Edward Gearing
Gearing, Edward (1925-1963)
Soldiers - United States - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Portrait of Lt. Edward Gearing in his U.S. Army uniform. He served in the 29th Infantry Division of the Virginia National Guard until the unit was called up to serve during WWII, where he served with distinction.
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
ca 1940s
Identified by James E. Morrison Sr., who had seen this photo before and who had also served in the 29th Inf. Div. from 1965 to 1968.
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
Lt. Edward Gearing appears in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 002393 and 003996.
003996
Carl Eugene Linaweaver
Linaweaver, Carl Eugene
Sailors - United States - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Portrait of Carl Eugene Linaweaver (1926 - 1968) wearing his U.S. Navy uniform. Carl was born in Woodstock, the son of Lawrence and Essie (Brill) Linaweaver. He had a brother, Robert L., and a sister, Louise.
When he registered for the WWII draft, Carl worked at the Safeway Store in Front Royal but lived on Spring Street in Woodstock. He served in the U.S. Navy Reserves from December 1944 to July 1946. Sometime later, he married Lavine Estelle (Gulick) (1919-1982), a woman from West Virginia, who worked as a waitress in a restaurant.
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
ca December 1945
Identified by Louise V. Seekford, sister of the subject.
Additional biographical information was compiled from public records.
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
Same subject as in Morrison Photos 004032 and 006658.
003839
Stanley Tobias Clem
Clem, Stanley Tobias (1927-2009)
Military personnel - United States - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Portrait of Stanley Tobias Clem (1927-2009) wearing his Civil Air Patrol uniform. The markings on his shoulder indicate he was a cadet in this photo.
Stanley was one of at least ten children born to Tobias Samuel (1887-1957) and Maggie Catherine (Walters) (1896-1952) Clem, a farming couple in Fort Valley.
Stanley Clem grew up in Fort Valley and was a 1946 graduate of Edinburg High School. He served in the U.S. Civil Air Patrol during WWII. After school, he landed a job with Bethlehem Steel as a crane operator at their plant at Sparrow Point, Maryland.
In 1947, he was the best man at his brother, Paul’s, wedding in Baltimore, Maryland.
A year later, Stanley married Barbara Jean (Donovan) Clem in Baltimore. The couple was married for 8 years before divorcing in 1958. They had two children together, however, one of them, Ronald Lee Clem (1955-1955) was born prematurely, and did not live.
He married for the second time in 1960. His bride was Genevieve Strickler, a clerk living in Arlington but born in Woodstock. Her parents were Thomas and Olive Bertha (Sibert) Strickler. Stanley and Genevieve had at least one daughter together, Amy Loraine Strickler.
When Stanley died, he was in Los Angeles County, California. His remains were buried in Fort Valley.
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
ca 1945-1946
Identified by Lorraine Boyer Zirkle who went to school with the subject.
Additional biographical information was compiled from public records.
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
Stanley Tobias Clem appears in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 002430, 002946, and 003678.
003678
Harold P. Ralph's Grave
Graves - Hawaii - Honolulu
Ralph, Harold P.
Photo of a photograph of the grave of Private Harold P. Ralph, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Private Ralph was killed in action in the Pacific Theater during WWII. He received a purple heart for his heroic efforts.
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
Undated
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
Same subject as in Morrison Photo 02442.
003677
Couple in Studio
Soldiers - United States - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Unidentified woman seated on a studio bench with an unidentified man, probably her husband, standing behind her in a U.S. Army uniform that indicates he was a paratrooper.
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
Undated
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
Same subjects as in Morrison Photos 10800 and 02475.
003674
Carl Gilbert Baker
Baker, Carl Gilbert (1920-1999)
Photograph of Carl Gilbert Baker of Strasburg in his Army uniform ca. 1942.
Carl was born in Fishers Hill Virginia on October 27 1920 and graduated from Strasburg High School. He served in the US Army during World War Two.
