Minerd.com Biography of Robert Patterson Fawcett and Wives Minnie Clyde Johnson and Bertha Lake of Grafton, WV

They produced eight children together -- David Earl Fawcett, John Calvin Fawcett, Lula Clyde Shaw, Frederick T. Fawcett, William Clinton Fawcett, Lena McAfee, Robert "Franklin" Fawcett and Bessie Bartlett.

In 1901, when Robert was about age 40, they moved to a new home in Webster, in the Court House district of Taylor County near Grafton. The Grafton Sentinel said he was "a devout member of the Methodist church."

A grandson later recalled their "big house at Webster and reunions, and just across the highway, the birthplace of Anna Jarvis [founder of Mother's Day]."

The Jarvis birthplace is seen here on a very steep hill, as photographed in July 2008.

Like his brother Henry Fawcett and cousin Marcellus "Bailey" Fawcett, Robert suffered from prostate cancer. After enduring the disease for 18 months, he died of its effects at the age of 85, at home in Webster, on March 18, 1947. The funeral was held at the home of his daughter Bessie Bartlett, and also at the Bartlett Funeral Home. He was laid to rest in the Webster Cemetery.

He was a boilermaker employed by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in Grafton. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge and a prominent leader of the local Lutheran Church.

On April 24, 1912, at the age of 28, David married 25-year-old Carrie Edith Cassell (1887-1970), the daughter of John and Charlotta (Shafferman) Cassell. A.F. Richardson officiated.

They resided in the Blueville area of Grafton and had five children -- Earl Patterson Fawcett, Carl Cassell Fawcett, Joseph Harold Fawcett, Charlotta Selders and Paul William "Pete" Fawcett.

He passed away of the effects of pancreatic cancer, at the age of 65, on Aug. 26, 1949, and was laid to rest at Woodsdale Cemetery in Grafton.

Carrie outlived her husband by 21 years, and passed away on April 8, 1970. In her obituary, the Grafton Daily Sentinel said she "was a member of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church."

Son Earl Patterson Fawcett (1916- ? ) was born in 1916. He moved to Charleston, Kanawha County, WV. There, on May 8, 1942, at the age of 26, he wed 23-year-old Leah Ann Harrah (Aug. 5, 1919-1981), a native of Addison, Gallia County, OH. Their nuptials were performed in Charleston by Rev. Joe B. Overmyer. Leah passed away at the age of 62 in Charleston on April 14, 1981.

Son Paul William "Pete" Fawcett (1920-2000) was born in 1920. He married Webster County native Juanita T. Mullens (Oct. 8, 1922-2013), daughter of Charles W. and Evangeline (Johnson) Mullens. Their marriage held for 56 years. Pete and Juanita together produced four children -- Douglas Fawcett, Patricia Kay Newhouse, and twin sons Ronnie Allen Fawcett and Rennie Adair Fawcett. Grief blanketed the family when the twins, born prematurely at 6¾ months, died within a few hours of birth on Sept. 9, 1946. Their tender remains were in interred in Woodsdale Cemetry. The Fawcetts lived for decades at 816 West Main Street, Grafton. Said a local newspaper, "He retired from the Georgia Pacific Co. in 1982. Since then, he worked in the pro shop at Tygart Lake Country Club ironn the Knottsville community, where he was also a member of the board of directors. He was an avid golfer, and built and repaired golf clubs as a hobby. He was a World War II veteran who served as a technical sergeant with the U.S. Army in the Signal Corps in the Pacific Theatre. He was a founding member of the Church of the Covenant (Lutheran-Presbyterian) and was formerly a member of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Grafton. He was a longtime member of the Kiwanis Club of Grafton and the Taylor County Photography Club." Juanita spent three decades as an Avon sales representative. He died on May 15, 2000, and is buried in the West Virginia National Cemetery in Pruntytown, Taylor County. Juanita outlived her spouse by nearly a baker's dozen years and remained in her Grafton residence. Death swept her away in Fairmont General Hospital at age 90 on Feb. 17, 2013. Officiating the funeral was Rev. Jacqueline Campbell.

