Person Page - 1997

     His Social Security Number was 160-10-3121.² George H. Derbyshire married Catherine Elizabeth Hornbarger, daughter of Hiram Edmondson "Henry" Hornbarger and Hattie Gertrude Lawrence.¹ George H. Derbyshire was born on May 1, 1893.² He died in October, 1978 at age 85.^1,2

     Genevieve Palmer was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery, 600 South Potomac Street, Hagerstown, Washington Co., Maryland.² She was born in 1911 at Maryland.^3,2 As of circa 1928,her married name was Hornbarger.³ She married William T. Hornbarger, son of Hiram Edmondson "Henry" Hornbarger and Hattie Gertrude Lawrence, circa 1928.³ Genevieve Palmer died on February 20, 1938 at Hagerstown, Washington Co., Maryland.¹ She MOTHER AND SON SUFFOCATED IN APARTMENT FIRE – TWO OTHERS SERIOUSLY INJURED IN EARLY MORNING HAGERSTOWN BLAZE – GAS ACCUMULATES ON THIRD FLOOR
Hagerstown, Md. Feb. 20 – A smouldering fire in an apartment house suffocated a mother and her young son today and seriously burned two other persons. The dead are Mrs. Genevieve Hornberger, 25, and her son, Jackie, 2. Those burned were Hershel Palmer 18, and Eileen Palmer, 17, brother and sister of Mrs. Hornberger. Hershel was burned when he ran through the flames to a second story window and cut when he jumped through the glass. He suffered a broken leg. His condition is critical. His sister was burned before firemen brought her from the building but she is expected to recover. Firemen said the flames did little damage, but the heat and the smoke bottled in the three-story brick house accounted for the deaths and injuries. The flames apparently started in the cellar. Hot gases rose along the open stairway and accumulated in the third story, killing the woman and her baby in their beds where they were found. Ten or twelve persons were in the house when the fire was discovered a little before 6 a.m. by Mrs. Lillian Gross, who lives on the first floor. She gave the alarm and awakened her family. Eileen, asleep on the first floor, was burned as she ran to the door. Another family escaped to a porch roof from a second story window and firemen took them down ladders. Hershel was asleep in the front part of the house on the second floor. Firemen estimated the damage at $2,000. All the wordwork in the house was blistered and charred by the intense heat but only the basement and stairway were actually burned. on February 21, 1938.¹

     Her Social Security Number was 227-36-5464.³ Nancy Doris Mitchell was buried at Sherwood Burial Park, 1045 Lynchburg Turnpike, Salem, Roanoke Co., Virginia.¹ She was born on November 11, 1931 at Saltville, Smyth Co., Virginia.^1,3 As of February 24, 1954,her married name was Sowder.² She married Emanuel Francis "Sy" Sowder, son of Claude Earnest Sowder and Essie Goldie Aldridge, on February 24, 1954 at West Point, King William Co., Virginia.^1,4,2 Nancy Doris Mitchell died on June 23, 2009 at Roanoke Co., Virginia, at age 77.^1,3,5 She Nancy Mitchell Sowder, 77, of Roanoke, Va., passed away on Tuesday, June 23, 2009. She was born in Saltville, Va., to the late Lena and Roy Mitchell. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by brothers, James Mitchell and wife, Pearl, Bill Mitchell and wife, Helen, Claude Mitchell and Charles Mitchell; also sisters, Mildred Mitchell Coates and husband, Frankie, and Elsie Mitchell Davis; and brother-in-law, Robert Kestner. She is survived by her husband, Emanuel F. Sowder; sons, Stephen L. Sowder and wife, Diane, and David L. Sowder and wife, Pam; grandson, David Adam Sowder; and granddaughters, Stephanie K. Sowder and Kaye L. Sowder. Also surviving are sister, Sue Mitchell Kestner; sisters-inlaw, Betty Mitchell and Edna Mitchell; brother-in-law, James Davis; and many nieces and nephews. Mrs. Sowder was a member of Oak Grove Church of the Brethren for nearly 50 years. She was a graduate of the Roanoke Memorial Hospital School of Nursing Class of 1953. She was an excellent nurse and a precious, loving and faithful wife to her husband, Emanuel. She loved her husband, sons, daughtersin-law, and grandchildren very much. She worked 39 years for Dr. Luther Lowe at Brambleton Clinic. She loved Jesus Christ, her church and church family, and her many friends and patients at Brambleton Clinic. She touched the hearts and lives of many and will be missed very much. Funeral services will be held at noon on Friday, June 26, 2009, at Oakey's South Chapel with Pastor William Pugh officiating. Interment will follow at Sherwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Thursday, June 25, 2009, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Oakey's South Chapel. In lieu of flowers, please consider Oak Grove Church of the Brethren Educational Fund, 138 McVitty Road, Roanoke, Va. 24018. Arrangements by Oakey's South Chapel, 540-989-3131. on June 25, 2009.¹

     Her Social Security Number was 369-10-1224.³ Pauline R. Cole was buried at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, 950 North Center Road, Saginaw, Saginaw Co., Michigan.² She was born on May 26, 1913 at Virginia.^1,2,3 She died on October 28, 1981 at age 68.²

     Virginia A. Cole was born on February 26, 1921 at Saginaw, Saginaw Co., Michigan.^3,4 As of April 27, 1942,her married name was Finazzi.³ She married William J. "Bill" Finazzi on April 27, 1942 at Saginaw, Saginaw Co., Michigan.³

     Joseph Samuel "Joe" Cole was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 3440 South Washington Avenue, Saginaw, Saginaw Co., Michigan.³ His Social Security Number was 369-16-6028.⁴ He married Dona Leona Bruseau.³ Joseph Samuel "Joe" Cole was born on April 30, 1922 at Saginaw, Saginaw Co., Michigan.^4,5 He died on April 18, 1979 at Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan, at age 56.^4,5