1. 1940 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; Hensley Hallow; E.D. 24-36; taken
on 29 Apr 1940; Page 740A; Image 39 of 48; Household #325.
Listed as Cotey St. John; age 13; born in WV; 5th grade education; attending school; lived in
Hemphill, McDowell Co, WV on 1 Apr 1935; in household of father, Roger St. John.
2. U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947: Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Name: Cody Herman St John
Race: White
Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
Birth Place: Capels, West Virginia, USA
Birth Date: 3 Oct 1926
Residence: Roderfield, Mcdowell, West Virginia, USA
Registration Date: 6 Oct 1944
Weight: 135
Complexion: Light
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Blonde
Height: 5 8
Next of Kin: Irene St John
Household Members:
Name Relationship
Cody Herman St John Self (Head)"
3. U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946; Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Name: Cody H St John
Birth Year: 1926
Race: White, citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: West Virginia
State of Residence: West Virginia
Enlistment Date: 11 Apr 1946
Enlistment State: Ohio
Enlistment City: Fort Hayes Columbus
Branch: No branch assignment
Branch Code: No branch assignment
Grade: Private
Grade Code: Private
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Source: Civil Life
Education: 2 years of high school
Civil Occupation: Unskilled miscellaneous occupations, n.e.c.
Marital Status: Single, without dependents
Height: 76
Weight: 666"
4. World War II Young American Patroits, 1941-1945: McDowell Co, WV; Page 416; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Cody Herman St. John; Corporal; US Army; born 3 Oct 1926; entered service 10 Apr 1946; served at Camps
Atterbury and Polk, LA; Fort Sheridan, IL; San Francisco, CA; Ft. Dix, NJ; Ft. Sam Houston, TX; Camp
Stoneman, CA and Guam; awarded Good Conduct Medal, VM; attended Welch HS; Protestant; son of M/M R.
H. St. John, Big Sandy, WV.
5. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007: Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Name: Cody Herman St John
[Cody St John]
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birth Date: 3 Oct 1926
Birth Place: Capels McDow, West Virginia
Death Date: Aug 1973
Father: Roger H St John
Mother: Irene R St John
SSN: 234408915
Notes: 22 Nov 1983: Name listed as CODY HERMAN ST JOHN; 29 Dec 1987: Name listed as CODY ST JOHN"
6. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010: Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Name: Cody St. John
Birth Date: 3 Oct 1926
Death Date: 26 Aug 1973
SSN: 234408915
Branch 1: ARMY
Enlistment Date 1: 11 Apr 1946
Release Date 1: 6 May 1947"
7. Illinois, Cook County Deaths; LDS Web Site.
"Name Cody H St John
Event Type Death
Event Date 26 Aug 1973
Event Place Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States
Address 2609 W Hirsch St
Gender Male
Age 46
Marital Status Married
Race White
Occupation Plant Manager
Birth Date 03 Oct 1926
Birthplace , , West Virginia
Funeral Home Altman And Panfil Funeral Home
Burial Date 30 Aug 1973
Burial Place Roderfield, , West Virginia
Cemetery Iaeger Memorial
Father's Name Roger St John
Mother's Name Irene St John
Spouse's Name Denise Desorcie
Informant's Name Denise L St John
Entry Number 623094"
8. FindAGrave.com Web Site; Iaeger Memorial Cemetery, Roderfield, McDowell Co, WV; submitted by
B. Walls; 9 Mar 2014.
Cody St. John; born 3 Oct 1926; died 26 Aug 1973; buried here; headstone photo shown.
"CPL US ARMY".
1. U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947; Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Name: Darrell Dewey Rambo
Race: White
Age: 18
Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
Birth Place: Saint Paul, Virginia, USA
Birth Date: 23 Nov 1927
Residence Place: Bradshaw, Mcdowell, West Virginia, USA
Registration Date: 23 Nov 1945
Occupation: Unemployed
Weight: 135
Complexion: Ruddy
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Blonde
Height: 5 8
Next of Kin: Walter Rambo
Household Members:
Name Relationship
Darrell Dewey Rambo Self (Head)
Walter Rambo Father"
2. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1946); Page 164; WV Archives Web Site.
Darrell D. Rambo; age 22; born in St. Paul, VA; single; living at Iaeger, WV; married on 13 Jul 1946
at Iaeger, WV; Clyde Brown; age 22 born in Elkhorn, WV; single; living at Iaeger, WV.
