Paul's Dairy Store Article

During World War II, my great grand uncle, Charles Richard “Dick” Waits, and his brother-in-law, Paul Hang, were in Europe fighting the Nazis, while their families remained in the States. Paul’s wife, Bette, was in Circleville, Ohio with two small children and a business to run. Dick’s wife, Peggy, was in Lancaster, Ohio.

The following are excerpts from an article about Paul’s Dairy Store that appeared in the Circleville (OH) Herald in 2002:

Hang recalls ‘simpler times’ at helm of Isaly’s Dairy

5 cent cones, busy Saturday nights offer reminders of days gone by

By Mike Pratt – The Herald

Many fond memories are rooted in the Isaly’s Dairy Store that was once part of Circleville’s business district on West Main Street. It was located in the western side of the building that Block’s Shoes occupies today…

Paul Hang, half the operating muscle behind the store, is gone now. He died in February 1995, but his widow, Bette, remembers it all – from the day she and her husband moved in to the day it closed as Paul’s Dairy Store…

Having moved here in February 1943, it took only a year for the inevitable to happen.

Paul was drafted into the Army.

“I prayed a lot for him to come back while he was gone and I was on my own,” Hang said. “I never worked in the store and we’d only had it about a year. But it was an opportunity for Paul, and I wanted to keep it for him so he would have something to come back to after the war…”

Fortunately, during the war, Hang’s sister, Peg [Waits] Henderson, came from Lancaster to help.

Because Paul was wounded in Europe and his feet were frozen, Hang said it took him longer to recuperate…

Isaly’s eventually closed its Columbus plant sometime in the 1950s. That’s when the Circleville store was renamed Paul’s Dairy Store…

Paul’s Dairy Store closed in 1973 but the memories it created will be a long time dying.

The article, along with the pictures and descriptions below, were sent to me by Paul and Bette’s daughter, Sue Rizvi. I cannot thank her enough for the contributions.

Paul Hang Picture

The Kitchen at Paul’s Dairy Store –

Walk-in cooler/refrigerator behind Paul and large saw was used for bones in roast beef that he roasted and sliced for sandwiches, hot or cold.

Bette Hang January 1967 Picture

Bette in the Kitchen –

Behind, but in front, of her is a potato cutter for French fries and behind is an orange juicer.
Dad made all of the foods he sold – potato salad, baked beans, roast beef, pimento cheese for the Deli section. At the lunch counter in the rear of the store, where all the local businessmen (and women) ate lunch and had coffee breaks, he made chili, vegetable soup, bean soup, fries, oyster stew, and pork tenderloin on occasion. Hamburgers from good, ground beef, and, of course, the soda fountain and ice cream dishes.

Modern Day Site of Paul's Dairy Store

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

Ralph Williams Jr. and Jack Schraa Navy Picture

My maternal grandfather, Ralph Scott Williams Jr., and his friend, Jack Schraa. Both men served with the United States Navy during World War II. Photo taken approx. 1942-1943.

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

This obituary is of my great grand uncle, Charles Richard “Dick” Waits, and was most likely featured in The Circleville (OH) Herald:

Charles Waits Listed Killed Fighting Nazis

Mrs. Charles R. Waits, Circleville, received word Thursday from the war department that her husband Cpl. Charles R. Waits had been killed in action.

Cpl. Waits has been in the Army three years, 26 months overseas. He was in the African, Sicilian, Italian campaigns. He was also in the French invasion.

At the time of his death he was assigned to General Patch’s Seventh Army in Germany. Mrs. Waits, who is employed at Isaly’s, last heard from him by letter dated March 30. The War Department announcement stated that he had been killed about April 6.

Cpl. Waits was a resident of Lancaster at the time of his enlistment in the Army. His wife is living with her sister, Mrs. Paul Hang, Scioto street. Pfc. Hang is now home on furlough from the European theatre of war.

Many thanks to Paul Hang for providing the article and picture. On the back of the picture, it reads, “Hi Red!” The picture was sent from Dick to his wife, Margaret Ann “Peggy” Waits (Phillips), who had “strikingly” red hair.

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

My maternal grandfather, Ralph Scott Williams Jr., served with the United States Navy during World War II.  At the time this V-Mail was written, Ralph was aboard LCI(L)-11, possibly in Bizerte, Tunisia, North Africa (ATB Bizerte).  He was temporarily stationed there from 11/1/1943 until the assault landings at Anzio, Italy on 1/22/1944.  The V-Mail is addressed to his aunt, Florence Miller (Waits), and her husband, Ernest, in Muskegon, Michigan.

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

Lt. Col. Ewing Stuart Watson, the father of my aunt, Fran Davis (Watson), was born in Bowie, Texas, on 5/21/1918.  Stuart served during World War II as a B17 pilot in the 533rd Bombardment Squadron, 381st Bomb Group.  He flew 47 B17 missions over Europe and received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the European-African-Middle Eastern (EAME) Campaign Medal with 6 Bronze Service Stars.  Stuart passed away 1/13/2008 and is buried in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.

