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Billee was born Jan 5, 1906. There was an affidavit in the Notes attesting to this.
AFFIDAVIT
State of California
County of Riverside
To Whom It May Concern.
This is to certify that our daughter, Billee Wenona Churchill (now Mrs. Wenona Churchill Clark) was born January 5th, 1906 at 606 Kirkpatrick Street, El Dorado Springs, Cedar County, Missouri.
That Dr. Bollinger (now deceased) was the attending physician.
A neighbor, Mrs. Katherine Johannes, now residing at 612 South Kirkpatrick Street, El Dorado Springs, Missouri was also present when our daughter, Billee Wenona Churchill was born.
Billee graduated from El Dorado Springs High School, class of 1923.
El Dorado Springs High School
This Certifies that
Wenona B. Churchill
having completed the regular course of
study, prescribed by the Board of Education,
is hereby declared a graduate of El Dorado
Springs High School, and is entitled to this
DIPLOMA
In witness thereof, we have hereunto affixed
our names at El Dorado Springs
Missouri, this 18th day of May A.D. 1923
Alfred N. Weiser, Superintendent
Luther G. Edge, Principal
She attended Central College (now Central
Methodist College) in Fayette, Mo. Her college pictures below were
from the college annual, the Ragout. She graduated in 1927. We have
donated all of Billee's college days mementos to the college.
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The Curators
of the
Central College
on the nomination of the Faculty
have admitted
Wenona Billee Churchill
to the degree of Bachelor of Arts
and have conferred on her, all the honors,
rights and privileges
appertaining to that degree. In
witness whereof this diploma
is granted and the signatures of the proper
officials and the
seal of the college are affixed.
Given at Fayette, Missouri, this 8th day of
June, in the year
of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and
twenty seven.
W.F. <unreadable>, President of the College
E.P. Puckett, Dean of the College
In a "Do You Remeber?" column probably from the El Dorado Springs
Sun:
From the Sun Aug. 4 1927:
The El Dorado public schools will open next Monday Aug 27. The following are in charge: ..... English, Winona Churchill, ....
Billee married Walter Rothwell Clark. Billee and the family called him "Clark". I found an amazing pair of letters:
June 5, 1932
Hotel Ruff, Marshall, Mo
Dearest Folks:Then this letter in return:
I hope you are braced for something of a shock at least I suppose it will be a bit of a shock to you. Clark and I left Fayette yesterday - got Charlotte and Jimmy in Glasgow and found a Justice of the Peace. I hate to disappoint you though I really have done pretty well to wait until I am nearly twenty-seven years old, don't you think? Please try to see it my way, won't you. My job runs out the fifteenth and then we will come home and stay - maybe as long you want. I wish I could be there now, we would come down today if it wasn't so far, but it won't be very long now, anyhow.
This is Mr. Van Arsdale's hotel - he and Jim are sitting over there now. It's awfully nice - he has fixed it up a lot.
For you I hate to have done this but you know there's nothing at all in the sort of life I have been living. We have nothing at all but we'll get by and after all it makes little difference. I will write again real soon. I hardly realize it all myself yet. Please now don't be mad or disappointed in me or anything like that - and don't be angry with Clark either. Just realize now you have another son, instead of losing me.
Clark sends his love and I send my love. Will write soon and you do it too.
So much love,
Billee
Dearest Billee -
You stab me then insist on seeing the blood. I tried to spare you the gruesome details but you keep turning the knife.
I can't write. I'll need time to try to see how I deserved to have the worship I put into building the only think I considered worth while spurned.
Come home and maybe all together we can piece something together. We do love you and we'll be trying desperately to be fair to you both.
Let us know when you will come and if you need us to come up for you.
You've told us nothing of your plans. Has Clark a job and what do you hope to do?
Love, Mom
Left to Right Fred Bert Churchill (son of Frank Bert) Betty Jane (Frank) Churchill Wenona Billee (Churchill) Clark Walter Clark Taken on the front porch of Fred and Betty's home in San Diego, CA. |
Walter Rothwell Clark. There is not much information about
his ancestors in the Notes. I do have one item that has the name "R.T.
Clark" on it. He may have been his father. I've since found more
information about his father, Rothwell Thomas Clark, and his mother,
Mabel Kidd. I've put what I found in the family
tree. |
Stella, Billee & "Ten Ton Tillie" 1938 above written on back of photo. Printed on back: This photo was taken in San Diego, CA in front of what was the
Civic Center and is now
the San Diego County Administration Building. The statue was dedicated
on June 10, 1939 so the date on the photo must not be correct. |
Here is Billee in a relatively modern setting. Taken in 1964. At this point, Billee and Walter had moved to Prescott, AZ. Billee worked for the Veterans Administration.Walter worked for the Yavapai County Sheriff's Department. Information on Billee's Death Certificate indicates they moved to Prescott in 1950. |
1970's ? picture of Walter and Billee in front of Fred Churchill's house in San Diego, CA. | Betty Churchill and Billee, Christmas 1985 |
RETIRED - Mrs. Wenona Clark, chief of library services at the Prescott Veterans Administration Center, was honored by fellow employees at a farewell party marking her retirement. She completed 30 years of government service, 26 of them at the Prescott center.
Walter Clark died in 1984. From his funeral booklet:
In Loving Memory Of
Walter R. Clark
Born
October 5, 1908
San Francisco, California
Died
July 7, 1984
Prescott, Arizona
Graduate
Central Methodist College
Fayette, Missouri
Class of 1931
Arizona Ruffner Funeral Home
Prescott, Arizona
Billee died of Alzheimer's Disease in Prescott, AZ on 23 Feb 1997.
She was cremated. Her brother Fred wrote this obiturary after her death:
Wenona Billie Churchill Clark passed away Feb. 23, 1997, at the age of 91. Born to Stella and Frank Churchill in El Dorado Springs, MO. Jan 5, 1906. Graduated with Honors from Central College, Fayette, MO, in 1927. After graduation, she taught high school English and French before returning to Central College where she worked in the College Library, studied art and advanced her education. Later she was employed in library work in Springfield and St. Joseph, MO and in 1949 transfered to Whipple Hospital. Billee and her husband, Walter, were active in Prescott bridge clubs. She was an avid sports fan and her hobbies were painting, traveling and tennis. She retired from Whipple Hospital as Chief Medical Librarian on 7/31/75 after 30 years of government service. Billee is survived by her brother, Fred B. Churchill and wife Betty in San Diego, CA where private services will be held with her ashes scattered at sea.
email : markd@silogic.com
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