Mary Louise Waits (Morris) Obituary

This obituary is of my 3rd great grandmother, Mary Louise Waits (Morris), and was featured in the 7/14/1922 edition of the Lancaster Daily Gazette:

Mary Louise, daughter of Henry and Lydia Morris was born Dec. 20, 1851 at West Rushville Ohio. Died at Drinkle July 10, 1922, age 70 years, six months and 21 days. She was uinted (sic) in marriage to Eli Waits October 28, 1869. To this union were born four sons, Perry, Clint, and Clay of Lancaster, William of Columbus and one daughter, Mrs. May Hedges. Four sisters, one brother, thirteen grandchildren, one great grandchild and a host of friends mourn her loss.

During the pastorale of Rev. Montgomery, thirty-eight years ago, she united with the Zion United Brethren Church. Since that time she has been an earnest Christian and a faithful consistent member of the church. She was a good neighbor and a loving mother and her departure saddens many hearts.

The funeral was held from the home and was largely attended, showing the esteem in which she was held. Rev. Chester E. Tulga was in charge of the services. Resolutions of apreciation (sic) and sympathy from the Ladies’ Aid Society were read.

Her body was laid to rest in the Stoutsville cemetery, there to await the morning of the resurrection.

We desire to thank those who so kindly assisted through the illness and death of our dear wife and mother, Rev. Tulga for his words of comfort and Mr. Crite the funeral director for his good service and kindess.

Mr. Eli Waits and children 7-14

Many thanks to Charlotte Dittmar for all of her assistance in locating and mailing all of the Lancaster, Ohio obituaries. She has been an enormous help with my research.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr. – Nellie Ruth Williams (Waits) – Harmon Clay Waits – Mary Louise Waits (Morris)

This obituary is of my great grand uncle, Charles Richard “Dick” Waits. At the time, he was the 90th Fairfield County, Ohio serviceman killed in action, and the 109th war death from that county since Pearl Harbor. The article was featured in the 4/20/1945 edition of the Lancaster Eagle Gazette:

Three Lancastrians Lose Lives At War

… T-5 Corporal Charles Richard (Dick) Waits, 25, husband of Mrs. Margaret Ann Waits, 111 North Pearl-av, and only son of Mr. and Mrs. Harmon C. Waits, 702 Eastwood-av. A tank gunner in an armored division of the Seventh Army, Cpl. Waits was reported by the War Department as killed in action April 6 in Germany.

T-5 Corporal Waits, who would have been 26 years old on April 27, has been reported by the War Department as killed in action April 6, somewhere in Germany. His wife is the former Margaret Ann Phillips, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ross Phillips of the Pearl-av address. For the past year, Mrs. Waits has been helping her sister, Mrs. Paul Hang (Betty Phillips) operate the Isaly Company store in Circleville during the absence of Paul Hang, formerly of Lancaster, who has been serving overseas. Twice wounded, Pvt. Hang has been returned to the States and is now visiting his family in Circleville.

Cpl. Waits entered the Army here December 9, 1941, received training at Fort Knox, Ky. and Camp Polk, La., in the Armored Force, then was at Temple, Texas, Camp Hood, Texas, receiving further instruction in tank and tank destroyer operation and maintenance, and also at Camp Pickett, Va. He sailed overseas in April, 1943, two years ago; arriving in North Africa where he served in the North African campaign.

Waits took part in the invasion of Sicily in July, 1943 and also in the invasion of Italy at Salerno in September, 1943, attached to a unit of the 45th Division, then a part of the U.S. 5th Army.

He also saw service at Cassino, Gela, Palermo and during the drive on Rome with the armored force. Last August Waits participated in the invasion of Southern France. He was in maintenance, then a half-track crew member, then a tank driver, and at the time of his death was a tank gunner attached to the 753rd Tank battalion of an armored division in the 7th Army, possibly in the Nuermberg (sic) sector of Germany.

Battalion Honored

Cpl. Waits and other members of the battalion had received the French Croix de Guerre, and the Vermillion Star recently for their outstanding operations with French units during a phase of the Italian campaign last year.

