Cousins out West

Al and I are back from our trip out West to cover 2 of the 3 remaining States we need to visit.  We flew to Portland, OR, visited the Capitol in Salem then had dinner with a semi-cousin, Gerry Veley, in Portland.  I first met Gerry through the Lycoming County Historical Society.  There are Veley’s who married Packards, so that is the semi- cousins.  We had a delightful meal at a Greek restaurant and caught up on how we are related, what interesting people we meet through genealogy and fun facts about our relatives.  Gerry gave me some of his Cinnamon Honey from his own company.  I tried it when I got home and LOVE IT.  Thanks, Gerry.  It was wonderful to meet you.

After Portland, we drove out to see Mt. St. Helen’s, but got rained out and headed back to Washington (the State of) to meet up with cousins, Lance and Gay White, for lunch in Tacoma, after a quick visit to the Capitol in Olympia.  Another fun meal seaside at Anthony’s Seafood Restaurant in Puget Sound.  I can see what everyone loves about this area.  The seafood is fresh, the sights are beautiful and it is so relaxing.  It has been a few years since I was in the area and could spend a little time with the West Coast White cousins.

Lance gave me copies of pictures of his Mom and Dad, to put on the World War II website, to honor them for their service.  Lance tells me that is how Charles and Marcia met.  Looking back on growing up with my cousins in Troy, PA, I have such fond memories of hiking over the hill to swim with them in Laurel Lake, sitting with Lynn White in many of my classes at high school, and just having lots of family around.

No more relatives after Tacoma, but fun travels to Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park.  This is a great time to go to the parks.  The animals have their babies, haven’t totally headed for the hills and are still around the roads so you can see and photograph them.  Have some free time?  I have a few hundred pictures I can bore you with, of animals, mountains, water, geysers, bison, bison and more bison.

If you are a senior and haven’t heard about the National Park pass, look it up.  Free admission to all National Parks, except Cape Canaveral.  It is the greatest bargain the US Government gives seniors.  We certainly have gotten a return on this $10.00 investment.  Thanks, Jackie and Randy for turning us on to this.

We traveled from Washington, in and out of Idaho to Montana (our second State to check off our list), in and out of Wyoming to the parks and ended our trip in Jackson, WY for our flight back to Harrisburg via Denver and Chicago.  We put 2075 miles on our rental car and would do it all again in a heart beat.

Natalie Marie Blanas Has Arrived in time for the next reunion

Cousins Jim and Ruth (McCord) Blanas are the proud grandparents of Natalie Marie Blanas born 3 February 2015.  She is the daughter of Alex and Jane (Graham) Blanas.  This is the first baby for the Blanas family.  Congratulations to one and all.

Ruth has been so excited to be a grandma.  I doubt this baby will be spoiled.

Ruth and Jim are hosting another McCord family gathering tentatively set for August 15th in Allentown.  Stand by for further news on both.

Thomas White, Revolutionary War Patriot

Hello to all you White relatives.  Cousin Mark Myers asked, on his last visit from Washington,  if we had a White ancestor who qualified for the National Society Daughters or Sons of the American Revolution.  I said no, but then I thought I’d better check my facts.  Lo and behold, Thomas White had already been proven as a Revolutionary War patriot, so all I had to do was prove our connection.

I did it.  Today I sent two supplemental applications to NSDAR for our Patriot Thomas White.  You got it, two supplementals.  Thomas’ grandsons, William and James’ children Sarah Ellen and James McMaster White married.  It is kosher to submit applications through both lines, so I will have two more pins.  Yeah!!!

This has me started on working on my White lines again.  William White married Hannah Milligan/Milliken.  They had Sarah Ellen White who married James McMaster White.  William and Hannah followed their son, David Milligan White to Pana, Christian Co., IL and there is where they all died and are buried.  I have not researched any of their other children, except Sarah and David.

James and Sarah Ellen remained in Perry County, PA.  This line has been researched rather extensively, but I  can always find more.

Joyce Hughes, whom some of you met at the White Reunion some years ago, passed away.  She had been researching the White line and passed her information along to Marsha Pilger to complete.  I have now been in touch with Marsha again and hope we can get the White History completed in the next couple of years.  Keep those updates coming and I will pass them along.

Anyone interested in joining the DAR or SAR or CAR on this line should contact me for help.  With all the information I have compiled, it may not take too much to get your application completed.

Happy New Year

 

Obituary for Lt. Col. Theodore F. Locke, Jr., age 94

This is the obituary from The Daily Times (DE) Sunday, October 12, 2014.  Ted shares the page with his cousin, Earl Spencer who also died recently.

Lt. Col. Theodore F. Locke, Jr., age 94 of Newtown Square, PA and formerly of Avalon, NJ, died Sunday, October 5, 2014.

Mr. Locke was a 1938 graduate of Collingswood High School, Collingswood, NJ and a 1942 graduate of the Pennsylvania Military College (currently Widener University), Chester, PA.  Lt. Col. Locke had a 24 -year career with the U.S. Army from 1942-1966, serving during WWII and Korea.  After his military service, he was employed with PMC College (currently Widener University) starting as the Asst. to the Dean of Engineering, working his way to the VP of Administration at Widener University.

Lt. Col. Locke served as Chairperson of Budget & Finance Committee at White Horse Village and Chairperson for the Octofair.  He founded and adopted the Food Flex Plan for the residents at White Horse Village. He was the husband of the late Grace H. Locke, who died in 1995.