Son Carl Cassell Fawcett (1924-1993) was born in 1924. On Feb. 15, 1947, at the age of 23, he married 23-year-old Doris Nell Huffman (1923-1982), a native of Greenbrier County, WV. Both were residents at the time of Charleston, Kanawha County, WV. The ceremony took place in Alderson, Greenbrier County, by the hand of Rev. E.H. Roberts. Sadly, Doris died in 1982. Carl survived his spouse by 11 years. He passed away in 1993. Their remains lie in repose in Alderson Cemetery.

Son Joseph Harold Fawcett (1926-1978) was born on June 11, 1926. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army with the rank of tech sergeant. He married Mary Louise Watkins (1928- ? ) on Nov. 20, 1948, when he was age 22 and she 20. The ceremony was held at the Haymond Church in R.F.D. Grafton, led by E.L. Arnold. Joseph died on Jan. 2, 1978, at the age of 51. Burial was in Haymond Cemetery, Grafton. Mary lived for another 27 years. Evidence suggests that she may have married again to (?) McWilliams ( ? - ? ). Death carried her away into eternity in 2005.

Daughter Charlotta Fawcett ( ? -2018) was born in (?) in Grafton. In young womanhood she attended West Virginia Business College and then secured a job with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad as a stenographer. She entered into marriage with Gerald C. Selders ( ? - ? ). Three offspring born into this family were Robert Keith Selders, Gary David Selders and Jane Schlobohm. They all relocated to North Carolina and settled in Greensboro. Charlotta generated income as a division manager with Sears. They belonged to the First Lutheran Church, with Charlotta active with its Powlas Deal Circle and Eclectic Sunday School class. For more than three decades, she oversaw Sunday School for three-year-olds. She liked to crochet and read. Sadly, Charlotta died in the city's Beacon Place at the age of 95 on Oct. 13, 2018. Funeral services were held in the family church, by the hand of Rev. Emily Lemoine. An obituary appeared in the Greensboro News & Record.

Daughter Lula Clyde Fawcett (1892- ? ) was born in about 1892 in Braxton County, WV.

At the age of 16, on Dec. 3, 1908, Lula married 22-year-old Howard Samuel "Banty" Shaw (1886- ? ). She fibbed on her marriage license application and stated that she was 19, and her father had to provide consent to the union. L.S. Grose officiated. The couple asked that the news not be published in the local newspaper.

They resided in the Grafton area and had 10 children -- Howard S. Shaw Jr., William C. Shaw, Richard Kenneth "Jack" Shaw, George Edward Shaw, Charles Bernard Shaw, Adaline Turoczy, Evelyn Sue Mills, Betty Lee Ball, Lila Knight and Virginia Louise Marsh Smith.

Circa 1920, the family lived on Thayer Street in Grafton, and Howard earned a living as a pipefitter in a local railroad shop. He continued that work through the decade of the 1920s and into the '30s.

Daughter Amelia "Adaline" Shaw (1919- ? ) was born in about 1919. She married William Turoczy Sr. ( ? - ? ). They resided in Wendell, WV circa 1933. The couple had three sons -- William J. "Bill" Turoczy, Richard H. "Dick" Turoczy and Ronald P. Turoczy.

Grandson William J. "Bill" Turoczy (1933-2010) was born on Feb. 11, 1933 in Wendell. He married Mary Evalea Morris ( ? -2001). They lived in Grafton and produced two children -- Denise Nicoletti and Anthony W. Turoczy. Bill served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, and after the was was a member of the military police in Grafton, logging 20 years of serving and retiring as a master sergeant. For four decades, he was employed with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in Grafton, later known as CSX Corporation. He also was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts in Grafton and the Elks Lodge. Mary passed away on Dec. 11, 2001. Bill outlived her by nine years. He died at home at the age of 77 on June 11, 2010.

Grandson Ronald P;. Turoczy made his home in Richmond, IN.

Daughter Evelyn Sue Shaw (1911- ? ) was born in about 1911. She married (?) Mills ( ? - ? ).

Daughter Lila G. Shaw (1917- ? ) was born in about September 1917. She was united in marriage with (?) Knight ( ? - ? ).

