Lester George MERRITT

Born

16 December 1919 , Carbondale, Pennsylvania, USA

Died

17 October 1973 , Carbondale, Pennsylvania, USA

Parents & Family of Lester George MERRITT

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Parents

Lester George MERRITT Cecelia "Celia" Amanda BOURGARDE

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Spouse & Children

View family relationships2 recorded relationship(s)

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Born: 16 December 1919 in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, USA

Father: Lester George MERRITT

Mother: Cecelia "Celia" Amanda BOURGARDE

Paternal grandparents: Seth O MERRITT , Mary R HYZER

Maternal grandparents: François Joseph BOURGARDÉ , Mary "Marie" Katherine FROEHLICH

Lester George was a soldier in World War II.
Tracing Ancestors Through Military Service Records: Unveiling Family Heroes

Spouse(s)/Partner(s) and Child(ren):

Lester George married Bernice H MOYLE 11 November 1939 in Lackawana County, Pennsylvania . They divorced. Bernice H MOYLE was born 6 June 1919 in Pennsylvania, USA. Bernice H died 5 June 1983 in Pennsylvania, USA. Bernice H was the child of Frederick Charles MOYLE and Bessie (Betsey) ADDLEY.

Lester George married (2) Mildred MCDONALD 30 December 1946 in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania . The couple had (at least) 1 child.
Mildred MCDONALD was born abt. 1925 in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, USA.

Lester George MERRITT died 17 October 1973 in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, USA.

*** obituary can be found in The Tribune, Scranton, Pennsylvania, October 19, 1973 (OCR unable to read)

Details of the family tree of Lester appear below.

Operation Underworld: How the Mafia and U.S. Government Teamed Up to Win World War II

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Honoring WWII Heroes Ceramic Coffee Mug – World War II Veteran Tribute Gift

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A Glimpse into the Everyday Life of the Average American Man in the Mid-1900s

Are you related to Lester George MERRITT? If so, Forever Cousins: Eight Generations of the Theinert Family is a family history book about YOUR family!

What was our family talking about in 1900? Probably this! Find out why.
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Spouse & Children of Lester George MERRITT

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Lester George MERRITT married

Bernice H MOYLE
Marriage date: 11 November 1939
Marriage place: Lackawana County, Pennsylvania
Source: familysearch.org (Mormon Genealogy Records)
Unofficial Guide to FamilySearch.org: How to Find Your Family History on the World's Largest Free Genealogy Website

Bernice H MOYLE was the child of Frederick Charles MOYLE and Bessie (Betsey) ADDLEY

Marriage notes:

Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885 - 1950

name: Lester G. Merritt

titles & terms:

event: Marriage

event date: 11 Nov 1939

event place: Lackawanna Co, Pennsylvania, United States

age: 21

estimated birth year: 1918

father: Lester Merritt

father's titles & terms:

mother: Celia Bourgurde

mother's titles & terms:

spouse: Bernice H. Moyle

spouse's titles & terms:

spouse's age: 21

spouse's estimated birth year: 1918

spouse's father: Frederick Moyle

spouse's father's titles & terms:

spouse's mother: Bessie Addley

spouse's mother's titles & terms:

reference number: No. 2494 P. 494

film number: 2313429

digital folder number: 004480796

image number: 00301

Divorced Oct 22, 1946, Scranton, PA according to 2nd marriage record (below)

Children of Lester George MERRITT and Bernice H MOYLE

No children are currently listed for this couple.

Lester George MERRITT married

Mildred MCDONALD
Marriage date: 30 December 1946
Marriage place: Susquehanna, Pennsylvania

Marriage notes:

Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885 - 1950

name: Lester Merritt

titles & terms:

event: Marriage

event date: 03 Dec 1946

event place: Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, United States

age: 26

estimated birth year: 1920

father: Lester

father's titles & terms:

mother: Cecilia Bourgrade

mother's titles & terms:

spouse: Mildred Mcdonald

spouse's titles & terms:

spouse's age: 21

spouse's estimated birth year: 1925

spouse's father: Leo

spouse's father's titles & terms:

spouse's mother: Frances Tomaine

spouse's mother's titles & terms:

reference number:

film number: 2022022

digital folder number: 004833128

image number: 00864

Children of Lester George MERRITT and Mildred MCDONALD

Jean Frances MERRITT

Born: 11 February 1953, Carbondale, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: 15 June 1976, Carbondale, Pennsylvania, USA

Married: Dale Gene ROLLISON

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Records about Lester George MERRITT and family appear alongside historical events from the same years. Each item is labeled so you can quickly tell family records from historical context.

Birth — 1919
16 December 1919
Carbondale, Pennsylvania, USA

1920 - January 17 - Prohibition goes into effect on January 17, 1920, under the provisions of the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution

1921 - Warren G. Harding becomes President of the United States

1921 - Charles Strite of Minnesota patents the pop-up toaster.

1923 to 1927 - Television is invented (Vladimir Kosma Zworykin (Russia), Philo Taylor Farnsworth (United States))

1923 - Calvin Coolidge becomes President of the United States

1927 - The aerosol can is invented (Erik Rotheim, Norway)

1927 - April 7 – Bell Telephone Co. transmits an image of Herbert Hoover (then the Secretary of Commerce), which becomes the first successful long distance demonstration of television

1928 - Sliced bread (bread slicing machine) is invented by Otto Frederick Rohwedder (United States)

1929 - Herbert Hoover becomes President of the United States

1929 - October 29 - Black Tuesday - Stock market crash - The Great Depression Begins - It lasted until 1941 (WW2)

1930 - Scotch tape is invented (Richard Drew (3M), United States)

1930 Carbondale, Lackawanna, Pennsylvania
name: Lester Merritt
event: Census
event date: 1930
event place: Carbondale, Lackawanna, Pennsylvania
gender: Male
age: 9
marital status: Single
race: White
birthplace: Pennsylvania
estimated birth year: 1921
immigration year:
relationship to head of household: Son
father's birthplace: New York
mother's birthplace: New York
enumeration district number: 0106
family number: 27
sheet number and letter: 1B
line number: 99
nara publication: T626, roll 2048
film number: 2341782
digital folder number: 4639379
image number: 00641
Household Gender Age
parent Lester G Merritt M 59
parent Celia Merritt F 47
Lester Merritt M 9
Hobart Merritt M 6
Gladys Hodsal F 26
Myrell Hodsal M 28
Duane Hodsal M 1

1930 Census Ancestry (U.S.)
Exploring the U.S. Census: Your Guide to America’s Data

In 1930, on February 18, Pluto was discovered by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, marking a significant milestone in the study of our solar system.

1931 - The paper towel is invented (Arthur Scott, United States)

1931 - March 3 – The Star-Spangled Banner is adopted as the United States National anthem.

1933 - Franklin D. Roosevelt becomes President of the United States

1933 - December 5 – The 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution is passed, repealing Prohibition

1934 - The metal beverage can is invented (American Can Co., United States)

1935 - The snowmobile was invented by Joseph Bombardier (Quebec, Canada)

1935 - August 14 – United States President Franklin Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act into law

1938 - The ballpoint pen is invented (Lazlo Biro, Hungary)

1938-1944 - Sunscreen is invented (Franz Greiter, Switzerland and Benjamin Green, United States)

1938 - October 27 - Du Pont announces a name for its new synthetic yarn: nylon.

1939 Marriage / Partner
Lester George MERRITT and Bernice H MOYLE 11 November 1939, Lackawana County, Pennsylvania

He was 19 years old.

1940 Carbondale, Lackawanna, Pennsylvania
name: Lester Merritt
titles & terms:
event: Census
event year: 1940
event place: Ward 6, Carbondale, Carbondale City, Lackawanna, Pennsylvania, United States
gender: Male
age: 20
marital status: Married
race (original): White
race (standardized): White
relationship to head of household (original): Son-in-law
relationship to head of household (standardized): Son-in-law
birthplace: Pennsylvania
estimated birth year: 1920
residence in 1935: Same Place
enumeration district number: 35-32
family number: 187
sheet number and letter: 10B
line number: 51
nara publication number: T627
nara roll number: 3522
digital folder number: 005456662
image number: 00984
Household Gender Age Birthplace
head Fred C Moyle M 64 Pennsylvania
wife Bessie Y Moyle F 56 England
daughter Bernice Merritt F 21 Pennsylvania
son-in-law Lester Merritt M 20 Pennsylvania
1940 Census Ancestry (U.S.)
Exploring the U.S. Census: Your Guide to America’s Data

1940
Hyde Park

Mr. and Mrs, Lester Merritt, Jr., and Mr. and Mrs. Lester Merritt, Sr., of Carbondale, Pa., Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ellsworth of Cooperstown, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Johnson of Albany were guests over Decoration Day at the Brady and Eckler home.

The Otsego Farmer
Cooperstown, New York
Friday, June 7, 1940

1940 - April - 1st electron microscope demonstrated (RCA), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

1941 - December 8 - (the day after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor) United States declares war on Japan (WW2)

Carbondale, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1942
Name: Lester G Merritt Jr
Gender: M (Male)
Residence Year: 1942
Street Address: 42 Reynolds av
Residence Place: Carbondale, Pennsylvania
Occupation: Drill Press Opr
Spouse:
Bernice Merritt
Publication Title: Carbondale, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1942
ancestry.com

1944 - Military Enlistment
Name: Lester G Merritt Jr
Race: White
Marital status: Married
Rank: Private
Birth Year: 1920
Nativity State or Country: Pennsylvania
Citizenship: Citizen
Education: 4 years of high school
Civil Occupation: Skilled occupations in the manufacture of miscellaneous products
Enlistment Date: 7 Mar 1944
Enlistment Place: Fort George G Meade, Maryland
Service Number: 33843723
Branch: No branch assignment
Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Source: Civil Life
Height: 11
Weight: 003

Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2005.
ancestry.com

Military Service
Name: Lester Merritt
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 16 Dec 1920
Death Date: 17 Oct 1973
SSN: 179122420
Enlistment Date 2: 7 Mar 1944
Release Date 2: 23 Oct 1946

Ancestry.com. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
ancestry.com

1944 - D-Day, which occurred on June 6, 1944, was a pivotal World War II operation where Allied forces launched a massive invasion on the beaches of Normandy, France. Known as Operation Overlord, it involved over 156,000 troops from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and other Allied nations. The operation aimed to liberate Western Europe from Nazi German control. The landings marked the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany, leading to the eventual Allied victory in Europe.

