Marion County Remembers

Remembering MTSGT Edward Payson McCray (Fairmont/Norwood) October 7, 1912 - September 16, 1944 ---- Master Technical Sergeant Edward Payson McCray was born in Fairmont, West Virginia on October 7, 1912, the son of Charles and Lulu (McGinnis). Charles was a mail carrier, and a farmer, in the Winfield District (Rt 3, 1910-1920 Census). Lulu filed for divorce in Michigan on July 28, 1926, after 31 years of marriage. It was finalized on January 13, 1927, and she married Charles Morley shortly thereafter. Edward lived with his mother and stepfather, also a farmer, in Benton, Ohio (1930 Census).  College, First Military Service, and Marriage: Edward graduated from East Fairmont High School in 1930, and attended Fairmont State College (now Fairmont State University) in 1931 and 1932.  Edward initially entered the service on December 2, 1933, beginning with an Aviation Maintenance Squadron in Quantico. On March 28, 1937, he married Margery Ethel Thompson (a doctor's assistant) in...

Remembering PFC Howard Wade Dodd (Fairmont/Pleasant Valley) April 7, 1922 - July 26, 1944 ---- PFC Howard Wade Dodd (Service #475400)   was born in Fairmont, WV on April 7, 1922, the son of Clarence and Nellie (Dillow) Dodd. Clarence worked at the Fairmont Motor Company, working his way up from "service man" (1930 Census) to mechanic (1940 Census) to service manager (1938 Fairmont City Directory). Between 1939 and 1943 he made the switch to working at the Fairmont Box Company, where he worked until his retirement. All the while, their growing family lived on Miller Avenue in Millersville. Education: Howard attended East Fairmont High School, graduating in the class of 1941. The 1940 Orion lists Howard's nickname as "Zeke, and the 1941 Orion yearbook, Howard as a member of the Yellow Jacket newspaper staff during his time at EFHS.  It is unfortunate to note that Howard was not the only member of the EFHS class of 1941 to die in service during WWII. His classmates Wil...

PFC William "Bill" Ellsworth Layman was born November 10, 1923 in Fairmont, WV, the son of Ellsworth and Martha (McMillan) Layman. William was the oldest of two kids, with a younger sister named Barbara who was around 5 years younger than him. In 1930 and 1940, Ellsworth was working as an electrician at the Domestic Coke Plant in Fairmont, while the family lived at 610 Ohio Avenue (a short distance from the old East Fairmont High School/new East Fairmont Middle). 1941, William graduated from East Fairmont High School. The 1941 Orion yearbook stated that during his time at EFHS, he participated in Student Council, Latin Club, French Club, Glee Club, and Basketball, and was the Circulation Manager for the Yellow Jacket school newspaper. He was also an assistant in the business department of the Orion Yearbook Staff. This one really struck home for me, because like William, my great uncle Jim Erdie graduated from EFHS in 1941, and also played basketball. Usually this research is...