Son Charles Bernard Shaw (1919-2015) was born on Oct. 15, 1919. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, from December 1941 to June 1945, for virtually the entire conflict. Returning home after the war, he was a house painter, carpenter and state road laborer, working at projects in West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. He was married and had two known sons -- Larry Shaw and Gary Shaw. He and his first wife divorced. On Jan. 4, 1949, when he was 28, he married his second wife, 23-year-old Frances Eileen Edwards. Later, in about 1966, when he was age 47, he married his second wife, 45-year-old Janice Mae (Louzy) Danko (1921-2015), the daughter of Frank and Elizabeth (Ashley) Louzy Sr. They remained wedded for 49 years until separation by death only two days apart from each other. Charles was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post and Moose Club in Grafton, and enjoyed camping, dancing and gardening. Janice was employed at a variety of retail stores including McCrory's, Foodland and Health Mart. Janice passed away on May 7, 2015, at Grafton City Hospital. Charles joined her in eternity just two days later, on May 9, 2015, the last surviving member of his parents' family. Interment was in the West Virginia National Cemetery in Grafton.

Daughter Betty Lee Shaw (1925- ? ) was born in about 1925. She wed (?) Ball ( ? - ? ).

Daughter Virginia Louise "Sissy" Shaw (1926-2012) was born on Nov. 16, 1925 in Grafton. Her first husband was Flodding Buell "Gandy" Marsh ( ? - ? ). They had two daughters, Linda Louise Vaughan and Beverly Sue Haley Shapiro DeRosa. The couple eventually divorced. In 1955, when she was 29, she wed her second spouse, Robert Joseph Smith ( ? - ? ). The second marriage lasted for more than half a century. They spent their final years in West Hyattsville, MD, a suburb of Washington, DC, where Virginia was active with the Trinity Baptist Church and in volunteering in a nursing home. Sadly, Robert died in West Hyattsville on March 14, 2006. She survived him by six years and passed at the age of 86 on June 25, 2012. Interment was in the West Virginia National Cemetery in Grafton.

Granddaughter Beverly Sue Marsh (1951-living) was born in 1951 in Grafton. After her parents divorced, she spent a lot of time with her grandmother Lula Clyde Shaw. She has been thrice married. Her first husband was Kenneth T. Haley, and they had a daughter, Jennifer Levenberg. Beverly's second spouse was Kenneth J. Shapiro, and they produced a daughter, Samantha Michelle Shapiro. Her third groom was (?) DeRosa.

Son Richard Kenneth "Jack" Shaw (1928- ? ) was born in about 1928.

At the age of 21, she married William McAfee Jr. (1883- ? ), a native of Philadelphia. They were wed in Taylor County on Jan. 23, 1912 by C.A. Snyder.

The McAfees lived in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA and later in Webster, Taylor County.

The children born into the clan were Helen Margaret Baisi, Thelma G. McAfee, Bessie L. McAfee, Kenneth C. McAfee, Robert F. McAfee, William McAfee, Ersel R. "Ursel" McAfee and Jean Arthur.

The federal census enumerations of 1920 and 1930 show Lena and the children living under the roof of Lena's parents near Grafton. William was away from the home during those years. Again in 1940, sharing a home with her father, the census-taker marked Lena as widowed.

Sadly, their daughter Thelma of Webster, died at age 24 of liver disease, on Oct. 24, 1948, leaving behind a young son, Gerry Wayne McAfee.

Lena made her home in Grafton in 1955 at the time of death of her brother Robert.

Daughter Helen M. McAfee (1917- ? ) was born in 1917 in Pittsburgh, but moved back to Webster with her family. At the age of 17, on Nov. 5, 1934, she married 28-year-old Paul Baisi (1906- ? ), a resident of Rosemont, near Grafton. Her mother provided consent as Helen was underage at the time. Perry J. Null officiated at the ceremony.

Son Kenneth Carlyle McAfee (1930- ? ) was born in 1930 near Grafton. He married Edna Genesta Boyles ( ? - ? ), a native of Barbour County, WV on March 16, 1968. He was age 38, and she 21, at the time. Rev. G. Arnold Bickel performed the nuptials.

On New Year's Day 1916, at the age of 29, he wed 24-year-old Ottie Ruth Bartlett (1891- ? ), a native of Barbour County, WV. E.H. Waters performed the nuptials in Webster.

Son John Calvin Fawcett (1888-1966) was born on Aug. 30, 1888 in Falls Mills, Braxton County, WV.

On Aug. 6, 1913, he wed Ethel R. Grimes (1889- ? ), a resident of Taylor County. Charles A. Snider performed the ceremony. John was age 25, and Ethel 24, at the time.

