James Lenord Myers1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 12817, (1922 - 1999)
FatherWilliam B. Myers4 (21 Sep 1896 - Jun 1971)
MotherOlive Irene Carr5 (17 Jan 1899 - 14 Nov 1959)

Key Events:

Birth: 28 Mar 1922, Missouri6,2,7
Marriage: 7 May 1949, Randolph Co., Arkansas, Alvina M. Gapsch (5 Nov 1928 - 22 Apr 2009)8,9
Death: 19 Dec 1999, Fenton, St. Louis Co., Missouri6,10,11
Burial: 22 Dec 1999, Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri12
ChartsDescendants of Edward and Sophie Gapsch

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     James Lenord Myers was born on 28 Mar 1922 in Missouri.6,2,7
     He appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of St. Louis, Missouri, in the household of his parents, William B. Myers and Olive Irene Carr.4
USS Shaw exploding in Pearl Harbor
U.S. Navy photo

     James was in the U.S. Navy in World War II, starting his service 7 May 1941. He was serving on the distroyer USS Shaw when it was in Pearl Harbor for repairs, where it was seriously damaged by the Japanese attach 7 Dec 1941. The forward magazine exploded spectacularly, which was captured in a widely recognized photograph by a navy photographer. Shortly before his discharge he was a part of the naval support for the "Able" and "Baker" atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in Jun and Jul 1946.13,14,15
     James married Alvina M. Gapsch, daughter of Edward Gapsch and Caroline M. Barkhau, on 7 May 1949 in Randolph Co., Arkansas, with John R. Shiuley, Jr., justice of the peace, officiating.8,9
     James and Alvina appeared on the 1950 Federal Census of Rock Twp., Jefferson Co., Missouri, in the household of Edward Gapsch and Caroline M. Barkhau, her parents. Their daughter Nancy was listed with them.16
     He was a laborer doing asphalt work in 1950, reporting in the 1950 census he had worked 40 hours the prior week.17
     James and Alvina lived on her father's farm in Fenton, Missouri, and she continued to live there after his death until shortly before she died.18
     James died on 19 Dec 1999 in Fenton, St. Louis Co., Missouri, at age 77.6,10,11 He was buried on 22 Dec 1999 in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri.12

Children:
     Children with Alvina M. Gapsch

James and Alvina's other child is still living (Mar 2024).
  • Nancy Fern Myers16,19,20 (18 Dec 1949 - 29 Apr 2000)
  • Robert James Myers19,20 (15 Dec 1950 - 31 Aug 2008)

Citations

  1. [S1456] William Myers household, 1930 U.S. Census, St. Louis City, Missouri, shows name as James Myers.
  2. [S130] "Social Security Death Index," Rootsweb.com, record for James L. Myers, Soc. Sec. No. 487-20-3239.
  3. [S1455] Alvina (Gapsch) Myers letter to author, [27 May 2008], shows name as James Lenord Myers.
  4. [S1456] William Myers household, 1930 U.S. Census, St. Louis City, Missouri.
  5. [S1456] William Myers household, 1930 U.S. Census, St. Louis City, Missouri, shows him as the son of her husband, and that the parents had been married longer than the age of the child.
  6. [S1455] Alvina (Gapsch) