Notes for: George Howard Bodine, Jr.
Ronny wrote that George was 3 years old in April 1910 from the census information. In January 1920 he was 14 and in April 1930 he was 26. The SS says 25 July 1906 and his gravemarker clearly says 1904. His parents should have known when he was born so Ronny also thinks 1906 is George's most likely birth year and not 1904.
From Ronny Bodine (April 9, 2022):
Myrtle was born April 1899 in Delaware, daughter of William H. & Roxie E. (Griffith) Walls. In 1900, age 1, she lived with her parents in Dover, Kent Co., Delaware, 1910 in Wilmington, New Castle Co., DE aged 10, with her mother and brother in the home of Frank and Annie Sisk, Annie being Roxie's sister, and 1920, aged 21, living again in Dover with her mother and brother. On 20 June 1920 in Dover, Delaware, Myrtle A. Walls married Ralph P. Kreer, having already borne a son, Duane Kreer on 27 May 1920, who in 1930 at age 9, lived with his maternal grandmother, Roxie Walls, in Dover. When Duane married in 1940, he stated his parents were Ralph Kreer and Myrtle Bodine. This seems to imply that Ralph and Myrtle had divorced, and Myrtle married a Bodine, which she did in 1928--George Howard Bodine, Jr., with who she lived in 1930 in Milford, Sussex County, reporting they were husband and wife and had been married 2 years.
1930 Milford, Sussex Co., DE: George H. BODINE 26 DE laborer-cement, Myrtle 29 MD wife. Married 2 years. [Note: Myrtle was married to Ralph Kreer since 1920 and not divorced until in or after 1938.]
George/Myrtle Bodine cannot be found in the 1940 census.
On 16 Feb 1942, George Howard Bodine Jr. of Milford, Kent Co., Delaware registered for the World War II Draft. He reported he was born 25 July 1904 in Milford and named his wife Myrtle as his next of kin.
The confusing issue here is that The News Journal of Wilmington, DE of 4 March 1938 reported the divorce action of Myrtle Walls Kreer v. Ralph Paul Kreer. This seems to be some sort of a catch-up to what should have taken place a decade earlier, as Myrtle was married to George Bodine and was still married to him when he registered for the World War II Draft in Milford on 16 Feb 1942 and named Myrtle as his next of kin. On 1 July 1941, Duane Kreer registered for the draft as well and named Roxie Walls as his next of kin.
Myrtle's son Duane Kreer died 18 July 1962 and Myrtle is not named as a survivor in his obituary. His Delaware death certificate names his parents as Ralph Kreer and Myrtle Walls. Roxie Walls, Myrtle's mother, died in Smyrna at age 90 on 20 June 1966 and her obituary also omits Myrtle as a survivor.
Based upon the appearance of George and Myrtle as husband and wife in 1950, it appears Myrtle was the only wife of George Bodine and that they were living in 1930 as husband and wife despite the fact that Myrtle was still married to Ralph Kreer. Her divorce from Kreer must be dated between 1938 and 1942.
1950 Milford, Kent Co., DE: George BODINE Jr. 40 DE carpenter, Myrtle A. 35 MD wife bookkeeper, James 5 DE son. [Note: Living next door was Myrtle's mother Roxy Walls 80 with her son Earl 36 and his family.]
Based on the foregoing, Myrtle is last seen in April 1950 and was deceased by 18 July 1962. Delaware newspapers did not publish an obituary of anyone named Myrtle who was associated with the names Bodine, Kreer or Walls. It may well be the case that she did remarry and moved out of state.
Insofar as son James was born in November 1944 it seems likely George married in 1943 or early 1944. Still married in June 1954, his 1981 obituary indicates he was divorced.
From The News Journal (Wilmington, Del.) of 12 June 1954.
MILFORD, June 12---James Bodine, aged 9, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Bodine, was in a rowboat that sank. Bodine swam to shore, etc. [If his father 1st married in 1928, then James may be the son of a 2nd marriage.]
Obituary, The Morning News (Wilmington, Del.) of 28 Nov 1981.
MILFORD---George H. Bodine, 75, of near Milford, died Thursday in Milford Memorial after a long illness. Mr. Bodine retired about three years ago as a self-employed carpenter. He is survived by a son, James in Tennessee, a brother, Charles, and sister Anna Bodine, both of Milford, and two grandchildren. He was divorced. Services will be Sunday afternoon at 2 at the Berry Funeral Home, NW Front St., Milford, where friends may call tonight. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Milford.
From Social Security Death Records:
George Bodine, born 25 July 1906, died Nov 1981, last residence was Milford, Sussex County, Delaware.
Burials in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Milford, Kent County, Delaware.
(For grave marker photo see Find A Grave Memorial No. 12256947)
GEORGE H. BODINE JR. 1904--1981