Person Page - 618

     James Edgar Redmon was buried at Forest Hills Memorial Park and Mausoleum, 2001 SW Murphy Road, Palm City, Martin Co., Florida.⁶ His Social Security Number was 578-12-1842.⁷ He was born on January 18, 1912 at Joliet, Will Co., Illinois.^1,7,8 He married Mamie Virginia Beckner, daughter of Carl Donald Beckner and Mary "Mamie" Sowder, on June 11, 1941 at Fort Wayne, Allen Co., Indiana.^1,8,2 James Edgar Redmon died on August 20, 2003 at Stuart, Martin Co., Florida, at age 91.^7,8,6 He STUART -- James E. Redmon, 91, of Stuart died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2003, at his residence. A native of Joliet, Ill., he lived in Stuart for 25 years. He moved here from Bethesda, Md. He was a salesman in the electrical industry. He served in the Coast Guard during World War II. He was a member of Grace Presbyterian Church in Stuart. He was a lifetime member of Corinthians Yacht Club in Washington, D.C., and the D.C. Policeman's Association. He was predeceased by his wife, Virginia, in 1992. Survivors include two sons, James E. Redmon Jr. of Tega Cay, S.C., and Richard Redmon of Strausburg, Va; a daughter, Linda Hughes of Palm City; three sisters, Ann Johnston of California, Lucy Weller of Illinois and Mary McElroy of Illinois; and nine grandchildren. Friends may call from 1 to 2 p.m. today at Forest Hills Funeral Home in Palm City. A service will begin at 2 p.m. Burial will follow in Forest Hills Memorial Park, Palm City. Those who wish may contribute to Grace Presbyterian Church, 1875 N.W. Britt Road, Stuart, FL 34994. on August 22, 2003.⁶

