Frances High School Sweethearts Celebrate 60 Years of Wedded Bliss

Bruce and Charlotte (Dycus) Ordway

On December 18, 2011 at the First Presbyterian Church in Merrillville, IN, Bruce Ordway originally of Crayne, KY, and Charlotte Dycus Ordway originally of Dycusburg, KY, renewed their vows in a 60th wedding anniversary ceremony along with 135 of their closest friends and family.

The couple was married in a small Mississippi town where they ran off as young adults madly in love to elope on January 20, 1952. Charlotte Dycus Ordway is the only daughter of the late Mark and Geneva (Cooksey) Dycus of Dycusburg. Bruce Ordway is the youngest son of four children born to the late Robert and Imogene Ordway of Crayne, KY.

Charlotte, also known as “Candy,” was a Frances High School cheerleader who went on to attend college at Murray State. Bruce is a recent Frances High Basketball team Hall of Fame member who went to the Navy. The couple relocated to Northwest Indiana in the late 1950s where they worked and raised their family, daughter Renee Ordway Connelly of Merrillville, IN, and son Greg (wife Sharon) Ordway of Portage, IN.

Both Charlotte and Bruce retired in the 1980s. Charlotte was employed by the telephone (merged multiple times and now AT&T). Bruce retired as a senior analyst from DuPont. The couple stayed in Merrillville until the millennium when they decided to split time between the Ordway farm in Crayne and their home in Daytona Beach Shores, FL.

Mr. and Mrs. Ordway now reside full time in Florida. The couple says everyone in their old home town growing up said their marriage "wouldn’t last 6 months" ... and here they are today, happy and in good health, celebrating being together 60 years later.

The couple is an inspiration to many, the rock of their family, and have affected so many people with their love and friendship over the years. Bruce and Charlotte thank God for being blessed with such a wonderful life, good health and a loving family (including many nieces, nephews, and cousins, five grandchildren, and three, soon to be four great grandchildren). Bruce is also thankful for the beautiful woman he married, who he looks forward to spending every day with for the rest of their lives.

If you would like to get in touch with the couple, they are on Facebook under the name BruceandCharlotte Ordway, and their email address is bcordie2@yahoo.com.

1940 Census Goes Digital in April

Via Mashable.com:
Following a 72-year wait period, The National Archives and Records will release the 1940 U.S. Census in April and make the search for information about ancestors easier than ever with free online access from any computer.

Genealogists will have digital access to the 1940 Census when the report is released on April 2. This is a big step toward making the archives more accessible to the public through technology. The most recent census — which covers the 1930s — is available through the libraries via microfilm that usually has to be reserved and ordered.

However, as of now, the 1940 Census will not include a name index, so users will have to know the enumeration district in which the person they are searching for lived in 1940. The National Archives provides maps with the numbers on its website.

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Obituary: Ann Howard Stoehr, 70

EDDYVILLE — Mrs. Ann Howard Stoehr, 70, of Eddyville, passed away Saturday, December 31, 2011, at her residence in Eddyville surrounded by family and friends.

Mrs. Stoehr retired from ATO-FINA Chemical Plant in Calvert City as an engineering secretary with 20 years of service. She was a member of Eddyville United Methodist Church.

She is survived by her husband of 15 years, Gene Stoehr Sr.; one son, Brad Hunt and his wife Elizabeth of Iuka; one daughter, Kristi Spedding and her husband Rob of Eddyville; and the delights of her life, her two grandchildren, granddaughter, Carlyann Spedding and grandson, Connor Spedding, both of Eddyville. Other survivors include a brother, John Howard and his wife Becky of Eddyville; a cousin, Ronnie Marshall and his wife Ruth of Marion, Ky.; and several stepchildren and stepgrandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Carlon and Ruby Marshall Howard.

Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday, January 3, 2012, at Lakeland Funeral Home Chapel in Eddyville with the Rev. Jack Larwa officiating. Burial will be in Dycusburg Cemetery in Dycusburg, Ky.

Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Monday, January 2, 2012 at Lakeland Funeral Home in Eddyvillle.

Condolences may be sent to www.lakelandchapel.com.

Source: The Paducah Sun, Jan. 1, 2012

Obituary: Parker Lynn Holsapple, 81

Parker Lynn Holsapple, 81, of Marion died Saturday at Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah.

Mr. Holsapple was retired from U.S. Steel- Gary Tube Works, a member of Emmaus Baptist Church and Liberty Lodge F&AM 580.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Lou Holsapple; one granddaughter; and his parents, James and Lillie Winters Holsapple.