His parents were Carl Bauman Baker and Luella Lee Afflick Baker. He married Lucille Estelle Conner and had two children Kendra and Stacey Baker. Carl Gilbert Baker died in Augusta County on November 28, 1999.
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
ca 1942
Identified by Frances Walker, a friend of the subject as "Gilbert Baker."
Full name and additional information provided by Kendra G. Byrd, daughter of the subject, on February 23 2024.
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
003593
Earl Dyer
Dyer, Earl Franklin (1927-2008)
African American - Virginia - Woodstock
Soldiers - United States - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Earl grew up in Woodstock and lived with his grandmother, Lizzie Dyer, and his mother, Mary Dyer (1908-1947), for several years on W. Spring Street. His father was Frank Brock.
Earl was 18 years old when he registered for the WWII draft. At the time, he was a student at the Manassas Industrial School in Manassas, Virginia. He was described as being 5’7” tall and 130 pounds. He enlisted in the Army and served from January 1946 to May 1947, when he was discharged.
The 1950 census found him back on W. Spring Street in his grandmother’s household. He was not working and his Aunt Ella M. and Uncle John, lived there as well.
He married Audrey Elynor Alsberry, the daughter of Jordan and Roberta Bell (Adams) Alsberry. She was from Strasburg. Their marriage lasted many years but ended in divorce.
When he died, the Northern Virginia Daily published an obituary that noted “he had been employed by Shenandoah Telephone Co. He also was a barber, music teacher, cook at Shenandoah Memorial Hospital and played piano for many functions in the area. He was a member of Mt. Zion Lutheran Church in Woodstock, serving as choir director and pianist. He was an associate member of Stony Creek Church of the Brethren, playing the organ and piano on fourth Sundays.”
Earl was buried in Riverview Cemetery in Woodstock
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
Ca 1940's
Identified by Elizabeth "Liz" Alsberry, who was a friend of the subject and remembered he played the piano well.
Additional biographical information was compiled from public sources.
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
003385
Grover Allen Orndorff
Orndorff, Grover Allen (1913-1999)
Soldiers - United States - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Photo of a photograph of Grover Allen Orndorff in his U.S. Army uniform.
Grover was from Zepp, Virginia, and the youngest of 11 children. His parents were Rhesa A. (1866-1949) and Emma S. (Hill) (1871-1953) Orndorff. His father farmed.
Grover served from 1942-1945 as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army. He was wounded and received a Purple Heart, awarded for his WWII heroism.
After the war, he returned to Zepp where he lived when he married Charlotte Virginia Hyde (1930-1995) in 1948. Charlotte was born in Martinsburg to Braden and Eva Virginia (Reedy) Hyde. When she married Grover, she worked in a garment factory and lived in Woodstock.
The couple had two sons, Roger and Carlton Orndorff. As of 2003, both of his sons lived in the Cedar Creek Valley. Both Grover and his wife are buried in Zepp.
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
WWII
Identified by Shelby Hollar who was the subject's great niece.
Additional biographical information compiled from public records.
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
003151
MMA Cadet Lionel Clyde "Buddy" Mitchell
Massanutten Military Academy (Woodstock, Shenandoah County, Va)
Military academies - Virginia - Woodstock
Military education - Virginia - Woodstock
United States . Army . Reserve Officers' Training Corps
Mitchell, Lionel Clyde "Buddy" (1923-2010)
Portrait of Lionel Clyde "Buddy" Mitchell wearing his MMA school uniform. The patch on his shoulder indicates he served in the Army ROTC.
Buddy spent most of his life in the military as his obituary in the Northern Virginia Daily (December 16, 2010) reported. The excerpt below is from his record on the Find-A-Grave website.
He was born in Majestic, KY, but grew up in Edinburg, where mother worked for the telephone company.
He ran away from home in 1938 (about the time of this photograph) to join the Army "to help support the family." He was 15. He caught pneumonia in basic training. The Red Cross contacted his mother. The Army sent him home when they realized he was too young. He rejoined the Army when he was 17 in August 1940.