     Ann Lorraine "Anna" Redmon was buried at Sunset View Cemetery, El Cerrito, Contra Costa Co., California.⁴ She was born on September 3, 1916 at Joliet, Will Co., Illinois.^2,3,7,4 As of September 8, 1942,her married name was Johnston.² She married Lester Walter Johnston on September 8, 1942 at Aurora, Kane Co., Illinois.^2,3,4,8 Ann Lorraine "Anna" Redmon died on August 25, 2008 at California at age 91.^7,4 She Ann Loraine Johnston 1916-2008 A Life Remembered Anna Loraine Redmond, the second of four children of Edgar Peter Redmond and Lona Letitia Sowder, was born on September 3, 1916 in Joilet, IL. ("Ann Redmon" was her preferred name from an early age.) EP Redmond (as he referred to himself) and Lona were both born in Floyd Co., VA in the Blue Ridge mountains. They moved to Joliet in about 1911 after EP Redmon got out of the army. Ann was descended from a long line of strong Virginia women. In a note to Ann by one of her older Aunts about Ann's Virginia family, the aunt said: "My grandmother (Rhoda Gray Sowder) had three sons and a daughter and lost her husband in the Civil War. The oldest child - William Sowder - was 8 years old, then Peter, Martha Ann and John (an infant) had to be bring up alone. Roda Sowder was known over the country as a remarkable woman - to bring up four children, run the farm by herself, and make a good living. She is said to have ridden her horse over the farm to direct the hired help, and her sons when they were older." Ann was an ambitious student and turned down an offer by her aunt Anna Sowder to spend a summer in England because she wanted to finish high school in three years and start teaching. After high school Ann went to Joliet Junior College which qualified her as a school teacher in 1934. (Later in life she wished that she had gone with Aunt Ann.) Ann met the Johnston family at an early age because her father worked with George Johnston (an uncle of Lester Johnston, Ann's future husband) on the Joliet-Chicago inter-urban electric train line. After Jr. College, Ann got a job teaching in a one room school in Wesley Township where Walter Johnston and his family, including son Lester, lived. Ann stayed with Walter and his family and she and Walter became good friends. After teaching in Wesley Twp. for several years Ann went back to school at Illinois State Normal and got her degree in 1940. By this time she had decided that she wanted to major in science so went on to graduate school at the University of Illinois at Urbana where she majored in human physiology and microbiology. After two years of trying to live on graduate assistant pay of $12/month, and having to spend $10/month on rent, she decided that she could not live on $2/mo., even with help with text book costs and packages of her mothers muffins mailed from home. In 1942 Ann quit her study at U of Ill. and married Lester Johnston, Walter's oldest son (who had been courting Ann for years). Ann and Lester's honeymoon was a trip to California. They both fell in love with Calif. and additionally Lester's severe asthma cleared up some. So, when they got home they packed up and moved to Calif. This trip was in a house trailer that, when they arrived, became their home for several years. They ended up in El Cerrito, California because Lester's cousin Harold Charter lived there and they parked the trailer in Harold's yard. Because of her education in microbiology at U. Ill., during the war Ann worked at Cutter Labs in Berkeley. She worked with the group that developed dissolvable surgical sponges and artificial blood plasma - both of which were very important contributions to battlefield medicine during the war. Lester could not serve because of his severe asthma so he went to UC Berkeley and studied mechanical engineering during the day and worked at the Standard Oil refinery at night. During the war, Ann's younger sister Lucy lived with them because Lucy's husband Brownie (Leonard) Weller was in the navy and shipped out of Treasure Island (in San Francisco Bay). By this time Ann and Lester had found an apartment in Berkeley, though they had to give a $50 "gift" to the landlord to get the apartment. In this apartment Lucy slept on a mattress that was laid out on the kitchen floor every night. Ann, Lucy, and Lester enjoyed California's beaches and hills. In January 1946 Ann and Lester's first son - William - was born. At this point Ann took - for the first time - a break from working and devoted her efforts to raising a family. David was born in 1948 and Steven in 1951. By 1952 the family had started going on camping trips during the summer, and as the boys got a little older the summer vacations alternated between camping one year and driving back to Illinois to visit the family the next year, and so on. These trips remained a favorite family tradition until the boys were out of high school. About 1954 Ann went back to work part time as a lab assistant at Mills college and in 1956 she got a job teaching math in the Richmond school district. Also in 1956 the family moved from Berkeley to El Cerrito where Ann and Les lived for the rest of their lives. By the 1970's Ann had become the chairwoman of the math department at Pinole Valley High, one of the larger high schools in the district. While Ann had trained in biology, she was a natural at mathematics. By the early 1970's Ann had integrated a computer programming unit into her advanced math classes. There was no computer at the high school, so each day after school she drove down to the school district administration building to use their computer and entered the student's programs that they had developed in class. In doing this Ann introduced computing into the school district curriculum. Ann "retired" in 1978 after which she helped with raising four grandchildren (Ann had, for 40 years, a close and mutually supportive relationship with her daughters-in-law Nancy and Patty), worked for the local Meals-on-Wheels program delivering meals, provided math tutoring for local students, and was very active in local AAUW chapter (she was president 1992 and 1993) and its scholarship program. Ann was quite a woman, and a marvelous mother. Among many other things she introduced all of her children to science and made it so interesting that it became a lifelong fascination. Lester, Ann's husband of almost 64 years, died in March 2006. Ann died August 25, 2008, a week short of her 92 birthday. Ann's life was not easy in the early years, but she addressed her situation with the same vigor and determination that carried her through life. Ann's life also had tragedy in it, especially when son Steven committed suicide a few years after returning from Viet Nam. However, apart from Steven's death, Ann had a long, productive, and happy life, that was full of children and teaching. (Her first great-grandchild - Alexander Rayne Johnston - was born October 3 and so Ann just missed seeing him.) Ann died at her home in El Cerrito on August 25, 2008 and is buried in Sunset View Cemetery in El Cerrito. She is survived by children William and his wife Nancy (Kensington, CA), David and his wife Patty (Livermore, CA), and grandchildren Brian (Sacramento, CA), Darby (Berkeley, CA), Devin (Walnut Creek, CA), and Debbie Gallager (Alameda, CA), and by her sister Mary McElroy (Aurora, IL). A memorial service will be held Oct. 18, 2008, 2:00PM at Mira Vista United Church of Christ (now sharing space with Christ Lutheran Church, 780 Ashbury, El Cerrito). Memorial donations may be made in Ann's name to the West Contra Costa Retired Educators Scholarship Fund (WCCRESF). Donations are tax deductible and may be mailed to Marie Pike, 7305 Plank Court, El Cerrito, CA 94530. William Edgar Johnston October 4, 2008 on October 7, 2008.⁴

