Q1C James Gilbert Arnett (WWI)


Quartermaster First Class James Gilbert Arnett was born November 10, 1894, in Fairmont, West Virginia to Luther "Luke" and Sarah (Swindler) Arnett. In 1900, Luther (then 31) was working as a mail carrier. I wasn't able to obtain 1910 census data for the family, but by 1920 Luther was working as the City Clerk at the Marion County Courthouse, Sarah worked at a local department store, and James' older brother "Junior" worked as a painter.

James' WWI draft card, dated June 5, 1917, lists James as having brown hair, brown eyes, and being of medium height and build. The Thursday, January 31, 1918 issue of The West Virginian featured him in a list entitled "More Final Draft Classifications." His draft lottery number, as listed there, was 1414. He was living at 400 Spring Street in Fairmont, WV, and working as a levelman with engineers with the Monongahela Valley Traction Company, a passenger and freight railroad service.

James enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve Force in Parkersburg on February 1, 1918. James married Roberta Ida Bartlett on February 6, 1918, in Clarksburg, WV when he was 23 and she was 27.

Unfortunately, he died 8 months later (October 17, 1918) of pneumonia at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Hampton Roads, Virginia. His death certificate states that he was under medical care from October 3 to October 17th. The pneumonia was acquired while he had influenza.

James' wife, Bertie, was listed as living at 6 Hays Building in Fairmont at that time. Unfortunately, while the Hays Building still stands, it suffered major fire damage in April 2016.

Quartermaster First Class aviatiJames Gilbert Arnett was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Fairmont, WV.
His gravestone reads: 
J. Gilbert Arnett
Co. 1100 Aviation
Hampton Roads Va.
1894-1918

James is also honored on the "Million Dollar Bridge," in Fairmont, WV which was originally dedicated to WWI veterans in 1921

Roberta (Bartlett) Arnett remarried Abe Zimmerman on March 10, 1926 and lived until November 1, 1968 when she died at the age of 79. Roberta and Abe had no children. James' brother "Junior," who also served in WWI, survived the war and lived to the age of 54. Their mother, Sarah (Swindler) Arnett, outlived both of her sons.

Transcribed Articles:

Deaths and Funerals: Gilbert Arnett (The West Virginian; October 18, 1918)

Gilbert Arnett, a member of the land squadron of the aviation department, died last night at 11 o'clock in the Naval hospital at Norfolk, Va., after a two weeks' illness from influenza. His parents Mr. and Mrs. L.C. Arnett and his wife were at his bedside when he died, the parents having gone there a week ago in response to a message announcing his serious condition. His grandfather, W.E. Arnett, was also at Norfolk for a day but returned home last week.

Gilbert Arnett was aged about 23 years and had been in the service for several months. He had made rapid progress in his work and was in line for promotion. He is survived by his parents, his wife and one brother, Junior Arnett, now with the expeditionary forces in France. The body will be brought here for internment but no plans had been communicated to relatives here at this time.

Deaths and Funerals: Gilbert Arnett Buried (The West Virginian; October 22, 1918)
Funeral services over the body of Gilbert Arnett, who died from pneumonia at the Norfolk Naval hospital, will be held at 4 o'clock this afternoon from the residence of his parents, Mrs. and Mrs. Luke Arnett. The Rev. C.E. Goodwin will conduct the services and the body will be interred in Woodlawn cemetery.

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