They were married for more than half a century. Said a local newspaper, "He retired in 1956 after having worked 45 years for the B. & O. Railroad, and in 1960 the Fawcetts moved to Phoenix. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the Crossroads Methodist Church, in Phoenix."

They had four children -- Lalah Ingram, Mary Bartels Bray, Edward Fawcett and Dr. John Fawcett, all of whom resided in Phoenix, AZ in the 1960s.

In all, they had 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Circa 1955, they made their home in Grafton, and later retired to Phoenix. Their residence in 1966 was at 724 Beech Street in Phoenix.

John died in Phoenix on April 19, 1966, and was buried in Greenwood Memorial Park.

Daughter Lalah May Fawcett (1915- ? ) was born in 1915 in Grafton. She moved to Morgantown, Monongalia County as a young woman. At the age of 21, on Oct. 22, 1936, she married 23-year-old factory worker Eugene Worth (1913- ? ). He was the son of William and Elizabeth (Mullenix) Worth and a native of Newark, Licking County, OH. The ceremony was held in Fairmont, Marion County, Eugene's town of residence, by the hand of Rev. Denber C. Pickens of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She lived in Phoenix in 1966.

Son Edward Fawcett (1931-1993) was born in 1931. He resided in Phoenix circa 1966. He died in 1993.

B&O Railroad machine shops in Grafton -- from the collection of Roy Boliger, today part of the Library of Congress American Memory Project

Daughter Bessie Fawcett (1893- ? ) was born in about 1893 in West Virginia, most likely in Braxton County.

At the age of 22, on Oct. 20, 1915, she married 36-year-old widower Silas H. Bartlett ( ? - ? ). The wedding was held near Grafton and was led by Rev. E.H. Waters.

The Bartletts resided in Webster circa 1947, Galloway in 1949-1955 and Grafton in 1966. It is not known if there is a connection between Bessie and the Bartlett Funeral Home in Webster.

Son Robert Franklin "Frank" Fawcett (1893-1955) was born in 1893 in Braxton County, WV.

He was twice married, first to Helen Gould Wells (1893-1941), a native of Fayette County, WV. Frank and Helen tied the knot on Feb. 16, 1913, in Grafton, when both were 19-year-olds. Rev. J.B. Woodyard performed the ceremony. Because both groom and bride were underage, their fathers provided their consents to the union.

Together they had five children -- Harold S. "Jabo" Fawcett, Anna Clyde Boyles, Paul Fawcett, Robert William Fawcett and James Russell Fawcett. Sadly, son Paul died in infancy.

They resided circa 1917 "in a two-story farm house between the Taylor County 'poor farm' and the Pruntytown Industrial School for Boys," recalled a grandson.

After spending four years as a widower, Frank married his second wife, Anna Virginia (Reed) Haddix (1899-1992). With the wedding held on July 7, 1945, he was age 52, and she 46, at the time. Rev. O.O. Mills officiated. Anna brought a daughter to the marriage, Rosalie McGee.

Frank and Anna lived in Arden, also known as Moatsville, Barbour County, WV in 1947-1955. "He was last employed as a potter at the Carr China Co.," said the Grafton Sentinel. "He was a member of the Church of the Nazarene at Parkview. He had lived in Arden since 1945 and before then in Grafton."

Frank died at home at the age of 62, of bronchial problems, on Sept. 14, 1955. Said the Sentinel, "He had been in ill health for 12 years and seriously ill for two weeks." He was buried at Woodsdale Memorial Park in Grafton. He was survived by 11 grandchildren.

Anna "was retired from the Carr China Co. in Grafton after 25 years of service and was a Methodist," said a local newspaper. She died on Feb. 23, 1992, and also is buried at Woodsdale.