3. Russell Co, VA Marriage License #32184; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Darrell D. Rambo; age 33; born in Wise Co, VA; widowed; truck driver; living at Iaeger, WV; son of
Walter G. and Lillian (Pruit) Rambo; married on 13 oct 1962 at Lebanon, VA; Phyllis Damron; age
26; born and living at Iaeger, WV; single; daughter of Adam and Gracie (Bailey) Damron.
4. Fanning Funeral Home; Iaeger, WV; Posted Obit.
"Darrell Dewey Rambo 88, of Rural Retreat, VA passed away Monday December 25, 2017 at the Carrington Place in Rural Retreat, VA. Darrell was born April 25, 1929 in Wise County Virginia, a son of the late Walter and Lillian Trent Rambo, he was a former coal miner as well as a mechanic and a Wyoming County Magistrate.In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his first wife Clydie Carter Rambo, infant daughter, Deloris Rambo. One daughter, Peggy Jo Caudill, Sister, Lola Montero; Brothers Elmer, Bert, James and Donald Rambo; son-in-law Ernie Griffith. Survivors include his sons, Walter Rambo and wife Gladys of Hanover, WV, Doug Rambo and wife Christine of Portsmouth, VA, Darwin Rambo and Wife Barbara of Ikes Fork, WV, Steve Rambo and wife Holly of Indianapolis, IN, Destry Rambo and wife Christine of Iaeger, WV, Bobby Rambo of Indianapolis, IN and Jamie Rambo of Ceres, VA; his daughters, Chrystal Griffith of Bastian, VA, April Rambo of Princeton, WV and Melissa King; several grandchildren and great grandchildren and former wife Phyllis Dameron.Funeral Services will be conducted Friday, December 29, 2017 at 1 p.m. at the Fanning Funeral Home Chapel in Iaeger, WV, with Reverend James Cline officiating. Burial will follow in the Iaeger Memorial Cemetery in Roderfield, WV. ..."
1. Russell Co, VA Marriage License #32184; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Darrell D. Rambo; age 33; born in Wise Co, VA; widowed; truck driver; living at Iaeger, WV; son of
Walter G. and Lillian (Pruit) Rambo; married on 13 oct 1962 at Lebanon, VA; Phyllis Damron; age
26; born and living at Iaeger, WV; single; daughter of Adam and Gracie (Bailey) Damron.
2. Fanning Funeral Home; Iaeger, WV; Posted Obit.
"Phyllis Damron Rambo, 81, of Princeton, WV, passed away Sunday, September 2, 2018, with her daughter, April, following a vehicle accident on Route 460 in Bluefield, WV."Phyllis was born September 25, 1936 in Iaeger, WV, a daughter of the late Adam and Grace Bailey Damron. She loved serving the Lord and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
"In addition to her parents Phyllis was preceded in death by three sisters and two brothers.
"Survivors include five sons and two daughters, Darwin Rambo and wife Barbara of Ikes Forks, WV, Crystal Griffith of Bastian, VA, Douglas Rambo and wife Chris of Portsmouth, VA, Destrey Rambo and wife Christine of Iaeger, WV, Melissa King of North Carolina, Steve Rambo and wife Holly of Indianapolis, IN, and Jamie Rambo of Ceres, VA; two step sons, Walter Rambo and wife Gladys of Hanover, and Bobby Rambo of Indianapolis, IN.;19 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren; two sisters, Linda Klein of Texas and Vernie Natola of Cleveland, OH; and two brothers, Ernie and Ted Damron both of Ikes Fork.
"Funeral services will be conducted Friday, September 7, 2018, at 11 o’clock with Reverend Scotty Maxfield and Reverend James Cline officiating at the Chapel of Fanning Funeral Home in Iaeger, WV. Burial will follow in the Cline Cemetery at Ikes Fork, WV...."
1. Fanning Funeral Home; Iaeger, WV; Posted Obit.
"April Dawn Rambo, 37, of Princeton, WV, passed away Sunday, September 2, 2018, with her mother, Phyllis, following a vehicle accident on Route 460 in Bluefield, WV."April was born March 9, 1981, in Bluefield, WV, a daughter of the late Darrell Rambo and Phyllis Damron Rambo. She enjoyed going to church, singing, and shopping at WalMart.
"In addition to her father, Darrell, April was preceded in death by one sister, Peggy.
"Survivors include five brothers and two sisters, Darwin, Crystal, Douglas, Destrey, Melissa, Steve and Jamie; two step brothers, Eddie and Bobby; two uncles, Ernie and Ted; two aunts, Linda and Vernie; 19 nieces and nephews and 23 great nieces and nephews.