Ewing Stuart Watson and Crew Picture

Many thanks to Fran and Paul Watson for providing many pictures, documents, and information on their father’s service for my family tree World War II project. Please check back periodically for updates on the project. If you have anything you’d like to contribute, please send me an email.

Brian Davis – James Michael Davis [brother of Kenneth Allan Davis (son-in-law of  Ewing Stuart Watson)]

Today is the 68th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  I’ve posted the obituary of my great grand uncle, John Cameron “Jack” Parsons, which was featured in the 11/23/1989 edition of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.  “Big Jack” was married to my great grand aunt, Erby Katheryn Parsons (Davis) and a Pearl Harbor survivor. He served with the United States Navy during World War II and the Korean War.  Erby was a “Rosie the Riveter”, a term used to describe the women who worked in the maufacturing plants during World War II, bulding munitions and materiel, in Fort Worth, Texas:

 John Cameron (Jack) Parsons, 73, died November 21, 1989 at his residence.

He was a member of the Lily Baptist Church of Lily, Kentucky.

Mr. Parsons had been a resident of Corpus Christi since 1953.  He was a veteran of WWII and the Korean Conflict and retired from the Navy with the following decorations: American Heart Defense Medal, American Theatre Medal and the Korean Service Ribbon.

He was the President of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Member of the Fleet Reserve Association in Flour Bluff, Member of American Legion Bill Roper Post #364, Past Commander of American Legion Gragg-Sherrill Post #248, and a member of the Mayor’s Veterans Council.

He is survived by his wife, Erby Parsons, his son, Jack Cameron Parsons, his daughter, Carolyn Jean Sullivan, all of Corpus Christi, two brothers, Bill Parsons of Fairfield, Ohio and Harold Parsons of Hamilton, Ohio, four sisters, Lucy Hopkins of Lily, Kentucky, Evelyn Martin of Oceanside, California, Doris Jean Grimes and Allie [illegible] of Hamilton, Ohio, one stepdaughter, Janice Pate of Mexia, Texas, 11 grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Thursday evening, November 23, 1989 at the Everhart Chapel.  Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, November 24, 1989 at the Everhart Chapel with Chaplain Richard C. Hettish, Dr. Loren White, Rev. Richard D. Worden and Chaplain Abel Chapa officiating.

Members of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association will act as Honorary Pallbearers.

For those wishing to make donations, the family has designated the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Local Chapter #5, c/o A.J. Dunn, Treasurer, 3105 Seafoam, Corpus Christi, Texas 78418.

Brian Davis – James Michael Davis – James Nead Davis – Sherman Harry Davis (brother-in-law of John Cameron Parsons)

On 10/28/09, I sent the following request to the National Archives and Records Administration:

Modern Military Records Unit (NWCTM)
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001

Dear Sir or Madam:
I have been researching my grandfather (Ralph Scott Williams Jr., USNR, 570 06 78)’s service in World War II for several years.  I am writing to find what records are available pertaining to the ship that he served on overseas. 
He served on USS LCI(L)-11 from 5/21/1943 to 11/4/1944.  In his military file, it states he took part in the invasion of Sicily, Italy, the assault landings at Anzio, Italy, and the D-Day assault in Normandy, France.
I would greatly appreciate any help in locating records pertaining to this ship.

Thank you,
Brian M. Davis

I recently received the vessel’s action report from Operation Overlord, dated 7/12/1944.  It states the following:

[LCI(L)-11] participated in transporting officers and men to Utah assault area – invasion of Normandy from 6-13 June 1944 – in task force 125.

Click on the above images for more detailed information pertaining to LCI(L)-11 and its role in Operation Overlord. I am currently piecing together a short history of my grandfather’s naval service for my World War 2 project, which should be posted sometime next year.

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

This morning, I received a booklet with a color picture of Charles Richard “Dick” Waits’ headstone.  Recently, I sent a request (with payment) to the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) to place a floral spray at Dick’s headstone.  They placed the flowers on November 11, Veterans Day, and took the above picture.  Please visit my other blog posts for more information on Dick’s life and his military service.

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

Charles Richard "Dick" Waits Headstone

I received this picture from the American Battle Momuments Commission (ABMC).  They also included a very nice color lithograph (too big to scan) of the Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold, France, where Dick is buried.

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

Ralph Scott Williams Jr. Dog Tag

This dog tag was given to me by my mother, Christine Davis (Williams), around the time I started doing genealogical research in 2001.  It belonged to my grandfather, Ralph Scott Williams Jr.  The following information is on the dog tag:

Name: Ralph S. Williams; Service Number: 570-06-78; Tetanus Toxoid (Vaccination) Received 5/1944; Blood Type O; United States Naval Reserve; Religion: Protestant 

I am currently doing a lot of research on World War II service in my family.  Look for the launch of another website dedicated to this topic sometime next spring.

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