During World War II, he was assigned to the 8th Signal Corps, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. On D-Day, June 6, 1944 at 12:06 a.m., he jumped behind German lines into Normandy. He saw heavy combat and was awarded two Purple Hearts. After the successful Normandy invasion, the 101st fought its way north through France, Holland and Belgium, where the Germans surrounded the 101st at Bastogne. The heavy artillery bombardment lasted from Dec. 20-27, 1944. "I was never more scared in my life," he once said.
He was discharged after the war at Fort Meade, MD, returned home and worked at the Sinclair station. He later married Ernestine Coffman (1924-2005), (Virginia Coffman's sister).
He re-enlisted into the Signal Corps on Jan. 13, 1948. He soon had a three-year assignment in occupied Germany. He became a commissioned officer in 1952, served a tour in Korea, then retired from the Army in 1964.
He worked for Sears for six years in farm and fencing and was the top salesman. He finished his working days as an assistant field director for the Red Cross.
Capt. Mitchell left behind his son, Mitch, and daughters, Deborah and Diane Mitchell.
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
Prior to 1940
Identified by Virginia Stultz Gochenour.
Additional biographical information was compiled from public records including the Find-A-Grave website.
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
003126
Alva Marvin Fravel
Fravel, Alva Marvin (1919-1984)
Soldiers - United States - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Photo of a photograph of Alva M. Fravel wearing his U.S. Army uniform.
Alva was born in Edinburg to Jacob Marvin (1895-1954) and Katherine (Clark) (1897-1983) Fravel. As a baby, he lived with his parents on his paternal grandparents’ farm on Calvary Road in the Stonewall District of the county. Ten years later, the family had moved to Edinburg and lived with his maternal grandparents where his father worked as a salesman in a radio shop and his grandfather was a Blacksmith.
After high school, Alva went to Washington, D.C. where he got a job with J.C. Harding & Company, an electric sales and service company located on 10th Street, N.W. When he registered for the WWII draft in 1942, Alva lived on Harvard St., N.W. Two years later, he enlisted in the military at Camp Meade, Maryland, where the record noted he had experience as “Skilled linemen and servicemen, telegraph, telephone, and power”.
In 1946, he married Vera Dare Stocks (1922-2009) in Washington, D.C. Vera was born in Grifton, North Carolina. She had moved to Washington D.C. before the war to work for the U.S. Government.
When they married, Alva was employed by C&P Telephone Company, where he stayed for 45 years. After their daughter, JoAnne, was born, they moved to Arlington, VA. Vera worked in the private sector until returning to the U.S. Government in the 1960's as an auditor until she retired in 1987.
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
ca 1942
Identified by Reba Dellinger
Additional biographical information was compiled from public records.
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
Alva Marvin Fravel appears in Morrison Studio Collection images 003097, 007513, 007514, and 008933.
003097
John A. Plauger
Plauger, John A.
Sailors - United States - Virginia - Shenandoah County
John A. Plauger wearing his U.S. Navy uniform. John married Gertrude Clem.
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
ca WWII
Identified by Jeanette C. Ritenour who was a friend of the subject.
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
003088
Soldiers in Front of a Home
Soldiers - United States - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Two unidentified soldiers standing outside of a home. The man on the right is a Corporal and has his arm on the shoulder of the man on the left.
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
Undated
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
003086
US Army Air Force Soldier
Military personnel - United States - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Photo of a photograph of an unidentified man wearing the military uniform of the U.S. Army Air Force.
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
WWII timeframe
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
003085
William "Bill" Seal
Seal, William "Bill" Otto (1922-1986)
Soldiers - United States - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Photo of a photograph of William Otto Seal, son of Virgil D. and Bernice (George) Seal. William Seal was wounded at Normandy during WWII.
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
ca 1940s
Identified by Phyllis Wright, subject's cousin.
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
William Otto Seal appears in Morrison Studio Collection images 002810, 003058, 003075, 007057, and 007923.