He is survived by two sons, Jimmy Holsapple of Chesterton, Ind., and Rickey Holsapple of Dycusburg; one daughter, Darlene Peterson of Chesterton; two brothers, Jim Holsapple of Seville, Fla., and Jerry Holsapple of Crescent City, Fla.; one sister, Elouise Truitt of Crescent City; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Myers Funeral Home in Marion with the Rev. Lonnie Knight officiating. Burial will follow in Asbridge Cemetery.

Friends may call from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Masonic services will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Source: The Paducah Sun, Dec. 18, 2011

Obituary: Harold Wesley Wring, 76

Mr. Harold Wesley Wring, 76, of Salem, Ky., passed away Saturday evening at his home.

He was a member of Pinckneyville Baptist Church where he was a song leader for over 30 years. Mr. Wring was a member of the Laymen Quartet, and loved to sing. He often said, “I will sing at the drop of a hat ... and I’ll drop the hat.” He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals and University of Kentucky Wildcat fan. He loved spending time with his grandchildren which were his pride and joy.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Clara Marlene Wring; six children, Katherine Blanton of Leesburg, Fla., Deborah Loyd of Burna, Ky., Cheryl Driver of Salem, Ky., Lola Nelson of Leesburg, Fla., and Kevin Wring of Salem, Ky., and Eric Wring of Salem, Ky.; two sisters, Louise Kitchens of Salem, Ky., Donna Faye Vanhooser of Newburgh, Ind.; and one brother Tom Wring of Salem, Ky. Grandchildren, Angel Vines, Amanda Hunter, A.J. Blanton, Justin Loveless, Wesley Wring, Elijah Wring, Isaac Wring, Lauren Wring and Logan Wring; great-grandchildren, D.J. Vines, Destiny Vines, Monty Nelson and Jaycee Nelson.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James V. and Gladys P. Patton Wring; and two grandchildren, Chad and Josh Nelson.

Funeral services will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Boyd Funeral Directors with the Revs. Leslie Joyce and Jim Wring officiating. Burial will follow in Tyners Chapel Cemetery. Friends may call after 5 p.m. Monday in the chapel of Boyd Funeral Directors.

Condolences may also be left online at boydfuneraldirectors.com.

Source: The Paducah Sun, Dec. 19, 2011

Dycusburg Gets New Telephone System Installed

After some twenty years without telephone service in and around Dycusburg, Ky., the people are again able to call up their neighbors for a chat or call a doctor by long distance.

The Salem Telephone Company has a newly installed line to Dycusburg which at present has ten subscribers and more to be added later as material becomes available.

The Salem Company is planning to install some hundred or more telephones in that community and are also planning on a dial system which will make service more prompt and also make it possible to serve more subscribers. The telephone company is owned by Bill Boswell and William Butler who service and install their own equipment. They have a very efficient Mrs. Boswell as operator at the board.

Source: Livingston Leader, Thurs., 28 Aug 1947 - page 1
Photo source: Seattle Municipal Archives from Seattle, WA (used for illustrative purposes only)

Thanks to Brenda Joyce Jerome for supplying this article. Visit her blog here: http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/

Obituary: Steve Oliver

Steve Oliver
March 3, 1952 - November 17, 2011

Mr. Steve "Pee Wee" Oliver, 59, Fredonia, KY died Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 11:57 AM at the Caldwell Medical Center ER. He was a carpenter, formerly the fire chief of Fredonia and a member of Southside Baptist Church.

Steve is survived by his mother, Geraldine Riley Olver, Marion, KY, son and daughter-in-law: Zak and Kelly Oliver, Caldwell County, KY, daughter and son-in-law: Darrah and Rusty Crawford, Paris, TN, brother, Michael Oliver, sister, Lori Tyson, Greenwood, IN and seven grandchildren, Laynee Thornton, Aden Crawford, Greyson Crawford, Levin Crawford, Alex Oliver, Isaac Fraliex, Mia Oliver.

He was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth Oliver.

Funeral services will be held Monday at 11:00 AM at Morgan's Funeral Home with Bro. Gerald Cannon officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 PM Sunday at Morgan's Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Rowland Cemetery in Caldwell County.

Genealogy Query: Andrew Jackson Fincher

I have a letter dated October 11, 1889 on stationery from the Marion Roller Mills, office of J.B. Kevil and A. U. Lamb. The letter is from my great-great grandfather, Andrew Jackson Fincher to his wife concerning the condition of his son, John.

John's legs had been crushed in an accident and he died on Oct. 15, 1889. I can only guess that the accident happened at the Marion Roller Mills since the letter is on their stationery.

Does anyone know if there was a newspaper in the area at this time? Maybe there was an article about the accident or his death. I've so far not been able to find any death or burial records for John. He was from Robertson County, Tennessee.

I would appreciate any help or information. Contact me at goad@bellsouth.net. Thanks!