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Florence (McMurray) West |
Florence "Flora" (McMurray) West was born on June 26, 1879 or 1880 near Lafayette in Deer Creek Township, Madison County, OH, the daughter of Alexander Blaine "Alex" and Mary (Houser) McMurray Jr.
She was a student at school at the age of 20 in 1900 and may have been pursuing college education at that time. She became a teacher and was assigned to schools in Madison and Clark Counties. As a young woman, she made a home in 1905 in Springfield, OH.
On Christmas Eve 1905, at the age of 25 or 26, she entered into the rite of matrimony with farmer Foster D. West (Feb. 12, 1881-1966), a resident of Catawba, Clark County, OH and the son of Frank and Etta (Baumgardner) McMurray. The wedding ceremony was held in the Springfield home of Florence's married sister, Mary "Louisa" Leslie, by the hand of Rev. John L. Dalbey. In announcing the marriage, the Springfield News-Sun said that the "bride wore a pretty costume of white India silk" and that Foster "is a successful farmer and his bride is a teacher in the public schools."
The only child of this union was Herbert N. West.
With Florence having moved to Clark County in about 1907, they spent their entire married lives therein.
Circa 1906-1907, the Wests lived in Mechanicsburg and in the spring of 1908 moved to the Grand McClintock farm near Catawba. By 1932, they had relocated to Springfield. For three decades, Foster was employed by the Elliott Company, retiring in about 1947. They belonged to the Central United Methodist Church.
Their final residence together was with their son at 5775 Selma Pike. On Christmas Eve 1965, they marked their 60th wedding anniversary.
Sadly, Foster died in Ethan Allen Nursing Home at the age of 85 on May 1, 1966. His obituary was published in the Springfield News-Sun. His pastor Rev. Robert Scully presided at the funeral, with interment following in Ferncliff Cemetery.
Florence spent her widowed years in their Selma Pike residence. Having become a patient in Community Hospital, death enveloped her at the age of 89 on April 17, 1970. The News-Sun printed her obituary. Rev. Harold Boyer, of the First Church of God, officiated the services.
~ Son Herbert Nelson West ~
Son Herbert Nelson West (1906-1980) was on Oct. 15, 1906 in Clark County.
His entire life was lived in the county, with his dwelling-place in Springfield. He does not appear to have married or reproduced.
Herbert was a teacher in early manhood. Later he owned Herb West Real Estate Company and worked as a broker, estate appraiser and auctioneer. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army. He was active on a local Republican Precinct Committee and held memberships in the Hillside Avenue Church of God, Knights of Pythias and Ohio Retired Teacher's Association. His last address was 2722 Lexington Avenue.
He died in Community Hospital at the age of 73 on June 21, 1980. His pastor, Rev. George Reed, led the funeral rites. Burial was in Ferncliff Cemetery. The Springfield News-Sun ran an obituary, saying that his survivors included "several cousins" and that he "was the last of his immediate family."
Copyright © 2004, 2007, 2008, 2022, 2023 Mark A. Miner