Person Page - 3966

     Thomas William Royal Sr. was buried at Topeco Church of the Brethren Cemetery, Rt. 221, Floyd, Floyd Co., Virginia.^2,5 He and Espra Aletta Gathercole were divorced.⁶ Thomas William Royal Sr. was born on January 9, 1906 at Floyd Co., Virginia.^2,3,4 He married Espra Aletta Gathercole, daughter of James Sheridan Gathercole and Saloma A. “Liona” Hopkins, on September 9, 1928 at Danville, Virginia.³ Thomas William Royal Sr. died on March 14, 1986 at Roanoke, Virginia, at age 80.^2,5 He Thomas William Royal, Sr., age 80, passed away Friday in a Roanoke hospital. Surviving are his wife, Evelyn B. Royal, Floyd; one daughter, Susan R. Royal, Roanoke; son and daughter-in-law, Tommy and Sandra Royal, Jr., Floyd; one granddaughter, Tara Royal, Floyd; his mother, Clara C. Royal, Floyd; one brother, George Royal, Jr., Floyd; and one sister, Nannie R. Harris, Floyd. Interment will be in Topeco Cemetery. on March 16, 1986.⁵

     His Social Security Number was 241-18-0506.⁵ Bascom Parker Edwards was buried at Elmwood Cemetery, 303 E. North Street, Fremont, Wayne Co., North Carolina.⁶ He was born on March 22, 1913 at Wolf Pit, Richmond Co., North Carolina.^1,2,6,3 He married Espra Aletta Gathercole, daughter of James Sheridan Gathercole and Saloma A. “Liona” Hopkins, on November 20, 1939 at Danville, Virginia.¹ Bascom Parker Edwards died on September 23, 2007 at Melbourne, Brevard Co., Florida, at age 94.^2,6

     Marvin Leslie Drechsler was buried at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 26669 Patriots Way, Millsboro, Sussex Co., Delaware.^1,3 He married Elizabeth Marie Gearhart, daughter of Albert Columbus Gearhart and Sallie Ann Leslie.^1,4 Marvin Leslie Drechsler was born on June 22, 1920 at Washington, D.C..^5,2,3,6 He died on September 21, 2009 at Delaware at age 89.^5,3,6

     His Social Security Number was 227-09-5559.^4,6 Earl Hamilton Russell was born on July 1, 1917 at Boxwood, Henry Co., Virginia.^3,4,6,5 He married Helen Perrine Settles, daughter of John William Settles and Bertha Belle Gearheart, on April 21, 1939 at Rockingham Co., North Carolina.^1,2 Earl Hamilton Russell died on April 28, 2001 at Brevard Co., Florida, at age 83.^4,6

     Walter Emmit Hardester Jr. was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.^3,4 His Social Security Number was 577-40-3907.⁶ He was born on August 26, 1919 at Washington, D.C..^1,3,4,6 He married Muriel Allegra Settles, daughter of John William Settles and Bertha Belle Gearheart, on March 8, 1940 at Norfolk, Virginia.¹ Walter Emmit Hardester Jr. and Muriel Allegra Settles were divorced on January 18, 1946 at Alexandria, Virginia.² Walter Emmit Hardester Jr. died on March 30, 1962 at Newark, Essex Co., New Jersey, at age 42.^3,4,5,7 He Walter E. Hardester, 42, of 1150 Woodbrook Drive, died Friday in a Newark, N.J., hospital. A native of Alexander, Va., Mr. Hardester came here in 1959 when he was transferred as a quality control engineer with the General Electric Co., branch in St. Petersburg. He was retired as a chief petty officer in the United Navy. He was a member of Andrew Jackson Lodge 120, F. & A.M., Alexandria, and General Electric Masons Club, St Petersburg. Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Bertha Inez Hardester; two sons, Walter Hardester Jr., and Michael Hardester; two daughters, Kathleen Hardester and Esther Hardester, all of Largo; two brothers, John Warren Hardester, Donald Hardester; three sisters, Mrs. Lois Barr, Mrs. Virginia Williams and Mrs. Minnie Holt, all of Alexandria. on April 4, 1962.⁷

