Person Page - 461

     Vera Lois Dodd was born in 1918. She married Robert Lynn Dill circa 1940. Vera Lois Dodd died on 23 December 2008 at Hillview, Jefferson County, AL, USA. She was buried at Concord Baptist Church Cemetery, at Natural Bridge, Winston County, AL, USA.

     Robert Lynn Dill was born on 28 November 1915 at AL, USA.¹ He married Vera Lois Dodd circa 1940. Robert Lynn Dill died in March 1982 at Birmingham, Jefferson County, AL, USA, at age 66.¹

     Waldo Fetter Peck was born on 20 August 1896 at Charlotte, Eaton County, MI, USA. He married Vera Leola Rogers, daughter of William Pearl Rogers and Zella Maude Dikeman, on 10 August 1920 at Charlotte, Eaton County, MI. Waldo Fetter Peck died on 24 November 1986 at Charlotte, Eaton County, MI, at age 90. He was buried at Maple Hill Cemetery, at Charlotte, Eaton County, MI, USA.

     Ralph William Johnston was born 27 at Jackson County, WI, USA. He married Hilda Christine Solie circa 1906. Ralph William Johnston appeared on the census of 1920 at Rossevelt, Montana County, ND, USA. The census lists the family as: Ralph W. Johnston, 34, born WI, parents born WI, laborer; wife Hilda, 30, born MN, parents born Norway; son Randy R., 12, born ND; son Arthur C., 10, born ND; son Orin B., 8, born MT; dau Hazel L., 6, born ND; dau Clarisse A., 6/12, born ND.. He died on 18 April 1948 at Seattle, King County, WA, USA.

     Hilda Christine Solie was born on 13 January 1889 at MN, USA. She married Ralph William Johnston circa 1906. Hilda Christine Solie died in 1964 at Seattle, King County, WA, USA.

     Orin B. Johnston was born on 19 November 1911 at MT, USA. He was the son of Ralph William Johnston and Hilda Christine Solie. Orin B. Johnston died on 2 February 1997 at Edina, Hennepin County, MN, USA, at age 85.^1,2

     Arthur C. Johnston was born on 6 October 1909 at ND, USA.^1,2 He was the son of Ralph William Johnston and Hilda Christine Solie. Arthur C. Johnston died on 22 September 1989 at Olympia, Thurston County, WA, USA, at age 79.^2,1

     Randy R. Johnston was born on 17 July 1907 at ND, USA.¹ He was the son of Ralph William Johnston and Hilda Christine Solie. Randy R. Johnston died on 27 November 1997 at Vancouver, Clark County, WA, USA, at age 90.¹

     Charles Joseph Kelly was born on 27 June 1910 at Grinnell, Poweshiek County, IA, USA.¹ He was the son of George Phillip Kelly and Mary Edna Carter. Charles Joseph Kelly died on 25 February 1950 at Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA, USA, at age 39.

     Anna Marcella Kelly was born on 17 January 1913 at Grinnell, Poweshiek County, IA, USA. She was the daughter of George Phillip Kelly and Mary Edna Carter. Anna Marcella Kelly died on 20 June 1977 at Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA, USA, at age 64.

     George Maurice Kelly was born on 6 September 1914 at Grinnell, Poweshiek County, IA, USA. He was the son of George Phillip Kelly and Mary Edna Carter. George Maurice Kelly died on 26 August 1965 at Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA, USA, at age 50.

     Ralph H. Hotchkin Jr. was born circa 1946 at Maryville, Nodaway County, MO, USA. He was the son of Ralph H. Hotchkin and Helen R. Elliott. Ralph H. Hotchkin Jr. died on 12 May 1946 at Maryville, Nodaway County, MO. He was buried at Miriam Cemetery, at Maryville, Nodaway County, MO, USA.

     Ralph Martin Brand was born on 17 July 1918 at MI, USA.¹ He was the son of Hiram Maxson Brand and Inez Laverne Leatherman. Ralph Martin Brand died on 12 November 1995 at New Braunfels, Comal County, TX, USA, at age 77.¹ He was buried at Fort Custer National Cemetery, at Augusta, Kalamazoo County, MI, USA.