     Mary Eveline Redmon was buried at Lincoln Memorial Park, Oswego Township, Kendall Co., Illinois.⁷ She was born on August 3, 1920 at Joliet, Will Co., Illinois.^2,3,8,9 As of June 29, 1940,her married name was McElroy.² She married Robert Otis "Ottie" McElroy on June 29, 1940 at Aurora, Kane Co., Illinois.^2,3,9 Mary Eveline Redmon died on January 21, 2010 at Arizona at age 89.^8,9 She Mary E. McElroy was born in Joliet on August 3, 1920. She moved to Aurora when she married R. Otis in 1940. She is preceded in death by her stillborn son, James, her husband, R. Otis, and her three siblings: James Redmon, Lucy Weller and Ann Johnston. She is survived by her son, Richard, his wife, Carol, their son, Kier, and several nieces and nephews. Mary entered Heaven's Gates on January 21. Everyone who knew her appreciated her gentle ways, ready smile and listening ear. She was a devoted wife, incredibly encouraging mother and mother in law, and loving grandmother. Many enjoyed her Easter lamb cakes, chop suey, complicated jello salads and wonderful baking creations. She was a life long member of Claim Street Baptist Church, now called MorningStar Community Church. She taught first grade Sunday School for 39 years and hosted Child Evangelism Fellowship Club meetings in her home. Often her creative decorations made many church events more festive. With her husband, Otie, she stood ready to help in any way she could. A celebration of her life will be held February 6, at 3:00 at Healy Chapel, 332 W. Downer Place, Aurora. Visitation will be held two hours before the service. Memorial gifts may be given to Jennings Terrace, the home where she was lovingly cared for the last two years of her life, Child Evangelism Fellowship of Fox Valley or Moody Bible Institute. on February 4, 2010.⁹

     James Edgar Redmon Jr. was born on January 13, 1947 at Washington, D.C..^1,6 He married Madeline Ruth Wicker on September 19, 1967 at Warren Co., North Carolina.¹ James Edgar Redmon Jr. married Teresa Mae Eller on September 25, 1982 at North Wilkesboro, Wilkes Co., North Carolina.³ James Edgar Redmon Jr. married Lynn Wright on November 4, 1988 at Mecklenburg Co., North Carolina.^7,4 James Edgar Redmon Jr. died on October 21, 2010 at Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., North Carolina, at age 63.^6,4 He FORT MILL -- James Edgar Redmon, Jr., 63, of Fort Mill, passed away Thursday, October 21, 2010 at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC. Born in Washington, DC, Mr. Redmon was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. James and Virginia Beckner Redmon, Sr. He recently retired from Helium and Balloons Across America. He had a career as a systems analyst in the Washington, DC area and in Charlotte, NC with First Union and Bank of America. Mr. Redmon was a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University where he majored in math. He was a member of the Grace Presbyterian Church, Fort Mill. Mr. Redmon was devoted to his family. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Madeline Redmon. Services and visitation for Mr. Redmon will be held at 4:00pm Saturday, October 23, 2010 at Grace Presbyterian Church with Dr. Joanne Sizoo officiating. Survivors include his wife, Lynn Wright Redmon of Fort Mill; 1 son, Andrew James Redmon (April) of Van Wyck, SC; 1 stepson, Jae Caldwell of Fort Mill; 3 daughters, Page Redmon of Willow Springs, NC; Sandra Batt (Todd) of Rock Hill, SC; and Christy Whitehead (Jared) of Charleston, SC; 1 brother, Richard Redmon (Mary) of Strasburg, VA; 1 sister, Linda Hughes of Tampa, FL; 3 grandchildren, Michael Redmon, Mariah Redmon and Sullivan Whitehead. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Grace Presbyterian Columbarium Fund, 2955 W Highway 160, Fort Mill, SC 29708. on October 23, 2010.⁴