1945 - The atomic bomb is invented (J. Robert Oppenheimer, et al., United States)

The microwave oven was invented accidentally in 1945 by Percy Spencer, a Raytheon engineer. While testing a magnetron, he noticed microwaves melted a candy bar in his pocket. Experimenting further, he discovered microwaves could cook food quickly. Raytheon patented the process, and by 1947, they built the first commercial microwave oven, called the 'Radarange.' Initially used in commercial settings, microwaves becomes affordable for home use by the 1960s and 1970s, revolutionizing cooking.

1945 - Harry S. Truman becomes President of the United States

1945 - On September 2, 1945, World War II officially ended with the formal surrender of Japan. The surrender ceremony took place aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, where Japanese officials signed the Instrument of Surrender in the presence of Allied representatives, including General Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Chester Nimitz.

1946 Marriage / Partner
Lester George MERRITT and Mildred MCDONALD 30 December 1946, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania

He was 27 years old.

1948 - Velcro is invented (George de Mestral, Switzerland)

1950 - June 25 - Korean War begins when North Korean forces invade South Korea.

1953 - Dwight D. Eisenhower becomes President of the United States

1953 Birth of Child
Jean Frances MERRITT was born 11 February 1953, Carbondale, Pennsylvania, USA

Lester George was 33 years old.

1953 - On July 27, 1953, the Korean War ended with the signing of an armistice agreement at Panmunjom. This ceasefire halted the conflict between North Korea, supported by China and the Soviet Union, and South Korea, backed by United Nations forces primarily from the United States. The agreement established the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) near the 38th parallel, effectively maintaining the pre-war boundary and creating a buffer zone between the two Koreas.

1961 - John F. Kennedy becomes President of the United States

1961 - Vietnam War officially begins with 900 military advisors landing in Saigon.

1962 - The Cuban Missile Crisis was a tense 13-day standoff in October 1962 between the United States and the Soviet Union over the installation of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from the U.S. coast. The crisis is considered the closest the Cold War came to escalating into a full-scale nuclear war. It began when American spy planes discovered the missiles, leading to a U.S. naval blockade of Cuba and intense negotiations. The crisis ended when Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for the U.S. promising not to invade Cuba and secretly agreeing to remove American missiles from Turkey.

1963 - I Have a Dream Speech - Martin Luther King's Address at March on Washington August 28, 1963.

In 1963, on November 22, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, while riding in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza. The assassination shocked the nation and the world, leading to widespread mourning and a period of intense national introspection. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as the 36th President of the United States shortly after Kennedy's death. The assassination sparked numerous conspiracy theories and investigations, with the Warren Commission ultimately concluding that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination. Kennedy's death had a profound impact on American politics and society, marking the end of an era often referred to as 'Camelot.'

1968 - The ATM is invented (Don Wetzel, United States)

1969 - Richard M. Nixon becomes President of the United States

1969 - July 20 - Apollo 11 - Man lands on the moon

June 17, 1972 – August 9, 1974 - Watergate Scandal began with the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., in 1972. Members of President Richard Nixon's administration attempted to cover up their involvement. The scandal led to the discovery of multiple abuses of power by the Nixon administration, the resignation of President Nixon in 1974, and the indictment of several administration officials.

Death
Name: Lester Merritt
State of Issue: Pennsylvania
Date of Birth: Tuesday December 16, 1919
Date of Death: October 1973
Est. Age at Death: 53 years, 9 months
Last known residence:
City: Carbondale; Childs; Greenfield Township; Simpson
County: Lackawanna
State: Pennsylvania
ZIP Code: 18407

Name: Lester George Merritt Jr
Birth Date: 16 Dec 1920
Age: 52
Death Date: 17 Oct 1973
Military Branch: Army
Veteran of Which War: World War II
Registration County: Lackawanna
Cemetery Name: Willow Cemetery

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards, 1929-1990; Series Number: Series 2
ancestry.com

Funeral
Merritt
Lester G. Merritt Jr., 61 N. Main St., Carbondale. Today at 18:30 a.m. from the Oliver R. Shifler Funeral Home, 94 N. Main St, Carbondale, with services by Rev. Charles F. Starzer, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Carbondale. Interment, Willow View Cemetery, Clifford.

The Tribune
Scranton, Pennsylvania
October 20, 1973

FINAL RESTING PLACE