By: Mark Holtsberry
Ruth Dorothy (Wuchter) Whigam was another World War 1 American Red Cross Nurse with Paulding County ties. She was born in Akron, Summit County, Ohio, December 29, 1895. The daughter of William Wallace and Mary A. (Klingler) Wuchter. William was born in 1872 in Ohio. Mary was also born in Ohio in 1874. The couple was married March 28, 1894 in Akron, Ohio.
In 1900, the family was living in Akron at Room #2, 188th Upton Street, Akron, Ohio. In 1909, a son, William T. Wuchter, was born. He passed away in 1910. He was buried in East Akron Cemetery, Akron, Ohio. In 1910, Ruth was attending school, the family was living at East Buchtel Avenue, Akron, Ohio.
In 1913, Ruth attended Buchtel Academy in Akron. In 1914 and 1915, Ruth attended Akron University. During this timeframe, she met a fellow classmate named, James Eugene Whigam, born March 14, 1892 in Barberton, Ohio. They married, June 3, 1915 in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
April 10, 1916, while living in Canton, Ohio, a son James Eugene Whigam Jr. was born. As World War 1 broke out, James E. Whigam Sr., registered for the draft, June 5, 1917. He was working as a superintendent at the Kansas City Rubber Works, Chester West Virginia. He was listed as tall and stout, blue eyes, black hair.
Strange, Ruth’s father, William W. Wuchter, also registered for the draft, September 12, 1918, while living in Nebraska. He was listed as tall stout build, blue eyes, black hair. He was employed at the Nebraska Tire and Rubber Company as a supervisor. Sometime during 1918, Ruth was sent to Norfolk, Virginia to serve with the American Red Cross. It is unclear who was taking care of James Jr. It does not appear that either William or James Sr. were selected to serve. By 1920, the Whigam family had moved to 28th North Street, Douglass, Nebraska. James was still working for the Rubber Company as a chemist, Ruth was a homemaker. A daughter, Gloria Joan Whigam, was born November 10, 1922 in Nebraska.
In 1928, Ruth’s father William passed away, he was buried alongside his son, William T. By 1930, the Whigam family, moved to 8698 Southgate, Los Angeles, California. James was a foreman, working at a rubber shop. Ruth was a homemaker.
By 1940, the Whigam family was still living at the same address. James was working as an assistant molder at Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, 2525 Firestone Blyd. Southgate, California. Also Ruth’s mother Mary, moved in to live with the family.
On October 16, 1940, James Eugene, registered to serve in World War 2. He served from December 8, 1941 to February 13, 1946. In 1947, Ruth’s mother, Mary, passed away. She was returned home to be buried with her husband, William and her infant son. Ruth filed for Social Security in 1959, while living at 91766 Pomona, California. Her husband, James, passed away, August 22, 1974. Ruth passed away, November 17, 1989 in Los Angeles, California. I could not find where they are buried, my guess is, Los Angeles.
… Until Net Time
