Bessie Viola Koonce

Other Events:

• Census: 25 Jun 1900, Chapel township, Howell County, Missouri, USA
• Census: 26 Apr 1910, Union township, Lincoln County, Oklahoma, USA
• Census: 27 Jan 1920, Chandler township, Lincoln County, Oklahoma, USA
• Census: 1 May 1930, Union township, Lincoln County, Oklahoma, USA
• Census: 4 Apr 1940, 303 Dewey Ave., Chandler, Lincoln County, Oklahoma, USA
• Residence: Nov 1957, Chandler, Lincoln County, Oklahoma, USA

Notes:

Census:

1. Koonce, Robert, head, white, male, November 1867, 32, married 9 years, Illinois, Illinois, Illinois, laborer, saw mill, can read and write, renting house
2. _____, Nora, wife, white, female, January 1868, 32, married 9 years, 5 children 4 living, Tennessee, Tennessee, Tennessee, can read and write
3. _____, Bessie, daughter, white, female, May 1892, 8, did not attend school, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee
4. _____, Effie, daughter, white, female, October 1893, 6, did not attend school, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee
5. _____, Minnie, daughter, white, female, June 1896, 3, Missouri, illinois, Tennesse
6. _____, Wesley, son, white, male, June 1898, 1, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee

Census:

1. Koonce, Robert H., head, male, white, 42, first marriage, married at age 19, Illinois, Tennessee, Kentucky, farmer, own account, can read and write, owns farm with mortgage, farm schedule no. 57
2. _____, Nora L., wife, female, white, 42, first marriage, married age 18, 10 children 8 living, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, can read and write
3. _____, Bessie V., daughter, female, white, 17, single, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, attending school, can read and write
4. _____, Effie E., daughter, female, white, 16, single, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, attending school, can read and write
5. _____, Jennie M., daughter, female, white, 12, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, attending school, can read and write
6. _____, Wesley R., son, male, white, 11, Missouri, illinois, Tennessee, attending school, can read and write
7. _____, Virgie E., daughter, female, white, 8, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, attending school, can read and write
8. _____, Emma EE., daughter, female, white, 5, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, attending school, can read and write
9. _____, Lula M., daughter, female, white, 3, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee
10. _____, Willis W., son, male, white, [7 months], Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee

Census:

1. Thomas, John W., head, renting, male, white, 28, married, can read and write, Missouri, North Carolina, U. S., farmer, operator, farm schedule no. 118
2. _____, Bessie V., wife, female, white, 27, married, can read and write, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee
3. _____, Zola E., daughter, female, white, 4 years 6 months, Missouri, Missouri, Missouri
4. _____, Robert C., son, male, white, 3 years 5 months, Missouri, Missouri, Missouri
5. _____, Byron G. son, male, white, 2 years 5 months, Oklahoma, Missouri, Missouri
6. _____, Wellford D., male, white, 1, Oklahoma, Missouri, Missouri

Census:

1. Thomas, John W., head, renting, farm, male, white, 36, married, first married age 20, can read and write, Missouri, North Carolina, Illinois, farmer, farm, not a veteran, farm schedule no. 154
2. _____, Bessie V., wife, female, white, 30, married, first married age 14, can read and write, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee
3. _____, Zola E., daughter, female, white, 15, attending school, can read and write, Missouri, Missouri, Missouri
4. _____, Robert C., son, male, white, 13, attending school, can read and write, Missouri, Missouri, Missouri
5. _____, Byron E., son, male, white, 12, attending school, can read and write, Oklahoma, Missouri, Missouri
6. _____, Pricilla L., daughter, female, white, 9, attending school, can read and write, Oklahoma, Missouri, Missouri

Census:

1. Thomas, John W., head, renting, $15, not a farm, male, white, 48, completed 3 years college, Missouri, lived same place 1935, works for pay, has a job, worked 48 hours, county superintendent of schools, Lincoln County, worked 52 weeks, income $1290
2. _____, Bessie V., wife, female, white, 48, married, completed 2 years college, Missouri, same place (1935), not working for pay
3. _____, Lorane, daughter, female, white, 19, single, attending school, completed 1 year college, Oklahoma, same place (1935)
4. Koonce, Nora, mother in law, female, white, 70, widowed, completed grade 8, Tennessee, same place (1935)

Bessie married John Wesley Thomas on 25 Aug 1914 in Howell County, Missouri, USA. John (son of Christopher Columbus "Lum" Thomas and California Isabelle White) was born on 3 Oct 1891 in Howell County, Missouri, USA; died on 18 Jan 1977 in Lincoln County, Oklahoma, USA; was buried in New Zion Cemetery, Davenport, Lincoln County, Oklahoma, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Children: 2. Zola Ernestine Thomas   was born on 11 Jun 1915 in Missouri, USA; died on 11 Dec 1980 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, USA. 3. Robert C. Thomas   was born on 23 Jul 1916 in Douglas County, Missouri, USA; died on 3 Jul 2010 in Santa Ana, Orange County, California, USA; was buried in Fairhaven Memorial Park, Santa Ana, Orange County, Calfiornia, USA. 4. Byron Garfield Thomas   was born on 25 Jul 1917 in Lincoln County, Oklahoma, USA; died on 21 Nov 1997 in Chandler, Lincoln County, Oklahoma, USA. 5. Wilford D. Thomas   was born on 15 Dec 1918 in Oklahoma, USA; died on 6 Mar 1920 in Lincoln County, Oklahoma, USA; was buried in New Zion Cemetery, Davenport, Lincoln County, Oklahoma, USA. 6. Priscilla Lorane Thomas   was born on 20 Mar 1921 in Chandler, Lincoln County, Oklahoma, USA; died on 1 Mar 2014 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, USA . 7. Mary Elizabeth Thomas   was born in 1922 in Lincoln County, Oklahoma, USA; died in 1922 in Lincoln County, Oklahoma, USA; was buried in New Zion Cemetery, Davenport, Lincoln County, Oklahoma, USA.

Notes:

Birth:

Photo of cemetery marker attached to Ancestry file, offering birth and death dates.

Zola married Abraham Taft Brixey on 31 Oct 1931. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Biography: 2010, Santa Ana, Orange County, California, USA

Notes:

Biography:

Bio from FindAGrave entry:

ROBERT "BOB" CHRISTOPHER THOMAS SR.

Robert Christopher Thomas, known by most as Bob, was born July 23,1916 at Mountain View, Missouri, the son of John Wesley Thomas and Bessie Viola Koonce Thomas, both of Missouri.

A few months after his birth, seeking better farming opportunities, the family relocated to Lincoln County, Oklahoma.

His elementary education was obtained in Oklahoma, and in 1935 he graduated from Chandler High School, Chandler, Oklahoma. Then followed two years at Junior A & M College at Tishomingo, Oklahoma, and one year at Central State College, just north of Oklahoma City.

On June 26,1938 Bob married Edna Ruth Goodbary, in the Friends Christian Church, north of Chandler, Oklahoma, and this union were born two children, Roberta Ann Mullings in 1939, and Robert C. Thomas Jr 1953.

In 1943 Bob enlisted in the US Army at Ft. MacArthur, San Pedro, and completed him basic infantry training at Camp Robert, California. He shipped overseas and joined the 2nd Special Brigade, Army Amphibious Engineers, 592nd Shore and Boat Regiment, and ended the war in Inchon, Korea. It is worth noting that the 2nd Special Brigade made more hostile beach landings than any other unit in WWII. He returned from his service overseas in 1946 and went back to work at Todd Shipyard.

In late 1946, Bob along with D.W.Clark established the C & T Electric Company in Newport Beach. After his partner's death in 1949, Bob moved the business to Santa Ana where he established Thomas Electric. Over the years he performed a great deal of service and repair work for many of the old early families of Orange County, resulting in friendships of which he was extremely proud. He never advertised his business, relying on word of mouth, the quality of work, and his intergity and reputation. In 1995, after nearly 50 years in business, Bob and Ruth closed the doors to Thomas Electric and retired his electrical contracting liscense.

Bob was a member of the Friends Christians Church, and was a past president of Toatstmaster's International, but he especially enjoyed his work with the many different Masonic organizations here in Southern California, and was partcularly proud of his nearly 50 years of supporting youth groups such as Job"s Daughters and DeMolay.

Accomplishment is Free Masonary:

Member Santa Ana Masonic Lodge #505.
Past Worshipful Master, Laguna Beach Masonic Lodge #672.
Member Orange Grove Masonic Lodge #293.
Member, Order of Eastern Star.
Member Scotish Rite.
Member Royal Arch Chapter #56.
Past High Priest, Santa Ana Royal Arch Chapter #73.
Past Illustrious Master of Santa Ana Council #14.
Inspection of Grand Council of Cryptic Masons, Arch #15 for 7 years.
Past Commander, Santa Ana Commandery of Knight Templars #36.
Member,Red Cross of Constatine.
Member, Los Angeles Priory #27.
Past Sovereigh Master of Queens St John and Orange Coast Council of AMD (Alied Masonic Degrees).
Member, High twelve Club.
Member, Al Maleka Shrine.
Charter life memeber of El Bandito Shrine Club.
Member Los Nietos Valleyl Shrine Club.
Masonic Representative to the State of Maryland.

RECIPIENT OF THE FOLLOWING AWARDS:

Kinght of the York Cross of Honor-KYCH,1976
Ish Soki Award,1976.
Knights Templar Meritorious Service Medal
Cross of Honor, 1978.
DeMolar Legion of Honor,2003.

For the most part, Bob enjoyed good health most of his life, and continued to live on his own after the passing of his beloved wife in 2001.

NOTE:
In December of 2009 Bob suffered a stroke, and after his discharge from the hospital he lived with his daughter and son, and while somewhat limited by his declining physical condition enjoyed the company of family ad great deal. On Tuesday, June 29th Bob suffered a much more severe stroke, from which he did not recover. Bob passed away peacefully at the home of his daughter, Roberta on July 3,2010. He is survived by one sister, Lorraine Stinchcomb, of Oklahoma City, his daughter Roberta of Santa Ana, and son Robert and daughter-in-law-Mila of Placenita, as well as grandchildren Celane, Rebekah, Robert III, John Wesley and Emily Ruth, and great grandchildren, Nicole, Christopher, Madeline and Ethan.

Family links:
Parents:
John Wesley Thomas (1891 - 1977)
Bessie Viola Koonce Thomas (1892 - 1960)

Spouse:
Edna Ruth Goodbary

Burial:
Fairhaven Memorial Park
Santa Ana
Orange County
California, USA

Robert married Edna Ruth Goodbary on 26 Jun 1938 in Friends Christian Church, Chandler, Lincoln County, Oklahoma, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Children: 8. Robert C. Thomas, DNA

Byron married Helen Agnes Reed on 27 Dec 1935 in Chandler, Lincoln County, Oklahoma, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:

FindAGrave offers a photo of the double grave of Wilford Thomas and his apparent sister Mary. Only a year of birth and death is offered by the stone, 1918-1920. Source for actual dates is unknown. Place of death is assumed to be Lincoln County because the family was enumerated there in January of that year.

Other Events:

• Residence: Jul 2010, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, USA;

  An apparent obituary on the FindAGrave listing for her brother Robert C. Thomas states that he was survived by one sister, "Loraine Stinchcomb" of Oklahoma City.

Family/Spouse: Floyd Wilson Dunning. Floyd was born about 1917; died in 1972. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• DNA note: Ancestry DNA match. Messaged on 25 Jan 2016.