     Gene A. "Doodlebug" Edwards was born on 5 October 1935 at Elberton, Elbert County, GA, USA. He was the son of Emory Asbury Edwards and Azalee Annie Macree. Gene A. "Doodlebug" Edwards died on 6 May 1983 at La Grange, Troup County, GA, USA, at age 47. He was buried at Forest Hills Memorial Park, at Elberton, Elbert County, GA, USA.

     The Compiler found this interesting obituary on the "Find a Grave" site.

Sometimes People Are More Than They Appear To Be
by Louis Campos

When he died, there weren't any glowing articles written about him. His obituary gave his name, age, and surviving family members and said simply that he was an entrepreneur. He went to college where he played football for legendary coach Bobby Bowden. He came back to his hometown to marry his high school sweetheart and become a successful businessman. He owned several different enterprises but paid his Chamber of Commerce dues under the name of Edwards Package and Bottle Co. For as long as I can remember, Gene "Doodlebug" Edwards called me "Louisa".

But long before he paid his Chamber dues he paid personal dues as the owner of Edwards Pool Room. He ran a pool hall that opened early and closed late. At lunch time the counter would be three deep with customers. The jukebox blared country and rock and sometimes gospel and the smoke hung in the air like curtains in a cheap hotel.

His customers were as varied as their numbers. Some were bankers or lawyers. Some were truck drivers or stonecutters or construction workers. Some were newspaper columnists. Some drove Cadillacs. Some drove pulpwood trucks. Some had both. It was common to see hand rolled cigarettes dangling from the parched lips of old men who had spent too many hours in the backbreaking sun. The lines and wrinkles in their faces read like a sad novel. Some were young bucks that came through the door with a chip on their shoulder, spoiling for a fight so they could make a name for themselves. Some were teenage boys who sat around talking about cars or girls or whatever teenage boys talk about. One was a young Vietnam veteran fresh home from the war. Doodlebug told him, "I know you're not old enough to buy a beer but there's nothing that says I can't give you one. Welcome home. I'm glad you made it back." Each patron had a story to tell and Doodlebug Edwards listened to a thousand hard luck stories a thousand times.

Doodlebug Edwards packed more living into one lifetime than most men could pack into three. He loved a good time that was illustrated by the time a customer left a Volkswagen parked in front of the poolroom. Doodlebug and several other men picked the car up and carried it through the double doors of the poolroom. The next morning he received a call from his father who admonished him, "Get up here and get this car out of here. This is a business not a parking lot!"

In the 40 plus years I knew him we had words only once. I said something vulgar in front of his wife and he told me he didn't appreciate it. I apologized.

I suppose Gene "Doodlebug" Edwards' life was like a dollar bill. Everyone knows who's on the front but seldom know what's on the back. Some people look down their nose at men who run a poolroom and also the men who frequent such places. Maybe a dollar made on a bottle of wine sold in a fancy club seems less sinful than a dollar made on a bottle of wine from a poolroom. A cork is more stylish than a twist off cap.

Doodlebug gave money to local charities behind the scenes because he knew some people would say money made in a poolroom was "dirty". He sold a building for half of its worth to a local church that needed it. He hired young college students who couldn't find a summer job. He gave jobs to men who had fallen through the cracks of life and had to have a little "taste" early in the morning to "settle" their nerves. He loaned money to men who couldn't borrow a dime any place else.

Someone once said, "The true measure of a man is how he treats people who can do him absolutely no good." Two patrons of the poolroom were old men and it was obvious life had beaten them severely. One played the same song on the jukebox over and over and over again. When he had heard the song enough he would say, "My life don't mean no more to me than a walk to that telephone. I'm gonna call her. She'll come back." No one ever knew who "she" was but she never came back. The other was the one they called "Deacon". Maybe somewhere in his past he had been a deacon before something or someone pushed him over the edge. It was always rumored he had been a senator. He came to the poolroom daily wearing a dirty, tattered sport coat and carried a tablet on which he wrote the same poem over and over and over again. Sometimes Doodlebug would feed him a free meal. I never saw him be unkind to either man.