Daughter Anna Clyde Fawcett (1919-2016) was born on May 19, 1919 in Grafton. She is said to have taken her first steps in the Parkview Church of the Nazarene which a great-grandfather, Marion Morgan, had helped to construct. As a teenager, she helped to found the Blueville Church of the Nazarene and began teaching Sunday School there at the age of 16. On July 30, 1944, when she was 25 years old, Anna wed Paul Junior Boyles (1925-2001), who at age 19 was six years younger than she. The wedding took place at the Grafton Church of the Nazarene, with Rev. O.O. Mills leading the service. They resided in Grafton and had three children -- Larry Wade Boyles, Rue Ann Hoff and Paula Kesner. The couple enjoyed volunteering in the kitchen of the Nazarene Campground in Summersville, WV where they often spent summer vacations. Said the Clarksburg Exponent Telegram, Anna "enjoyed collecting nativity scenes and has a total of over 375 sets. Anna was presented the Distinguished Service Award at the Blueville Church of the Nazarene on November 26, 2006. She also received a plaque in honor of her 71 years of service to the church." Anna and Paul renewed their marital vows on July 9, 2000. Sadly, Paul died on May 29, 2001, ending their union of 57 years. Anna survived her husband by 15 years and passed away at the age of 96, in the home of Lonnie and Donna Mayle, on Jan. 15, 2016. An obituary in the Exponent Telegram said she was survived by five grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Grandson Larry Wade Boyles (1945-1973) was born on Dec. 18, 1945 in Grafton. He married Dottie ( ? -living). They are believed to have had a daughter, Catherine "Cathi" Swank. During the Vietnam War, he served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force as a member of the 649th Radar Squadron at Radford Air Force Base. Tragically, Larry was killed in an automobile accident near Bedford, VA on Nov. 17, 1973. His remains were brought back to Grafton for interment in Woodsdale Memorial Park.

Granddaughter Paula Joyce Boyles was united in matrimony with Roy "Stick" Kesner and have resided in Shinnston, WV.

Son Robert William Fawcett ( ? - ? ) was born in (?). He married Rose ( ? - ? ). They lived in St. Mary's, WV in 1955.

Son Harold S. "Jabo" Fawcett (1917-1999) was born in 1917. He was a U.S. Navy photographer during World War II. His obituary, published in the New York Times (June 8, 1999, said that he "captured memorable scenes of the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 ... Some of [his] photographs of mighty American warships exploding, burning and rolling belly up were considered too disturbing to be made public soon after the outbreak of World War II. These images began to be published on the first anniversary of the attack in Life magazine and in many American newspapers." The Times also said he was slightly wounded in the attack, and later was decorated for his wartime service as a pilot. Later in the war, based on the Bikini atoll, he "photographed the detonation of two hydrogen bombs." Circa 1955, at the death of his father, Harold lived in El Cajon, CA.

Harold retired from the Navy in 1955, and went to work for Sears Roebuck & Co., retiring in 1973. In 1986, he authored an autobiographical chapter in the book, A History of Taylor County, West Virginia, compiled and published by the Taylor County Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc. Said his obituary in a Grafton newspaper, "He was a member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Mountain State Branch 33 Fleet Reserve Association, VFW Post 3081, National Association of Naval Photography, American Legion Post 12, American Military Society, Liberators Club, Retired Enlisted National Association, Sears Retiree Club, Taylor County Photo Club, Taylor County Historical Society, Taylor County Senior Citizens and Taylor County Public Library. He was a charter member of the Mid-Atlantic Soaring Association and was a 30-year member of the Associated Glider Clubs of Southern California." His photographs of Pearl Harbor destruction have been reproduced in many books, including Collier's Photographic History of World War II.

He was twice married, first to Reu E. Lazarvich ( ? - ? ), and had two daughters, Helen Bevis and Anne Hoover. Later, he wed second to Norma Jean (Webb) Goodwin ( ? - ? ), widow of Burlan Lawrence Goodwin. She was the mother of two children of her own -- Gregory Lawrence Goodwin and Penny Goodwin. The Grafton Mountain Statesman said that Norma Jean was "retired from Grafton City Hospital with the accounts and billing department. Previously, she worked as an operator for C&P Telephone in Fairmont, WV. She was a devoted member of Hepzibah Baptist Church. Known as 'Mam Maw' to her family, Norma enjoyed keeping the family genealogy and cheering on the Mountaineers and the Pittsburgh Steelers." At his death in 1999, Harold received a prominent obituary in the New York Times. Norma Jean survived him by 16 years. She entered eternity on April 4, 2015 at her residence on Meadland Road in Bridgeport, WV. Burial was in Hepzibah Cemetery.

Son James Russell Fawcett (1923- ? ) was born in 1923. He served in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theatres in the U.S. Navy during World War II. On April 22, 1949, when he was the age of 25, he married 21-year-old Minnie Evelyn Watson (1927- ? ), the daughter of Charles Morgan and Martha Rosanna (Cox) Watson. Rev. O.O. Mills officiated. He became Sheriff of Taylor County in 1968, a four year term, and was Superintendent of the Industrial School for Boys at Pruntytown. He also authored a biographical chapter in the History of Taylor County book. His accomplishments have included serving as: Boy Scouts troopmaster; president of the Park View Parent-Teachers Association; Post, District and State commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (1962-1963); and a 12-year member of the board of directors of the Taylor County Sheltered Work Shop, among many others. His wife Minnie has also been president of the Park View and Taylor County Council Parent-Teachers Association; president of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 3081; district president and state president of the VFW in 1964-1965. Perhaps his most notable accomplishment was efforts to preserve and promote Andrew's Methodist Church, widely known as the "Mother's Day Church" of Grafton. This included a meeting with West Virginia Governor Arch Moore in March 1972 along with Grafton Mayor James C. Fawcett, and Charles Core and Frank Randolph of the Grafton Housing Authority, "to discuss needed repairs of the church," said the Morgantown Dominion News. "The meeting, arranged by State Sen. C.N. 'Bud' Harman and his colleague, State Sen. Dallas Wolfe of Rowlesburg, ended with Moore requesting estimates on the cost of the most pressing repairs needed for the Shrine, so that state funds may also become available for improvements."

Son Frederick T. Fawcett (1897-1971) was born on June 3, 1897 in Braxton County, WV.

At the age of 28, he married 17-year-old Viola Marteny (1909-1997), the daughter of Perry and Lola (Kittle) Marteny. Viola was born in Randolph County, WV, but was a resident of Clarksburg, Harrison County, WV at the time of marriage. Rev. F.G. Behner performed the nuptials at Clarksburg on Oct. 3, 1925.

They together bore a brood of six children, but sadly lost all but the youngest at young ages -- Robert Lee Carl Fawcett, Perry Nelson Fawcett, Minnie Margaret Fawcett, Frederick T. Fawcett Jr., Russell Clyde Fawcett and John Edward Fawcett.

Son Robert Lee Carl Fawcett passed away of cholera at the age of eight months on Sept. 21, 1926. Then, just over six years later, on Dec. 16, 1932, son Perry Nelson Fawcett died at the tender age of two months from bronchial pneumonia.

The following year, three of their children died of "acute cholera" within the span of a month, when the "dread malady... swept the Flemington and Rosemont section and caused nearly 20 deaths," said the Grafton Sentinel. Daughter Minnie Margaret died first, on Sept. 1, and son Fred Jr. passed away second, at the age of six, on Sept. 3, 1933, "while funeral services for the little girl were in progress." Son Russell Clyde died just 17 days later, at the age of five, on Sept. 20, 1933. The children all were buried in the Webster Cemetery. Upon the passing of their fifth child, Russell, the Sentinel said, "Mr. and Mrs. Fred Fawcett ... were called upon this morning to contribute the last jewel to the glories of heaven ... With the death of two children within the month, Russell was all that was left to the grieving parents, and now they are heartbroken over the tragedy that has entered their lives and caused hopelessness and despair to abide where happiness and sunshine were wont to reign but a short month ago."

Fred and Viola went on to have one more child, who survived to adulthood, John Edward Fawcett.

Fred was a longtime trackman with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in Grafton, and retired on Feb. 1, 1960 after 33 years of employment. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the B&O Veterans.

Viola was a member of the Royal Neighbors of America, the B&O Ladies Auxiliary, the Ladies Auxiliary of American Legion Taylor County Unit 12, the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Memorial City Post 3081, and as president of World War I Barrack 1949 Ladies Auxiliary. Circa 1971, they made their home at 504 Victor Street in Grafton.

Viola outlived him by 26 years, and passed away at the age of 88 on March 11, 1997. They are buried in Woodsdale Memorial Park.

Son John Edward Fawcett (1937- ? ) was born in 1937 in or near Grafton. At the age of 22, he wed 19-year-old Grafton resident Ada Frances Kample ( ? - ? ). The ceremony was held on June 14, 1959, by the hand of Harry T. Rowe, pastor of the First Baptist Church. They had two sons, John Michael Fawcett and James Douglas Fawcett.