Survivors: Wife; Marjorie (Smith) Locke; Daughter: Lillian L. Busse (Den) of Torrington CT; sons: Theodore F. Locke, III (Carolyn) of Tolland, MA, and Walter R. Locke (Kathleen) of Avalon, NJ; Six Grandchildren; Five Great-Grandchildren; Brother Charles Locke of Cape May, NJ.

Memorial Service November 11, 2014, Tuesday, 11:00 a.m. at White Horse Village, 535 Gradyville Road, Newtown Square, PA.  Interment Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, DC.

Memorial Contributions in lieu of flowers may be donated to the Theodore F. Locke, Jr. PMC’42 Freshman Undergraduate Scholarship Fund (make check out to Widener Univ. in memory of T.F. Locke, Jr.).   www.msbfh.com

O. Earl Spencer, Died at age 89 yrs.

Another “cousin” is gone.  Earl Spencer died Oct. 4th and last week I reported that “Cousin” Ted Locke, Jr. passed away (I’ll publish his obituary in a separate blog).

This from The Daily Times (DE) on Sunday, October 12, 2014.  O. Earl Spencer, age 89, of Wilmington, DE, formerly of Wallingford, PA, died Saturday, October 4, 2014.

After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Mr. Spencer graduated from Washington & Jefferson College.  He was a partner of Spencer Stationery Company.  After moving to Delaware, Earl worked at the Delaware Art Museum and took classes at the University of Delaware Academy of Lifelong Learning.  Earl enjoyed playing tennis and golf, and riding the waves in Ocean City, NJ.

Earl was the devoted husband of the late Mary Jayne Spencer.  Survivors: son, Lon Spencer (Margaret); Daughters: Amy and Meg Spencer and Anne Holford (Fred); four grandchildren: James (Ranjani), Meredith, Georgina and Spencer; one great-grandson: Elliott:  Brothers: Philip and Robert Spencer; Sisters: Mary Betts and Betty Drusedum.  Funeral Service and Interment are private. Memorial Contributions may be made in memory of O. Earl Spencer to Compassionate Car Hospice Foundation, 248 E. Chestnut Hill Road, Suite 4, Newark, DE 19713; or The Delaware Art Museum, 2301 Kentmere Parkway Wilmington, DE 19806.  Condolences:  www.msbfh.com

Ted Locke’s Passing Noted

Many of you will remember Ted Locke from the White Reunion and visits long ago.  Ted was married to Grace White Hosler, who died in 1995 at the age of 74.  I’m sorry to report that Ted has now passed away October 5, 2014 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s.  Ted and second wife, Marje lived in White Horse Village in Newtown Square, PA.  There will be a service for him at White Horse Village on November 11th at 11:00 am and internment at Arlington Cemetery at a future.

Contact me if you would like further information.

White/McCord Family Reunion a Great Success

Ruth and Jim Blanas hosted a wonderful family reunion this past weekend (Aug. 16, 2014) in an Allentown/Bethlehem area park with attendees coming from as far as Apopka, FL, Greenville, SC and Chicago.  We got to meet new cousins, Navy Baumann and Caitlin Egan and the many other youngest generation.  The newest member, who couldn’t make the trip, was born only 13 Aug 2014, Jeremiah McCord.  He lives in Missouri with parents, Seth and Haley.

It was an active party with plenty of photos taken and available for viewing on Facebook.  The boys ( ages 3-10) built a stone fort.  I’m sure the park caretakers are enjoying that.  They swings and merry-go-round got a good workout as well.

The day was beautifully, sunny with just enough breeze to keep bugs and heat away.  Ruth must have sent a lot of prayers upstairs to get such a beautiful day.  She certainly thought of everything to make it a perfect day.  Let’s make this an annual event.

Welcome New Addition to White Family

Navy Jane Bauman has been added to the family tree.  She is the daughter of Joe and Jamie (McCord) Bauman and was born June 1st.  Her tree goes like this Joe and Jamie d/o Jim and Jackie McCord, s/o Bea (White) and Bill McCord d/o Walt and Effie (Bell) White, s/o Alex and Mary Ella (Hess) White.

The White/McCord’s are having a family gathering August 16, 2014, so if you are interested you should plan on attending and let Ruth (McCord) Blanas know, by contacting her on Facebook.

Walter White’s Family Gathering

Ruth McCord Blanas has organized a family reunion for Walter and Effie (Bell) White’s children and families.  It will be in Bethlehem, PA on August 16th, 2014.  If you are interested in attending, please contact Ruth and let her know.  She will need a head count.

Don’t wait for a personal invitation just plan to come.  You can also contact me via this website and I will pass it along to Ruth.

Dottie Myers and William Betts Have left us

This has been a year of losses.  Today I received a call that William Betts, husband of Mary Spencer Betts, had passed away rather quickly.  Bill and Mary had just this past year buried their son, Kerry.  Our hearts go out to Mary and Carole and hope others will keep them in their prayers.

Just two weeks ago, Dottie Heisley Latham Myers, wife of cousin Mel Myers passed away very unexpectedly.  She had fallen and landed in the hospital for a week.  She was unable to recover.   I attended the graveside service in Perry Heights Cemetery, Marysville, PA.  As has been the norm this winter we had yet another snow storm and I was unable to attend the memorial service at the Market Square Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg, PA.  Contributions may be made to that church in Dottie’s memory.

This year we have lost too many of the White’s, so stay healthy.