003075
William "Bill" Seal
Seal, William "Bill" Otto (1922-1986)
Soldiers - United States - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Portrait of William "Billy" Otto Seal in his U.S. Army uniform. He was the son of Virgil D. and Bernice (George) Seal. Billy was wounded at Normandy in WWII.
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
Undated
Identified by Phyllis Wright who was subject's cousin.
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
William Otto Seal appears in Morrison Studio Collection images 002810, 003058, 003075, 007057, and 007923.
003058
"James George"
George, James
Soldiers - United States - Virginia - Shenandoah County
The name, "Jas. George" appears on the glass plate of this image of a man in a U.S. Army uniform.
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
Undated
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
Same subject as in Morrison Photo 01990.
003057
Denzil Hite Kline
Kline, Denzil Hite (1927-1997)
Sailors - United States - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Military personnel - United States - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Photograph of Denzil Hite Kline as a young man wearing his U.S. Navy uniform.
Denzil was the son of Russell Hite (1887-1946) and Martha Jane (Helms) (1895-1973) Kline. He grew up in rural Strasburg and his father was a miller. Denzil served in the U.S. Navy from March 1945 – May 1946.
He married Lillian Mae (Morris) (1926-2006) after his military service, in August 1947. He worked for the Gulf Oil Company at the time. The 1950 census found the couple living on Stover Avenue in Strasburg where Denzil was listed as a laborer for an engineering company and his wife was a waitress in a restaurant.
By the time of his death, Denzil was the former owner of Funk & Crabill’s Heating & Plumbing business and “President” of the Strasburg Newstand.
He and his wife are both buried in Waterlick, Warren County.
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
Labeled "Oct. 1942" on box of plates.
Subject identified by Gloria Stickley.
Additional biographical information was compiled from public records, including a short death notice published in the Richmond Times Dispatch on March 10, 1997.
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
008364
Odell Grandstaff
Grandstaff, Odell (1925-1944)
Soldiers - United States - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Photo of a photograph of Odell Grandstaff wearing his U.S. Army uniform.
Odell was born November 2, 1925 in Columbia Furnace. He served in the US Army's 99th Infantry Division during the Second World War and was Killed in Action on December 13, 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge.
Odell's body was returned to the United States after the war and is buried in Woodstock Virginia.
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
ca. 1941
Identified by Miriam W. Irvin.
Additional information provided by P.M. Fravel
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
003022
U.S. Sailor With Parents
Sailors - United States - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Photograph of an unidentified young man wearing a U.S. Navy uniform and sitting in a restaurant's booth with an unidentified older couple, probably his parents.
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
Undated
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
002998
U.S. Soldier
Soldiers - United States - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Photo of a photograph of an unidentified U.S. soldier wearing his uniform. The three stripes on his sleeve indicate he was a Sergeant-Major.
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
Undated
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
Same subject as in Morrison Photos 02677 and 04701.
002959
U.S. Soldier Named Ray
Soldiers - United States - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Photo of a framed photograph of a man wearing his U.S. Army Uniform indicating he served with the Service Forces. There is a note on the image: "Love to Mother & Dad". It is signed "Ray".
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
WWII
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
002944
U.S. Army Soldier
Soldiers - United States - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Photo of a photo of an unidentified soldier wearing his U.S. Army uniform.
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
Undated
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
002925
US Army Airman
Military personnel - United States - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Photo of a photograph of an unidentified young man in a U.S. Army uniform. Insignia on the uniform indicate he was a member of the U.S. Army Air Force.
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
Undated
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
002899
U.S. Navy Sailor
Sailors - United States - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Photo of a photograph of an unidentified young man wearing a U.S. Navy uniform.
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
Undated
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
002821
Harold Samuel Richardson
Richardson, Harold Samuel
Soldiers - United States - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Photo of a photo of Harold Samuel "Big Boy" Richardson in his uniform and saluting the camera. He was killed at the age of 19 during World War II.
Morrison Studio
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Shenandoah County Library
Undated
Identified by Margie Powell Lichliter, who lived next door to the subject and had the same photograph at home.
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
002820