Do men who run poolrooms have a chance at heaven when they die? I don't know. I really don't. That's not my call to make. What I do know is this: Doodlebug Edwards was a friend to me and a lot of other men. We shared a lot of laughs and some good times. Some of his friends are going to miss him a lot. Some of us already do.

     James Benton Sweatt was born on 6 September 1884 at MO, USA. 1900 census of Pratt County, KS. WWI Draft Registration gives exact date. He married Minnie Marie Elliott, daughter of Lewis Cass Elliott and Nellie E. Hotchkin, in 1905 at NE, USA. James Benton Sweatt appeared on the census of 1910 at Lone Pine, Banner County, KS, USA. The census lists the family as: James B. Sweatt, 25, married 5 years, born WI, father born TN, mother born OH, farmer; wife Minnie M., 22, married 5 years, 1 child, 1 living, born KS, father born KY, mother born KS; dau Roberta, 5/12, born KS,father born WI, mother born KS..

     Roberta Louise Sweatt was buried at Kimball Cemetery, at Kimball, Kimball County, NE, USA. She was born on 23 November 1909 at Pratt, Pratt County, KS, USA. Findagrave.com information. She was the daughter of James Benton Sweatt and Minnie Marie Elliott. Roberta Louise Sweatt married Glen Mervin Snyder on 28 September 1930 at Kimball, Kimball County, NE, USA. Roberta Louise Sweatt died on 5 May 1985 at Kimball County, NE, USA, at age 75.

     Charles Logan Franklin was born on 1 May 1873 at IN, USA. He married Amy Leota Williams, daughter of James Williams and Calista L. White, on 20 November 1899 at Jay County, IN, USA. Married 11 years at the 1910 census, he was age 26 and she 19 at marriage according to the 1930 census..¹ Charles Logan Franklin appeared on the census of 1910 at Windsor Twp, Eaton County, MI, USA. The census lists the family as: Charles L. Franklin, 37, married 11 years, born IN, father born IN, mother born VT, farmer; wife Amy L., 29, 4 children, 4 living, married 11 years, born IN, parents born IN; dau Alta M., 8, born IN; dau Jona M., 7, born IN; dau Inez N., 5, born IN; dau Iris I., 5, born IN.. He died on 9 July 1961 at MI, USA, at age 88. He was buried at Markham Cemetery, at Holt, Ingham County, MI, USA.

     Amy Leota Williams was born on 21 October 1880 at IN, USA. She was the daughter of James Williams and Calista L. White. Amy Leota Williams married Charles Logan Franklin on 20 November 1899 at Jay County, IN, USA. Married 11 years at the 1910 census, he was age 26 and she 19 at marriage according to the 1930 census..¹ Amy Leota Williams died on 8 February 1952 at MI, USA, at age 71. She was buried at Markham Cemetery, at Holt, Ingham County, MI, USA.

     Zoma May Franklin was born on 17 August 1902 at IN, USA. She was the daughter of Charles Logan Franklin and Amy Leota Williams. Zoma May Franklin married Burton Keeler Bancroft circa 1921. Zoma May Franklin died on 25 May 1995 at Lansing, Ingham County, MI, USA, at age 92. She was buried in 1996 at Markham Cemetery, at Holt, Ingham County, MI, USA.

     Iris Irene Franklin was born on 20 February 1905 at Warren County, IN, USA. She was the daughter of Charles Logan Franklin and Amy Leota Williams. Iris Irene Franklin died on 2 January 1988 at Lansing, Ingham County, MI, USA, at age 82. She was buried at Markham Cemetery, at Holt, Ingham County, MI, USA. Iris Irene North.

     Claude Samuel LeSeney was buried at Dimondale Cemetery, at Dimondale, Eaton County, MI, USA. He was born on 30 January 1898 at MI, USA. He married Alta Marvel Franklin, daughter of Charles Logan Franklin and Amy Leota Williams, on 18 May 1918 at MI. Claude Samuel LeSeney died in 1961 at MI.