Person Page 1,983

Clarence Albert Gotthardt was born on 4 Jul 1921 in Bethlehem, PennsylvaniaG.^4,5,6,7
     He appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Salisbury, Lehigh Co., Pennsylvania, G in the household of his parents, George Henry Gotthardt and Eva Rebeccah Amelia Trexler.¹⁵
     Clarence was living Allentown in 1940, though just where is unknown. He is not found in the 1940 census, and his listing in the city directory does not show a home address. He was living at 20th and Lawrence when he applied for a marriage license the following year.¹⁶
     He was a packer for Arbogast & Bastian Co., meat packers, by 1940.^17,18
     Clarence married first Margaret M. Bertalan, daughter of Peter Bertalan and Elizabeth Workrinzez, on 22 Feb 1941 in Allentown, PennsylvaniaG, with Rev. Henry J. Hursman officiating.^8,9,10
     Clarence and Margaret M. Bertalan lived at 448 Turner, AllentownG, after their marriage.¹⁹
     Clarence was in the Navy in World War II.²⁰
     After the war he was a shoe salesman at Triplex Shoes in Allentown. By 1948 he was an assistant manager there, and by 1950 manager. That year he reported he had worked 48 hours the prior week. He also reported working 52 weeks in 1949, earning $3,500 in wages or salary.^21,22,23 He and Margaret lived at 409 LindenG after the war, then moved to 531 Turner by 1948.²⁴
     Clarence and Margaret appeared on the 1950 Federal Census of Allentown, Lehigh Co., Pennsylvania, at 531 Turner St. G, enumerated 15 Apr 1950, reporting they lived in a home that was not on a farm and they lived in the same house the year before. Their two children were listed as living with them.²⁰
     His wife died on 23 Jul 1959 in Allentown, Lehigh Co., PennsylvaniaG.^25,26
     He later worked at Bethlehem Steel Corp., working there for 19 years before retiring in 1981.²⁰
     Clarence married second Ida May Devereaux, daughter of William James Devereaux and Anna Elizabeth Simons. She had previously been married to Harry Raoul Hartman.¹¹
     Clarence and Ida evidently separated, as his obituary mentions his first marriage, but not his marriage to Ida, while hers, five years later, shows him as her husband. His obituary states that he was living with his companion, another woman who appears to be still living, at the time of his death. Apparently that relationship was significant, as her name appears with his on a joint tombstone.^20,27
     Clarence died on 12 Aug 1997 in Allentown, PennsylvaniaG, at age 76.^12,13,14

George Henry Gotthardt was born on 25 Sep 1886 in Chambersburg, PennsylvaniaG.^4,5,6
     He appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Allentown, Lehigh Co., Pennsylvania, G in the household of his parents, John H. Gotthardt and Alavesta J. Ehrich.¹³
     George married Eva Rebeccah Amelia Trexler, daughter of William H. Trexler and Emma Mary Moser, about 1907.^7,8,9
     George registered for the draft for World War I on 5 Jun 1917, while living at 12th & Turner, Allentown, PennsylvaniaG, reporting he was employed as a railroader for Bethlehem Steel Co. in South Bethlehem.¹
     George and Eva Rebeccah Amelia Trexler have not been found in the 1910 or 1920 census. They appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Salisbury, Lehigh Co., Pennsylvania G, enumerated 4 Apr 1930, reporting they were renting their home, for $10 per month, and did not own a radio. Their children Hilda, Elizabeth, Clarence, Roland, Authur, George, and Russel were listed as living with them.¹⁴
     George and Eva were living in Allentown, Lehigh Co., Pennsylvania, on the south side of Mosser St., in the second house west of 20th St. in 1940. They cannot be found in the 1940 census, so we do not know who else, if anyone, was living with them. The street they lived on does not appear in the census district map, so it appears their street was not enumerated.¹⁵
     He was a watchman for a motor car company in 1930, and a laborer in 1940. By 1942 he was a carpenter. By the following year he was a fireman, for many years for the Good Shepherd Home, a home for individuals with disabilities, orphaned children and senior citizens.^16,17
     George registered for the draft for World War II on 27 Apr 1942, while living at 21th & Lawrence, Allentown, PennsylvaniaG, reporting he was employed by the Good Shepherd Home at 6th & St. John in Allentown.¹⁸
     In 1948 he was a repairman at Klines Shoe Repair, but continued with Good Shepherd after that.¹⁹
     George and Eva appeared on the 1950 Federal Census of Allentown, Lehigh Co., Pennsylvania, at Good Shepherd Home for Aged People and Crippled Children G, enumerated 14 Apr 1950. Their children Roland, George, Russel, James, and Kenneth were listed as living with them. The record is somewhat confused, but it appears the family was living at the home, and both George and Eva were working there. While she was listed as a "guest" her occupation is shown as cook, having worked 60 hours the previous week. His occupation is shown as boiler room, also having worked 60 hours the previous week. Their adult sons seem to have been working elsewhere.²⁰
     His wife died on 25 Dec 1971 in Allentown, PennsylvaniaG.^21,22
     George died in Jan 1972 at age 85.^10,11 He was buried in Northwood Cemetery, Emmaus, Lehigh Co., PennsylvaniaG.¹²