Marion County Remembers

Remembering SGT Bernard Emery Toothman (Fairview) May 9, 1916 - December 14, 1944 ---- SGT Bernard Emery Toothman (Service number 15015784) was born in Fairview, WV on May 9, 1916, the son of Sterling and Augusta (Fletcher) Toothman. For a time, their small family lived in Akron, Ohio, where Sterling was a rubberworker at a factory (1920 Census). On August 18, 1925, Sterling, now a gas worker died at Cooks Hospital in Fairmont, WV at age 31. His cause of death was peritonitis and a perforated ulcer (WV Death Certificate). Augusta was left to raise Bernard and his younger brother, Elmer, by herself in Fairview. In 1935, she married A.V. Owens at the Church of Christ in Fairview. Bernard attended Fairview High School, graduating in the mid-1930s. Military Service: On October 16, 1940, Bernard registered for the draft in Morgantown, WV. At the time, he was working for Montgomery Ward and living at 407 Stewart Street. He was 5'7" and 160 lbs with gray eyes, black hair, and ruddy s...

Remembering PVT Robert Clyde Gump (Fairmont) February 26, 1926 - December 10, 1945 ---- Note: This will updated when I receive his Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF). ---- PVT Robert Clyde Gump (Service Number 13042582) was born in Fairmont, WV on February 26, 1926, the son of Edward and Ruby (Daniels) Gump.  Unfortunately, Ruby died of "acute nephritis" (WV Death Certificate) on January 27, 1928 at age 38, just three days after the birth of Robert's younger brother, William ( The Waynesburg Republican)  and two weeks after the death of her mother-in-law. She left behind five sons- John (12), Corbly (10), Edward Jr. (9), Robert (1), and William (3 days old). The 1930 Census found their family living at 517 Maryland Avenue in Fairmont, while Edward worked as a brush salesman.  That was short lived, however, and by 1940, thirteen-year-old Robert was a ward of the state, living at the Kappa Sigma Pi Camp in the Laurel Park area of Harrison County.  Robert attende...

From the 1946 Orion: "In grateful recognition of the valiant services of our returning veterans we dedicate to them this volume- the 1946 Orion. We would not forget to especially remember those who sacrificed most. In the honor to their memory we record here the names of those who gave their lives to allow us one more chance to preserve our American ideals for which so many of our forefathers have striven." Charles Adams: 1938 Ralph Bartholow Ray Boyers Howard Brown : 1930 Leonard "Leo" Brown : 1941 Fred Cannon: 1934 (also attended FSU) James Cervo Melvin Conner Frank Cosco Delmas C. Curry Robert Davis: 1931 (also attended FSU) Howard Dodd : 1941 Forrest F. Estel Samuel Fox, II Ralph Friscenda Glenn Nichols William Von Harris James H. Hayhurst Carl C. Heflin Tom Knox: 1941 William Layman : 1941 James Maddox: 1931 (also attended FSU) Payson McCray : 1930 J ohn McKinney, III : 1933 (also attended FSU) Theodore M. Mowery Harvey "Harry" Myers Clyde Walter Pier...

Remembering MSGT Robert G. Martin (Farmington) October 16, 1923 - November 30, 1944 ---- MSGT Robert G. Martin (Service Number 15019842) was born in Farmington, WV on October 16, 1923, the son of George and Mary (Joliff) Martin. George was a coal miner (1930-1950 Censuses), and their family lived on East Run in Farmington with George's widowed mother. Robert was the oldest of seven children- four boys, three girls. Robert attended Farmington High School, from which he graduated on June 5, 1941 (1945 Lincolneer Yearbook).  Military Service: On June 24, 1941, Robert, age 17, enlisted in the Army Air Corps at Fort Hayes in Columbus, Ohio. At the time, he was 5'9" and 154 lbs (Army Enlistment Record). Robert became a member of the 674th Bomber Squadron, 417th Bomber Group, Light. On November 30, 1944, Robert was an Engineer on board Douglas A-20G Havoc 43-22228, piloted by 1LT James E. Inglehart. Their plane took off from Pitoe Airstrip, with an intended destination of Halmah...

Remembering PFC Frank Fugera September 11, 1919 - November 8, 1942 ---- Note: Several sources refer to Frank as CPL Frank Fugera, but his Individual Deceased Personnel File and Burial Records list him as PFC Fugera. ---- PFC Frank Fugera (Service Number 13023728) was born September 11, 1919 in the Hawkinberry Hollow area of Rivesville, WV, the son of John and Elizabeth Fugera. John and Elizabeth had immigrated in the early 1900s from Austria, with their oldest daughter, Mary (John 1902, Elizabeth and Mary 1904; 1920 Census). John was a coal miner, later working as a machinist for the coal mine (1930 census). By 1930, their family had moved just across the border into Monongalia County, with a note in the 1940 census indicating that they'd lived in "Talbott" since at least 1935.  None of the twelve Fugera siblings graduated from high school, with the majority completing their education in 8th grade. By 1940, Frank was supporting his whole household (parents and three young...

Remembering PFC Francis Lee David (Mannington/Fairmont) November 11, 1922 - November 1, 1945 ---- PFC Francis Lee David (Service Number 15338315) was born in Mannington, WV, on November 11, 1922, the son of David and Ethel (Spencer) David. Their family lived on Maple Avenue in Fairmont (1930-1950 Censuses). Modi, who immigrated from Mt. Lebanon, Syria in 1904 (Naturalization Paperwork), had many jobs in the food and entertainment industries. In addition to other ventures, he served as a pool hall operator in Mannington (1920 Census), a merchant for a retail confectionary (1930 and 1950 Censuses), and the manager for a beer parlor (1940 census). Francis attended school through 6th grade before dropping out, and by 1940 (age 17) was working as a street laborer for the National Youth Administration. He would have attended Fairmont Senior High School with his siblings if he had continued his education. Francis registered for the draft on June 30, 1942, at age 19. At the time, he was residi...