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)

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)

Today’s obituary is of my great grand aunt, May Waits, and was featured in the 8/14/1948 edition of the Lancaster Eagle Gazette:

Attack Fatal: Chief Operator of Bell Telephone Dies Unexpectedly

Miss May Waits, 45, chief operator at the Lancaster office of the Ohio Bell Telephone Co., died unexpectedly Friday, 10 p. m. of a heart attack in her home, 712 N. Mt. Pleasant-av.

Miss Waits, widely known in Central Ohio telephone circles, had been with the Ohio Bell here for 28 years. She was a member of the N. C. Kingsbury Chapter of the Telephone Pioneers of American and the Auxillary to Fairfield Post No. 11, American Legion.

Surviving Miss Waits are her mother, Mrs. Mellie Waits of the home, and two sisters: Mrs. Ralph Williams, Columbus, and Mrs. Ernest Miller, Muskegon, Mich.

Her father, Harmon Waits, died last September and an only brother, T-3 Cpl. Charles Waits, serving with a tank corps in World War II, was killed in action in Germany on April 6, 1945.

Funeral services will be held Monday, 2 p. m. at the Ray Wise funeral home with the Rev. Geo. W. Herd, First Methodist Church officiating. Burial is to be made in Maple Grove [Hill] cemetery, Stoutsville. Friends will be received at the funeral home after 7 p. m. today.

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

Today’s obituary is of my 2nd great grandmother, Mellie Waits (Milligan), and was featured in the 5/12/1952 edition of the Lancaster Eagle Gazette:

The death of Mrs. Mellie Waits, 71, widow of Harmon Waits, occurred Sunday, 3 p. m., in Lancaster-Fairfield Hospital, where she had been receiving treatment for the past week. She lived at 712 North Mt. Pleasant-av.

Surviving are two daughters: Mrs. Ralph Williams, Columbus, and Mrs. Ernest Miller, Muskegon, Mich.; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one sister, Mrs. H. A. McCoy, Columbus.

Services will be conducted Wednesday, 2 p. m. in the Ray Wise Funeral Home. The Rev George W. Herd of First Methodist Church is to officiate, and burial will be made in Maple Hill cemetery, Stoutsville. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p. m. today.

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

Harmon C. Waits, 68, died Wednesday, 7:30 p. m., in his home at 702 Eastwood-av, following an illness caused by a cerebral hemorrhage.

Surviving are his widow, Mellie; three daughters: Miss May Waits of the home, Mrs. Ralph Williams, Columbus, and Mrs. Ernest Miller, Muskegon, Mich.; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A son, Charles Richard, was killed in action in Germany, April 6, 1945, while serving with the Army as a tank gunner.

The deceased also leaves two brothers: William Waits, Columbus, and Perry Waits, Lancaster; and one sister, Mrs. May Hedges, Lancaster.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, 2 p. m., at the Ray Wise funeral home with the Rev. George W. Herd of First Methodist Church officiating.  Burial is to be made in Maple Grove [Hill] cemetery in Stoutsville.  Friends may call the the funeral home after 7 p. m. today.

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

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)

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)