Notes for: Levi ("Lee") Matthew Bodine
There are probably some missing or incorrect details about his marriages. From Ronny's message below, he may have had another wife in between Ethyl and Florence.
From: Ronny Bodine
Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2014
Subject: Re: Alexander + Carl + Don + Harry + James + Levi Bodine
Dave,
His first marriage was to either Nora or Dorothy about 1920 as son James was born in 1921. When he married Florence in 1950 he claimed two previous marriages ended in divorce. That was not Nora/Dorothy as she must have died at some point for him to be married to Ethyl who is with him in 1940. So, he must have divorced Ethyl in 1944 and married again to divorce wife no. 3 in 1949.
Ronny
From Ronny Bodine:
On 12 Sept 1918, Lee Mathew Bodine registered for the World War 1 draft in Dayton, Ohio. He reported he was born 30 March 1900, worked as a laborer, and Will Bodine of Dayton was his next of kin.
Wayne County, Indiana Marriage Records:
Lee M. Bodine, of Dayton, Ohio, truck driver, born in Russellville, KY on 30 March 1902, son of W. E., living in Xenia, Ohio & Helen Young, deceased, two previous marriages which ended in divorce in Sept 1944 and 16 Nov 1949, no minor children living AND Florence L. Keplar, of Columbus, Ohio, key-punch operator, born in Nelsonville, Ohio on 24 Oct 1926, daughter of Charles Keplar & Mary E. Sanders, no previous marriages, were married 10 June 1950 by Rev. John H. Carnes.
Levi was married to Nora or Dorothy, Ethel and Florence. Florence (Keplar) Bodine was the daughter of Charles Emmett and Mary Elizabeth (Sanders) Keplar.
From Texas Federal Census Records:
1930: Unable to locate.
1940 (17 April) Kent Co.: Lee BODINE 40 KY Farm Laborer, Ethyl 31 TX wife, James 19 TX son. Residents of Abilene, Taylor County, Texas on 1 April 1935.
Dayton City Directories list Lee M. Bodine in 1942 working as a machine operator, in 1946 working at the White Rose Cafe and in 1950 working as a driver. In 1951 he is listed with a wife, Florence.
Obituary, The Columbus Dispatch (Columbus, Ohio) of Sept. 1978.
Florence (Keplar) Bodine, age 51, Monday, Mt. Carmel Medical Center, of 2244 Union Ave., Columbus. Retired Bureau of Employment Services. Widow of Lee M. Bodine. Survived by son Lee E. Bodine; sisters Mary Keplar, Columbus, Dorothy Retter. Dayton; brothers Emmett Keplar and Dean Keplar, Columbus; several nieces and nephews; many friends and relatives. Friends may call Schoedinger Hilltop Chapel, 3030 W. broad St., 2-4 and 7-8 p.m. Wednesday. Additional calling hours 10 a.m. Thursday until 2 p.m. Thursday at the Warren Funeral Home, Nelsonville, Ohio. Graveside services will be held 2 p.m. Thursday at the Greenlawn Cemetery, nelsonville. Pastor John Hydinger officiating. Family suggests contributions may be made to the Kidney Foundation.
Burials in Greenlawn Cemetery, Nelsonville, Athens County, Ohio.
(Find A Grave Memorial # 56945863)
BODINE Florence L. 1926-1978 Lee M. 1900-1975