     Margaret Shawkey Deisher Served during WWII in the American Red Cross in India.¹⁰ She was buried at Fairmount Cemetery, 430 South Quebec Street, Denver, Denver Co., Colorado.¹ Her Social Security Number was 521-62-5491.¹¹ She was born on August 30, 1914 at Charleston, Kanawha Co., West Virginia.^11,1 She married Alexander Quarrier "Ark" Smith, son of Harrison Brooks Smith and Katherine Dana Bowne, on November 28, 1936 at South Charleston, Kanawha Co., West Virginia.^2,3,12,13 As of November 28, 1936,her married name was Smith. Margaret Shawkey Deisher married William Dick "Billy" Prescott, son of John H. Prescott, on August 9, 1946 at Meridian, Ada Co., Idaho.^14,9,15,4 As of August 9, 1946,her married name was Prescott.⁴ Margaret Shawkey Deisher died on May 2, 2001 at Englewood, Arapahoe Co., Colorado, at age 86.^11,1 She MARGARET DEISHER PRESCOTT, 86, of Englewood died May 2. Services were May 10, with burial at Fairmount Cemetery. Ms. Prescott was born in Charleston, W.Va., on Aug. 30, 1914. She was a homemaker. She was a member of the Red Cross, Cherry Hills Country Club, East Alameda Church of Christ and a Denver Art Museum volunteer. Survivors include son John; daughter Melissa Johnson, both of Denver; three grandchildren. on May 17, 2001.¹

     Joseph Pedigo Kelley was buried at Kelley-Ingram Cemetery, just off Blue Ridge Parkway on Franklin Pike Road, Floyd Co., Virginia.³ He was born circa 1829 at Franklin Co., Virginia.¹ He married Sarah Catherine Payne, daughter of Lewis Payne and Elizabeth Hansford Bowen, on December 24, 1849 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^4,1 Joseph Pedigo Kelley died on December 12, 1862 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^3,1

     His Social Security Number was 579-09-2308.⁷ Ernest Thrasher Beckner was buried at Fort Lincoln Cemetery, Brentwood, Prince George's Co., Maryland.¹ He was born on January 16, 1918 at Roanoke, Virginia.^1,7,4,8 He married Martha Miriam Dinsmore in 1955.¹ Ernest Thrasher Beckner died on March 7, 2006 at Anne Arundel Co., Maryland, at age 88.^1,7 He Ernest Thrasher Beckner, 87, of Deale, died of natural causes March 7 at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Mr. Beckner was born in Roanoke, Va., and left school in the eighth grade to help support his family. They moved to Washington, where he worked as a carhop at the local Hot Shoppes. He was a member of the Marine Corps Reserve from 1935 to 1939, and later joined the Army in the Army Air Forces Training Command, serving from 1944 to 1946. He earned the American Theatre Ribbon and the Asia-Pacific Theatre Ribbon for playing the trumpet for the troops, and the Good Conduct Medal and World War II Victory Medal. He worked as a draftsman for the Glenn L. Martin Co. and then for the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab before retiring in 1979. He moved to Deale Beach in 1999 to live with his son. His interests included music, his cats, football and keeping a journal. He was the widower of Martha Miriam Beckner, whom he married in 1955. Surviving are one son, Ernest T. Beckner Jr. of Deale; one brother, John Beckner, and one sister, Lisa Sullivan, both of Florida; and two grandchildren. He was the brother of the late Carl Beckner and Virginia Redmond. A funeral service was held Friday at Hardesty Funeral Home in Galesville, followed by burial in Fort Lincoln Cemetery in Brentwood. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1041 Route 3 North, Gambrills, MD 21054. Online condolences may be made to www.hardestyfuneralhome.com. on March 16, 2006.¹

     Her Social Security Number was 072-05-9097.² Martha Miriam Dinsmore was born on April 15, 1918 at Newburgh, Orange Co., New York.² She married Ernest Thrasher Beckner, son of Carl Donald Beckner and Mary "Mamie" Sowder, in 1955.³ As of 1955,her married name was Beckner.³ Martha Miriam Dinsmore died on July 20, 1990 at age 72.^1,2