     Earl Mandron Pratt was buried at Palm Cemetery, Winter Park, Orange Co., Florida.⁵ His Social Security Number was 257-16-1055.² He was born on March 15, 1921 at Charlotte Center, Chautauqua Co., New York.^1,2,3,6 He married Muriel Allegra Settles, daughter of John William Settles and Bertha Belle Gearheart, on August 14, 1947 at Alexandria, Virginia.¹ Earl Mandron Pratt died on May 25, 2003 at Florida at age 82.^2,4

     Ruben Beringer was buried at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Billings, Yellowstone Co., Montana.^3,5 His Social Security Number was 517-16-7820.⁸ He was born on June 15, 1919 at Hebron, Morton Co., North Dakota.^3,4,5,6,8,7 He married Muriel Allegra Settles, daughter of John William Settles and Bertha Belle Gearheart, on August 18, 1950 at Washington, D.C..² Ruben Beringer and Muriel Allegra Settles were divorced on November 13, 1951 at Billings, Yellowstone Co., Montana.¹ Ruben Beringer died on October 17, 2009 at Billings, Yellowstone Co., Montana, at age 90.^3,4,5,6,8 He Ruben Beringer, one of the few remaining Montana Pearl Harbor survivors, died Oct. 17, 2009, at the age of 90. He was born June 15, 1919, in Hebron, N.D., son of Jacob and Margaret (Magstadt) Beringer. He grew up on farms in the Huntley area and near Laurel. He joined the U.S. Navy in March of 1941, following his brothers into the service. He was assigned to the crow's nest on the USS California when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He served on several naval vessels and was assigned to the USS Indianapolis, but was not aboard when it was sunk. After World War II, he served another 12 years in the Navy. After his discharge, he spent 22 years as a rural postal carrier. Upon his retirement, he drove bus for School District 2, the Forest Service and the Veterans' Administration. Ruben married Lucille Huss on Oct. 24, 1975, in Sheridan, Wyo. Together, they enjoyed bowling, entertainment and music, but best of all, dancing at the Elks every Saturday night. Lucille preceded him in death. For the last five years, he resided at Valley Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, and enjoyed escaping occasionally to drive by his home and to gamble at a casino. Ruben was the last Beringer of his generation, and is survived by many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and nephews, and great-grandnieces and nephews. on October 20, 2009.⁴

     Her married name was Prillaman.¹ Her Social Security Number was 229-36-7144.² Garnell Shifflett married George Morris Prillaman.^1,3 Garnell Shifflett was born on March 5, 1933 at Roanoke Co., Virginia.^1,4,5 As of December 30, 1947,her married name was Settles.¹ She married William Nelson Settles, son of John William Settles and Bertha Belle Gearheart, on December 30, 1947 at Roanoke Co., Virginia.¹ Garnell Shifflett and William Nelson Settles were divorced on February 16, 1954 at Roanoke, Virginia.⁶ Garnell Shifflett died on February 27, 1997 at Williamsburg, Virginia, at age 63.^2,5,3

     Minnie Ola Sink was buried at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, 5737 Airport Road NW, Roanoke, Virginia.^1,2 Her married name was Settles.¹ She married William Nelson Settles, son of John William Settles and Bertha Belle Gearheart.^1,2 Minnie Ola Sink was born on August 28, 1906 at Franklin Co., Virginia.¹ She died on October 12, 1971 at Roanoke, Virginia, at age 65.^1,2 She Minnie S. Settles of 365 Mountain Ave., SW. died Tuesday in a Roanoke hospital. She was the wife of William Nelson Settles. Also surviving are a son, Ronald Wayne Hale, Rocky Mount; three brothers, Arthur Sink, Roanoke, Dalton Sink, Boones Mill, Raymond Sink, Chester; four sisters, Mrs. Georgie Jordan, Boones Mill, Mrs. Dossie Kingery, Mrs. Fannie Patsel, Mrs. Lura Simmons, Roanoke. Burial in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. on October 13, 1971.²