Prior to his induction T/5 Cpl. Waits was employed at the Sohio filling station, corner Broad and Chestnut-sts. He was a graduate of Lancaster High School, where he played football.

In addition to his wife and parents, Cpl. Waits leaves three sisters, Miss May Waits, chief telephone operator here, Mrs. Ernest Miller, Muskegon, Mich., and Mrs. Ralph Williams, Columbus.

The last letter Mrs. Waits received from her husband was dated March 30, from somewhere inside Germany.

I’d also like to mention the other two servicemen mentioned in the article:

First Lieutenant William S. Massey (5/9/1917 – 3/26/1945), 187th Glider Infantry, 11th Airborne, United States Army, died of battle wounds in the Philippines. He is buried in the Manila American Cemetery.

Corporal Kenneth Kinney Metcalf (8/15/1922 – 4/5/1945), 6th Division, United States Marine Corps, was KIA at Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands, 350 miles from Japan. He is buried in Forest Rose Cemetery in Lancaster, Ohio.

Through my many internet wanderings and various Ohio contacts, I had never been able to locate this newspaper article. Many, many thanks to Jane Mason (Miller) for locating and mailing a copy!

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr. – Nellie Ruth Williams (Waits/sister of Charles Richard Waits)

My grandfather, Ralph Scott Williams Jr.  Photo taken approx. 7/1922 on Walnut Street in Lancaster, Ohio.   My grandmother, Madrith Jean Williams (Williams).  Photo taken approx. 5/1925 in Portsmouth, Ohio.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr. and Madrith Jean Williams (Williams)

Bertha Williams (Rowland) and Children Picture

The Williams Family (Left to Right): my great grandfather, Donald Edwin Williams, my great grand uncle, Rowland A. “Bus” Williams, my 2nd great grandmother, Bertha L. Williams (Rowland), and my great grand aunt, Evalyn R. Williams (Gahm). Photo taken approx. 1905 in Jackson, Ohio.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Madrith Jean Williams (Williams) – Donald Edwin Williams – Bertha Williams (Rowland)

This obituary is of my great grand uncle, Rowland A. “Bus” Williams, and was featured in the 6/22/1981 edition of the Jackson, Ohio Journal-Herald:

Funeral services were held today (Monday) at the Sperry Funeral Home for Rowland A. “Bus” Williams, age 77, of Locust Street, Jackson who died 11:15 p.m. Friday at his home following several years of failing health.

Born in Jackson, he was a lifetime resident of the community and was a retired salesman for Stiffler’s Stores. He also operated the shoe store at the South Street Clinic for many years and was a member of the Jackson Christian Church.

Son of the late William and Bertha Rowland Williams; he is survived by his wife, Lorelle Fite Williams; one son, Dr. Robert Williams of Jackson; one daughter, Mrs. Judy Williams Suarez of Syracuse, New York; brother, Donald of Minford; sister, Mrs. Theodore (Evelyn) Gahm of Jackson; and three grandchildren.

Rev. James Gleaves officiated the last rites. Burial was made in Fairmount Cemetery.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Madrith Jean Williams (Williams) – Donald Edwin Williams (brother of Rowland Williams)

Through the research of Mike Deaterla, CG, a Jackson, Ohio resident, I have recently received copies of obituaries for my great grand uncle, Rowland “Bus” Williams, and his wife, Lorelle.

This obituary is of my great grand aunt, Lorelle Williams (Fite), and was featured in the 8/14/1991 edition of the Jackson, Ohio Journal-Herald:

Lorelle Williams, 86, a former resident of Locust Street, Jackson, died at the home of her son in Jackson on Tuesday.

Born November 20, 1904, in Jackson County, she was a member of the First Baptist Church, in Jackson.

She was predeceased by her parents, William D. and Fannie Baggers Fite; her husband, Rowland (Bus) Williams; one daughter, Judy Suarez; one sister, Fannie Wilcox; two brothers, Bill Fite and Loren Fite.

