print copies (7 1/2 inches x 19 3/4 inches).  This picture will look great framed and be a nice addition to our family picture collection.

Update: I had to resize and crop the image to 5 inches x 15 inches. I used MPix to print and ship the picture.  Hopefully, it will look nice when it arrives.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr.

Many thanks to Margie Richardson for sending the above pictures of my grand uncles, Woody Burl Davis and Munden Paul Hargrave.  It is a great starting point for my research into their military service.  I hope to meet with Woody’s daughters, Judy Kay and Cheryl, next month.  Margie will send more info on Paul’s service in the near future.  Woody served with the United States Marine Corps and Paul with the United States Navy, both during World War II.

Brian Davis – James Michael Davis – James Nead Davis (brother of Woody Burl Davis)

Brian Davis – James Michael Davis – James Nead Davis (sister of Annell Hargrave (Davis)/brother in-law of Munden Paul Hargrave)

Sherman Harry Davis Pocket Watch

This pocket watch was given to me by my uncle, Sherman Patrick Davis, when I graduated from the University of Delaware in 1999.  It belonged to my great grandfather, Sherman Harry Davis.  He passed away 5/5/1992 in Tyler, Smith County, Texas.  I am lucky to have this among my family belongings.  I’ve kept it locked away for many years and will pass it down to my son when he graduates from Texas A&M University in 2027.  If you have any family treasures you’d like to contribute, please take a picture of the item and email it to me.

Brian Davis – James Michael Davis – James Nead Davis – Sherman Harry Davis