Marion County Remembers

Remembering PVT Glenn Grenville Wadsworth (Boothsville) October 10, 1923 - January 20, 1945 ---- PVT Glenn Grenville Wadsworth (Service Number 35752793) was born in Smithfield, West Virginia on October 10, 1923, the son of Reverend Golden Gordon and Velma May (Starkey) Wadsworth. During the 1920 Census, Golden (often written as G.G. Wadsworth) was working on his family's farm on Broad Run Road near Ashley in Doddridge County. He still lived in Ashley when he and Velma married on January 2, 1921 (WV Marriage License), and in Doddridge County when Glenn was born in 1923, but by 1930 their family was living in Harrisville (Ritchie County) while G.G. worked as a Methodist Pastor (1930 Census), the career and calling he'd have for the rest of his life.  The 1940 Census found their family, including 16-year-old Glenn and his five siblings, living in Ft. Spring, WV, near Ronceverte in Greenbrier County. The 1940 census also notes that in April of 1935, their family was living in...

Remembering PVT William Melvin Conner (Fairmont/Millersville) November 9, 1906 - November 26, 1944 ---- "Still water runs deep" -1925 East Fairmont High School Orion Yearbook ---- PVT William Melvin Conner (Service #35760940) was born in Fairmont, WV on November 9, 1906, the son of Charles and Anne/Annese (Drake) Conner. City directories show their family living at 418 Diamond Street (1911 City Directory) and 217 Merchant Street (1913 City Directory) while Charles worked as a brakeman, before moving to Millersville to work as a car repairman for the B&O (first noted in the 1917 City Directory). Anna died sometime between 1913 and 1918. On October 14, 1918, when William was close to 12 years old, his uncle PVT Thomas Melvin Conner was killed in service during WWI. Their family remained in Millersville, and 1920 found Charles and William living with Charles' dad and brother (1920 Census).  Education: William attended East Fairmont High School, and graduated in the clas...

Remembering 2LT John Kendall Penrod (Fairmont) April 25, 1923 - September 28, 1944 ---- 2LT John Kendall Penrod (Service #O-1323962) was born April 25, 1923 in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Charles and Glenna (Kirby) Penrod. Charles was a foreman for the railroad company (1920 Census). By 1930, their family had moved back to Glenna's home state, West Virginia. Their family lived first in the Union District of Monongalia County (1930 Census), then 305 East Park Avenue in the Union District of Marion County (1940 Census). John graduated from East Fairmont High School in 1940. On March 14, 1941, John's father Charles died of a Cerebral Hemorrhage.  Military Service and Marriage: John registered for the draft on July 1, 1941. At the time, he was 6' and 150 lbs with blue eyes and brown hair. He was an employee at Owens-Illinois. He enlisted in the Army on September 16, 1942, at Fort Hayes in Columbus, Ohio. Amidst his military training, Cadet John Penrod (now stationed in Utah) ma...

Remembering PVT John Edwin "Buck" West (Fairmont) February 10, 1915 - August 29, 1944 ---- Note from the author: two days ago, we published a story about PVT West's brother-in-law, PVT Charles William Reynolds . Tragedy struck their family three times in two months, as PVT Reynolds was killed August 27, 1944, PVT West was killed August 29, 1944, and the brother of their respective wives, PFC Carl Tatterson , died as a POW on October 20, 1944.  ---- PVT John Edwin "Buck" West was born in Fairmont, WV, on February 10, 1915, the son of Clinton and Edna (Pople) West. Their family lived at 326 Haymond Street in Fairmont at the time of John's birth ( November 1914 West Virginian ), and Clint worked as a laborer at Owens-Illinois (1920 Census). The family moved around a bit, living at 332 Blaine Street for a time (1923, 1929 Fairmont City Directories) while Clint worked as a tinner, before moving to Holidays Cove in Brooke County where Clint worked as a house paint...

Remembering PVT Charles William Reynolds (Fairmont/Crossroads) March 16, 1914 - August 27, 1944 ---- PVT Charles William Reynolds (service #35847826) was born in Fairmont, WV on March 16, 1914, the son of William and Lessie (Lake) Reynolds. William, a farmer, lived with his family on what was listed on census records as Goose Creek (1920-1950 censuses), but more specifically, on what is now Levels Road, near Cross Roads. In 1929, Charles' only brother, Robert, died at age 17 of influenza and pneumonia. Charles attended East Fairmont High School for three years (Enlistment Record), and likely would have been in the graduating class of 1932 if he had completed his time there. Charles married Pauline Emma Tatterson on July 27, 1933. Three years later, in 1936, they welcomed a daughter named Patricia. Their family lived next door to Charles' parents, William and Lessie, on the family farm, while Charles worked as an apprentice mold maker at Owens-Illinois (1940 Census, Draft Card)....