Surviving are one son, Dr. Robert A. Williams of Jackson; one brother, Dick Fite of Jackson; three sisters, Edna Tackett of Columbus, Margaret Shelton, Peggy Fite, both of Jackson; and three grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Mayhew Funeral Home on Thursday, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Funeral services will be conducted 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home with Reverend Lee Morris officiating.

Burial will be in the Fairmount Cemetery.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Madrith Jean Williams (Williams) – Donald Edwin Williams (brother-in-law of Lorelle Williams)

Ralph Scott “Duke” Williams Sr., my great grandfather, was born 4/19/1903  in Lancaster, Ohio.  He died 4/1/1975 from heart failure at the Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon, Virginia.  Ralph was 71 years-old at the time of his death.

Nellie Ruth Williams (Waits), my great grandmother, was born in 1901.  She died 8/6/1958 at the age of 57 in Columbus, Ohio. 

They had one child: my grandfather, Ralph Scott Williams Jr.  Their gravesite is located in Maple Hill Cemetery in Stoutsville, Ohio.

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

Floyd Jacob Mast Obituary

Today’s obituary is of my first cousin, twice removed, Floyd Jacob Mast, and was featured in the 9/7/1989 edition of the Lancaster Eagle Gazette:

Floyd J. Mast, 77, of Fre Mar Road, died this morning in Lancaster-Fairfield Community Hospital.

He was a member of Lancaster United Brethren in Christ Church. He was an employee of Lancaster Glass Corporation and retired from Lancaster Meter Parts.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret M. Mast; a daughter, Susan Van Meter of Lancaster; two sons and daughters-in-law, David M. and Linda Mast of Lancaster, Jerry L. and Cheryl Mast of Bremen; grandchildren, Ronald, Rogar, Scott, Brian and Stacy Mast, Pamela Keese, Laura J. Amspaugh and Kelli S. Van Meter; five great-grandchildren; two nieces; and cousins.

The funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the chapel of Frank E. Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Glenn Williams officiating. Burial will follow in Tschopp Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday and until the time of the service Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be given to Visiting Nurses Association.

This is the last in the Lancaster, Ohio obituary series.  Many thanks again to Charlotte Dittmar for taking the time to visit the Lancaster library, find the obituaries, copy and mail them.  I hope to make many more family connections with the information from these obituaries.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr. – Ralph Scott Williams Sr. (uncle of Floyd Jacob Mast)

Raymond J. Mast Obituary

Today’s obituary is of my first cousin, twice removed, Raymond J. Mast, and was featured in the 7/8/1944 edition of the Lancaster Eagle Gazette:

Raymond J. Mast, 36, died Friday, 11:30 p.m., in his home, 347 East Mulberry-st, following a ten months’ illness. Mast worked for 15 years for Thomas Corbin Plumbing company and one year for himself before becoming ill.

He leaves the widow, Mary; two daughters, Jean Rose Mast, Lancaster, and Patricia Ruth Mast, of the home; his mother, Mrs. Essie Mast, of north of Lancaster; and one brother, Floyd Mast, of north of Lancaster.

Funeral services will be held Monday, 4 p.m., at Olive church, north of Lancaster, with the Rev. James Hough of Baltimore, and the Rev. Walter P. Castoe officiating. Burial is to be made in Tschopp cemetery, by Frank E. Smith.

Friends may call at the funeral home after Sunday noon.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr. – Ralph Scott Williams Sr. (uncle of Raymond J. Mast)

Essie Mast (Williams) Obituary

Today’s obituary is of my great grand aunt, Essie Mast (Williams), and was featured in the 1/24/1968 edition of the Lancaster Eagle Gazette:

Mrs. Essa [Essie] M. Mast, 78, Rt. 1 Lancaster, died at 4:25 a.m. today in Crestview Nursing Home.  She was the widow of John W. Mast and member of Mills Memorial EUB Church.

Survivors include one son, Floyd Mast, Rt. 1 Lancaster; one brother, Ralph S. Williams, Columbus; several grandchildren.

Funeral services are tentatively schedules for Friday at 1:30 p.m. in Frank E. Smith Funeral Home; Rev. Roger Bishop officiating; burial, Tschopp Cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. Wednesday.

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