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

Today’s obituary is of my 3rd great grandfather, Eli D. Waits, and was featured in the 5/14/1934 edition of the Lancaster Daily Eagle:

Taps Sound For Civil War Veteran

Eli D. Waits, 86, retired farmer, passed away at the home of his son, Herman [Harmon] C. Waits, 702 Eastwood avenue, at 2:45 a. m. today following a ten months illness of complications.

Three other sons, Perry R. Waits, Clinton M. Waits, of Lancaster and William H. Waits of Columbus, one daughter, Mrs. Mary L. Hedges of Drinkle, two half-brothers, William Hedges of Lancaster and Allen Hedges of Commercial Point survive.

Funeral services will be held from the Mills Memorial United Brethren church Wednesday at 10 a. m. with the Rev. P. E. Wright officiating.

Burial in Maple Hill cemetery at Stoutsville by Crites and Van Cleve, Stoutsville funeral directors.

The deceased was a Civil War veteran, serving in Company G, Regiment 88 of the Union army.

Friends may call at the home any time from 2:30 Tuesday to time of funeral.

Many thanks to Jane Mason (Miller) and Martie Essebaggers (Miller) for all of their contributions, including the picture of the Waits family home above.

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

Waits Family Portrait

Picture of the Waits family taken approx. 1919-1920 in Ohio.  Pictured (from left to right): *Ralph Scott Williams Sr., Nellie Ruth Waits, William “Bill” Henry Waits, May Belle Waits (Hatch), Elmer Hedges, Grace O. Waits (maiden name unknown), Paul Allen Hedges, Perry Robert Waits, Lydia May Hedges (Waits), Nellie Rowena Hedges, Mellie Waits (Milligan), Charles Richard “Dick” Waits, Florence Waits, Harmon Clay “H. C.” Waits, Mary Louise Waits (Morris), Eli D. Waits, *Sallie Anna Wilcox (Waits), May Waits, Nellie Alberta Waits, Jennie Waits.

* Unconfirmed

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

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)

My aunt, Terry Kaiser (Williams), contributed these photos of my grandfather’s (Ralph Scott Williams Jr.) United States Naval Training Station class, taken 11/17/1942 in Great Lakes, Illinois.  He is in the second row, second from-the-right. The original photo was torn in-half and had considerable damage as can be seen in the above pictures.  I decided to have the photos retouched and put back together.  I contacted Miles Abernathy at 399Retouch, asking if this could be done.  For an affordable price and fast turnaround time, I thought they did a great job.

Ralph Scott Williams Jr. Retouched USNTS Picture

Now, I need to find a reputable online professional photo printing service to print copies (7 1/2 inches x 19 3/4 inches).  This picture will look great framed and be a nice addition to our family picture collection.

Update: I had to resize and crop the image to 5 inches x 15 inches. I used MPix to print and ship the picture.  Hopefully, it will look nice when it arrives.

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

My grandfather, Ralph Scott Williams Jr., served on LCI(L)-11 during World War II from 5/21/1943 – 11/4/1944.  I have sent a letter to the Modern Military Records Unit (NWCTM), a branch of the National Archives, requesting copies of the records (deck logs, casualties, diaries, etc.) pertaining to this ship.  It took part in the invasion of Sicily, the assault landings at Anzio, and the D-Day assault at Normandy, France. 

I’ve recently been working on a timeline for my grandfather’s naval service.  When completed, it will probably have its own website.  Most likely, it won’t be completed until sometime next year, but should be very informative to those interested. 

LCI(L)-11 = Landing Craft Infantry (Large) #11

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

Chris Bradford, the website administrator for the 753rd Tank Battalion, emailed today that his government contact in Washington D.C. will be sending the KIA documents on my great grand uncle, Charles Richard “Dick” Waits, on Friday or Monday.  Hopefully, they will shed more light on the events surrounding his death.  Be sure to check back for more updates.

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

Ralph Scott Williams Jr. Navy Picture

My maternal grandfather, Ralph Scott Williams Jr., served with the United States Navy during World War II.  I have posted the pictures I have from his naval service on Flickr.

Someday, I hope to track down some information on the other named men in the photos.  Although not likely, it would be interesting to track down someone that served with my grandfather during the war. In the near future, I will post all of the details of his military service, including images of his naval documents, headstone, etc.

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

Paul and Bette Hang Wedding Picture

Many thanks to Paul Hang for mailing the above picture.  Charles Richard “Dick” Waits is on the far left, and his wife, Margaret Anne “Peggy” Phillips is the maid-of-honor, standing next to the bride.  This is the wedding of Paul Joseph Hang and Lucille Elizabeth “Bette” Phillips, Peggy’s sister.

Here is an excerpt from an email Paul sent last week, regarding his father’s service in World War II:

I don’t remember him [Dick Waits] other than hearing about him. He and my Dad [Paul Joseph Hang] were in the Army together, although Dick was in for quite a while. My Dad was only in for a year and a half. He was drafted at 33 with two kids and a business. He was shot, received the Purple Heart, returned to the front, fought in the Hurtgen Forest. He was pulled out with frozen feet (trench foot) in mid November of 44 just before his Division (the 28th Pennsylvania, also known as the Bucket of Blood) was overrun in the Battle of the Bulge. In one of his letters he says he thinks he leads a charmed life given all that he survived. Like a lot of his generation he never talked about his war experiences. He spent many months in the hospital before being discharged in mid 45.

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