Notes for: Merrill Leo ("Bo") Bodine

From: Bunker's Mill Winery [minfo at bunkersmillwinery.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Subject: Merrill L "Bo" Bodine

I am trying to research Merrill "Bo" Bodine who owned Le Boudin Winery in Cardington, Morrow County, Ohio from 1968 until his death in 1972. He owned it with his wife, Ruth Jean Wright Bodine.

Is this something you can assist me with?

Jerry Newell, Owner

Bunker's Mill Winery
102 E. Main St., Cardington, OH 43315
419-560-9854
http://www.BunkersMillWinery.com
Faceboook.com/BunkersMillWinery
Instagram & Twitter - @BunkersMillWine

From: Bunker's Mill Winery
Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2023
Subject: Re: Merrill L "Bo" Bodine

Thank you for responding. I may end up with more information and would be more than happy to share it with you.

I live in Cardington, Ohio and every year a local community organization hosts a Cemetery Walk at the local cemetery and they have members of the organization stand by the grave of a deceased community member, dressed in period costume and act as if they are the deceased and talk about their life and business when they were alive.

I have been chosen to portray Merrill Bodine, the owner of one of the first wineries in Morrow County, Ohio after prohibition ended.

So I am now on the hunt for any information, relatives, stories, anecdotes, etc about Merrill and his winery.

The walk is on October 1 and after that is over I will send you any information I have accumulated and you can disseminate as you see fit.

Thanks again!

Jerry

From Ronny Bodine:

1st marriage--1935--LILLIAN M. DUNAWAY.
From Pennsylvania Marriage Records:
Merrill L. Bodine, 21, machinist, born in Alpha, N.J., son of Robert Bodine (deceased) and Margaret Flynn, was married to Lillian M. Dunaway, 27, silk weaver, born Rodman, N.Y., daughter of John Dunaway and Dora Keller, both deceased, on 27 April 1935 in Easton, Northampton County, Penn.

From City Directories:
1937 Easton, Penn.: Bodine: Merle L., mach, and Lillian M. h 276 Wilkes-Barre
1944 Phillipsburg, NJ: Bodine: Merrill, mach. & Lillian h 81 Summit av.
1947 Easton, Penn.: Lillian weaver Onondaga Silk r 81 Summit Phillipsburg NJ

In 1940/47, Merrill Leo Bodine registered for the World War II Young Men Draft as a resident of Easton, Penn. and reported he was born 23 Sept 1913 in Alpha, Warren Co., NJ, and named his wife, Lillian May Bodine, as his next of kin.

Obituary, The Easton (Penn.) Express of 22 April 1990.
Lillian Bodine, 82, formerly of 235 S. Main St. in Phillipsburg, died Friday at the Lopatcong Care Center in Lopatcong Township, N.J., where she had been a guest for the past several years. She retired in 1977 from Onondaga Silk Mill in Easton where she worked as a silk weaver. Born in Rodman, N.Y., on April 14, 1909, she was a daughter of the late John and Oora Keller Dunaway. She was a member of Olivet Presbyterian Church in Easton. She is survived by a nephew in Washington, N.J. Her husband, Merrill Bodine, died in 1970 [sic]. The Joseph A. Noto Funeral Home in Phillipsburg is in charge of arrangements.


2nd marriage--before 1968--RUTH JEAN WRIGHT.
From Ohio Death Records:
Merrill L. Bodine died 3 May 1972 in Mt. Gilead, Morrow County, Ohio at the age of 58. He was born 3 May 1972 in New Jersey to Robert Bodine and Margaret Flynn. He was married to Ruth Wright.

Obituary, Galion Inquirer (Mansfield, Ohio) of 3 May 1972.
Merrill L. (Bo) Bodine, 58, died today at his home, Rt. 3, Mt. Gilead, of an apparent heart attack. Mr. Bodine moved to Mt. Gilead in 1963 from Columbus where he was in the insurance business. In 1968 he and his widow started the LeBoudin Winery. Mr. Bodine was a member of Sacred Heart Church, a member of the Loyal Order of Moose, Galion, Columbus Health and Accident Association, Lima Elks Lodge 54 and the Bellefontaine Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge. Mr. Bodine was born Sept. 23, 1913 in Alpha, N.J. He is survived by his widow, Ruth; a sister Mrs. Ruth Burd, Washington, N.J.; a half-brother, James Galloway, Narberth, Pa.; and a number of nieces and nephews. Calling hours will begin at noon Thursday at the Snyder Funeral Home where Wake Service will be at 8 p.m. Thursday. Funeral Mass will be at 2 p.m. Friday at St. Matthew Catholic Church in charge of Rev. Carmen Arcuri. Burial will be in Cardington Catholic Cemetery.

Obituary, Marysville Journal-Tribune (Marysville, Ohio) of 5 Jan 2004.
Ruth Jean Bodine, age 72, of Mt. Gilead, passed away Thursday September 26, 2002 at the Morrow County Hospital ECF. She was born January 3, 1930 in Frazeysburg, OH the daughter of Bart and Lilly (Westerviller) Wright who precede her in death. Ruth was retired from the State of Ohio Industrial Commission, was a lifetime member of AMVETS Post #87, and had attended the Church of the Sacred Hearts. She is survived by two brothers; Wayne (Carole) Wright of Heath and Joseph (Carole) Wright of Kingston, TN, and 7 sisters; Mary Corder and Anna (Kenneth) Wolford of Dresden, Clarabell (Dale)Fairall of Frazeysburg, Edith (Chester) Flowers and Evelyn (Kenneth) Sidle of Hanover, Dorothy Feasel of Columbus, and Betty German of CA. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Merrill Bodine. Graveside services will be held Monday, September 30 at 1 pm at the Glendale Cemetery in Cardington with Father Charles J. Foeller Officiating. Services in care of Snyder Funeral Home, Mt. Gilead.

From Social Security Records:
Ruth Jean Wright applied for a SSN in Jan 1946 and reported she was born 3 Jan 1930 in Frazeysburg, Ohio, dau. of Bartley & Lilly M. (Westerviller) Wright. In Sept 1963 she reported her name as Ruth Wright Bodine, in Sept 1973 as Ruth Bodine Hubbell; and in Feb 1993 as Ruth Jean Bodine. She died 26 Sep 2002.