"Funeral services will be conducted Friday, September 7, 2018, at 11 o’clock with Reverend Scotty Maxfield and Reverend James Cline officiating at the Chapel of Fanning Funeral Home in Iaeger, WV. Burial will follow in the Cline Cemetery at Ikes Fork, WV..."
1. Wyoming Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1962); Page 2; WV Archives Web Site.
Gene Arden Vance; age 25; born in Capels, WV; divorced; living at Hanover, WV; son of
William W. and Bertha Vance; married on 3 Dec 1962 at Pineville, WV; June Carol Steele;
age 21; born in Iaeger, WV; single; living at Ikes Fork, WV; daughter of David and Virginia Steele.
2. Russell Co, VA; Marriage License #77 047655; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Gene A. Vance; age 40; born 16 May 1937 at Capels, WV; divorced; this was his 4th marriage;
4 yrs college education; living at PO Box 549, Oceana, WV; son of Bill and Bertha (Lockhart)
Vance; married on 21 Oct 1977 at Lebanon, VA; Myrtle V. Hendrick; maiden name Cordel;
age 45; born 12 Nov 1931 at Rista, WV; widow; this was her 2nd marriage; 4hrs HS education;
living at Box 128, Pineville, WV; daughter of Albert and Bessie (Short) Cordle.
3. Russell Co, VA; Marriage License #80-002813; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Gene Arden Vance; age 42; born 16 May 1937 at Capels, WV; 4 yrs college education; divorced;
this was his 5th marriage; living at Box 839, Pineville, WV; son of William and Bertha (Lockhart)
Vance; married on 2 Jan 1980 i Lebanon, VA; Casperette Griffith; maiden name West; age 44;
born 18 Oct 1935 in Big Branch, WV; widow; this was her 2nd marriage; 12 th grade education;
living at Box 51, Oceana, WV; daughter of DeeRoy and Clara (Winkler) West.
4. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Name: Gene Arden Vance
[Gene Vance]
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birth Date: 16 May 1937
Birth Place: Capels McDow, West Virginia
Death Date: Apr 1987
Father: William E Vance
Mother: Bertha C Lockhart
SSN: 236520289
Notes: Aug 1951: Name listed as GENE ARDEN VANCE; 04 Jan 1988: Name listed as GENE VANCE"
5. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010; Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Name: Gene Vance
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 16 May 1937
Death Date: 17 Apr 1987
SSN: 236520289
Enlistment Date 1: 7 Jul 1954
Release Date 1: 5 Jul 1957
Branch 2: ARMY
Enlistment Date 2: 7 Apr 1959
Release Date 2: 31 May 1976"
6. Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; Ancestry.com Web Site.
"Name: Gene Vance
SSN: 236-52-0289
BORN: 16 May 1937
Last Benefit: 24870, Oceana, Wyoming, West Virginia, United States of America
Died: Apr 1987
State (Year) SSN issued: West Virginia (1951)"
7. FindAGrave.com Web Site; Iaeger Memorial Cemetery, Roderfield, McDowell Co, WV;
submitted by B. Walls; 7 Apr 2014.
Gene A. Vance; born 16 May 1937; died 17 Apr 1987; buried here; double headstone photo shown
with wife Casperetta G. Vance; "MARRIED JAN. 2, 2980'; grave marker photo slso shown; "MAJ *
US ARMY * VIETNAM".
1. Wyoming Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1962); Page 2; WV Archives Web Site.
Gene Arden Vance; age 25; born in Capels, WV; divorced; living at Hanover, WV; son of
William W. and Bertha Vance; married on 3 dec 1962 at Pineville, WV; June Carol Steele;
age 21; born in Iaeger, WV; single; living at Ikes Fork, WV; daughter of David and Virginia Steele.
1. FindAGrave.com Website; submitted by Erik Lander; 20 May 2002.
"SSGT Gene Arden Vance Jr.
Birth 30 Nov 1964
Morgantown, Monongalia County, West Virginia, USA
Death 19 May 2002 (aged 37)
Paktika, Afghanistan
Burial
East Oak Grove Cemetery
Morgantown, Monongalia County, West Virginia, USA
Memorial ID 6429392"Additional Information Posted:
"United States Army Staff Sergeant. Killed in action in Afghanistan during Operation enduring Freedom. Assigned to the 19th Special Forces Group, West Virginia National Guard. The 6-foot, 4-inch Green Beret was a member of the Kenova, West Virginia-based 19th Special Forces Unit, spoke Farsi, won a Bronze Star for valor in 1993, and canceled his honeymoon when his unit was put on alert in December. But he also enjoyed the music of Dick Dale and the Grateful Dead, rafting, hiking and cycling. Sgt. Vance Jr. was a 10-year (98G MI, SF SOT-A) veteran of the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) West Virginia National Guard. He is survived by his wife Lisa and a daughter. Vance was taking part in Operation Mountain Lion, designed to locate, isolate and destroy al Qaeda and Taliban fighters in eastern Afghanistan when his unit, the 19th Special Forces Group, came under heavy fire. He was shot in a mountainous Shkin area in the east and died in surgery. Vance was posthumously promoted to Staff Sergeant."
2. U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current; Ancestry.com Website.
"Name: Gene Arden Vance Jr.
Gender: Male
Death Age: 38
Birth Date: 30 Nov 1963
Birth Place: Frankfort, Germany
Residence Place: Morgantown, W. VA
Death Date: 19 May 2002
Death Place: Skhin, Afghanistan
Burial Date: 28 May
Burial Place: Dorsey Avenue
Father:
Gene Arden Vance
Mother:
June Steele Vance
Spouse:
Lisa Selmon Vance
Child:
Amber Nicole Vance
Siblings:
William David Vance
Jamie Vance-Minc"
3. "Metro News"; Morgantown, WV; Posted Artical"
"Gene Vance Jr. Day set for Saturday in Morgantown
By Mike Nolting
May 20, 2022 - 11:29 am"MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The life of the first West Virginia National Guard member to die in the War on Terror will be remembered Saturday in Morgantown with the 11th annual Gene Vance Jr. Day.
Gene Vance Jr"Vance, who grew up in Wyoming County but lived in Morgantown, died May 18, 2002. while deployed in Afghanistan in the early days Operation Enduring Freedom. He came under fire while on patrol. He was 39-years-old.
"“He saved the lives of 11 Afghans and two American soldiers and was critically wounded,” Mike Minc, founder of the Vance Jr. Foundation, said this week on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town.” “They were on a mission to find Bin Laden after that terrible attack on 9/11...."
1. 1930 Census, Wyoming Co, WV, Oceana District, taken on 19 Apr 1930, Page 198B, Family #222.
Listed as Russell Lewis, age 15, born in WV, in household of father, William W. Lewis.
2. Wyoming Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1944); Page 443; WV Archives Web Site.
Robert R. Lewis; age 25; born and living in Oceana, WV' single; son of W.W. and Alma (Elkins)
Lewis; married on 22 Sep 1944 at Oceana, WV; Ruth Elizabeth Jones; age 21; born and living at
Sabine, WV; single; daughter of R.G. and Susie Jone.
1. Wyoming Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1944); Page 443; WV Archives Web Site.
Robert R. Lewis; age 25; born and living in Oceana, WV' single; son of W.W. and Alma (Elkins)
Lewis; married on 22 Sep 1944 at Oceana, WV; Ruth Elizabeth Jones; age 21; born and living at
Sabine, WV; single; daughter of R.G. and Susie Jone.
2. Stafford Funeral Home; Oceana, WV; Posted Obit.
"Ruth Elizabeth Jones Lewis, 91, of Oceana, WV passed away on Monday November 27, 2017 at her
home. She was born on October 29, 1926 a daughter of the late Ross and Elma Ann Canaberry Jones.
Ruth was a member of the Joseph Baptist Church. In addition to her parents she is preceded in death
by her husband Russell Robert Lewis; two daughters Judith Ann Lewis and Brenda Kay Lewis; two
sons James Robert Lewis, Sr. and Charles Steve Brunty; a brother-in-law Charles Parsons; three
brothers Leon Jones, James L. Jones and John D. Jones; a sister Zelda Elkins; and a special friend
Charles Ross Brunty. Survivors include a son James Robert "Bobby" (Shadow) Lewis, Jr. of Oceana; a
sister Gloria Ann Parsons of Canton, OH; five grandchildren Robin (Richard) Hatfield, Kristen Castle,
Kelly (Brett) Baker, Steven Brunty and Charles (Lydia) Brunty; ten great grandchildren Ashley, Kylun,
Jaxson, Braxton, Auden, Brently, Draven, Jacob, Able and Hailey; special friends Stephanie, Nikki and
Araya; her caretaker Sheryl Hope Lucas and a host of other loving family and friends. Funeral services
will be held at Noon on Tuesday December 5, 2017 at Joseph Baptist Church, Lynco, WV with Pastor
William Cook and Rev. Jeffery Elkins officiating. She will be laid to rest in Sunset Memorial Gardens,
Beckley, WV. ..."