(Almost) Wordless Wednesday~ Mr. and Mrs. Luther W. Johns

Luther William and Jeanne Katherine Sovereign Johns

My Aunt and Uncle; married 6 August 1943, Dawes County Nebraska. Three children; 2 daughters and one son. World War II veteran.

Friday’s Faces From the Past~Aunt & Uncle, 1961

IN MEMORY

Summer 1961

Luther William Johns

(11 Apr 1917- 9 Aug 1985)

Viola Marie “Vie” Wooldridge Johns

(5 Mar 1914 – 22 Dec 1993)

My Aunt and Uncle

52 Ancestors: #13, Luther William Johns

Luther William Johns, Sr. was born 11 April 1917 in Chesterfield, South Carolina, a son of Julius Johns and Mary Catherina “Mamie” Brock.  He had two older siblings and 4 younger siblings.^{1 2}
In May 1937 his father was stuck and killed on Highway #9 near Chesterfield. One year, one month and one day later his Mother passed away while being cared for in the Doctor's Office. Their sudden death left 7 orphan children; the oldest age 25 and the youngest age 8. Luther was 21 when his Mother passed away.^{3 4}  .
Shortly after the death of his parent Luther joined the Coast Artillery Corps or Army Mine Planter Service on 13 January 1941⁵ 

Later in the war he became a paratrooper and was assigned to an Army-Airfield in North Western Nebraska. While stationed here, he met and married Jeanne Katherynne Sovereign on 6 August 1943 in Chadron, Dawes County, Nebraska. Luther and Jeanne had three children, two daughter and a son.

After the War, Luther found employment with the railroad and continued working with the railroad until his retirement. In 1954, Luther and Jeanne were divorced.

My Mom loved her brother Luther. In the late 1950’s Mom had not heard from Luther and became concerned. She wrote the local police in the City he was last known to live in and it wasn’t long until Mom received a letter from her brother.

Sometime between 1954 and 1960, Uncle Luther remarried to a lady named Viola Marie “Vie’ Wooldridge.

In January 1961, after completing basic training in the Air Force I was assigned to Chanute AFB, Rantoul, Illinois. I knew that Uncle Luther and his wife Vie were living in the Chicago area. It wasn’t long before I called them  and scheduled a visit with my Uncle and his wife. My last visit with them in the simmer of 1961 was the last time that I saw my Uncle.

In the late 1990’s I reconnected briefly with two of my cousins from this marriage. In 2000, after the loss of my wife in 1998, I decided to move back home to the Carolina's to help care for my Mother. I learned from my cousin that their Mom was living in Williamston, North Carolina. I visited with Aunt Jeanne in Williamston shortly after returning to North Carolina.

I have lost contact again with my cousins from this union. So if anyone out there reads this and recognizes names from this posting please contact me.

Luther William Johns died 9 August 1985. Viola Marie “Vie’ Wooldridge Johns died 22 December 1993 and Jeanne Katherynne Sovereign Johns Martindale died 19 February 2002. May they rest in Peace with their Savior.

Luther William Johns is my Uncle. 







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[1] U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, "BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010," [database on-line], Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2441 : viewed 12 January 2012), Luther W. JOHNS.
[2] 1920 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Court House, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, enumeration district (ED) 40, Page 16B/172B (stamped), Line 83, Dwelling 292, Family 300, Household of Julius JOHN; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : viewed 20 January 2013); citing National Archives Microfilm T625_1690.
[3] FATAL HIGHWAY ACCIDENT - Julius Johns obituary, The Chesterfield Advertiser, Chesterfield, South Carolina, 20 May 1937.
[4] James C. Pigg, Chesterfield County Cemetery Survey; Chesterfield County Genealogical Services, 1995, page 842. Tombstone of Mamie Johns; 21 September 1889–17 June 1938, Zoar United Methodist Church Cemetery, Chesterfield County, South Carolina.
[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Coast_Artillery_Corps

Sibling Saturday~Mother and 3 Children

Sitting is Mary Catherine “Mamie” Brock Johns with (L>R) Daughter, Mary, son Luther in his Mama’s lap and son Carl.

Mamie was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin Brock and Louise Ellen Sellers. She was born 21 Sept. 1889 and died 17 June 1938.  She married Julius Johns on June 16th., 1912. They had 8 children, a baby son died shortly after birth. Five sons and two daughters lived to adulthood. My Mother was their other daughter. The photo above was taken about 1918+/-a year. 

Mary Ellen Johns, born 5 May 1915, married, two children, 1 son and 1 daughter, died 5 Dec 1986.
 
Luther William Johns, b. 11 Apr 1917, served in WWII, married in Nebraska, 3 children; 2 Daughters and 1 son; died 9 August 1985, Cook County Illinois.  
{Note: to my cousins (Daughters of Luther & Jeanne) in California & Utah; would love to hear from you}

Carl Marion Johns, b. 5 July 1913, married 4 children, all deceased. Carl died 31 December 1992.

Mamie Brock Johns is my Grandmother and the 3 children are my Aunt and Uncles.

Military Monday–Luther W. Johns

Luther William Johns

11 April 1917 – 9 August 1985

In Remembrance

The posting today is ”In Remembrance” of my Uncle Luther  W. Johns, an older brother to my Mother. Grandpa Julius Johns was killed in a car accident in 1937 and a year later Grandma Johns died. The seven (7) children were left without any parents and although Uncle Luther and Carl were the oldest, the youngest child was a mere seven (7) years old when his parents died.   

So at 22 years 10 months 12 days, Uncle Luther joined the Army and became a paratrooper. He enlisted on 23 Jul 1940 and was discharged 23 September 1945.[1]  

Not much is known by the family about Uncle Luther’s Army service during World War II; but, we do know he was a paratrooper. During the War he was stationed in Nebraska most likely at the Alliance Army Airfield where he met his first wife - Jeanne Kathryn Sovereign, daughter of Alva W. Sovereign and wife Irma Estelle Burton.

After the war, Jeanne and Luther settled in Box Butte County, Nebraska and had two daughters, and a son.
While I was living in Utah I was able to locate the two daughters and we corresponded for a while. Then in 2000 I retired and moved back to North Carolina and lost contact with them. So cousins where ever you may be today, I’m thinking about you and your Father and would love it if you would send me an e-mail (click envelop on right side, scroll down to bottom of column)  




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[1] U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, "BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010," [database on-line], Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2441 : viewed 12 January 2012), Luther W. JOHNS.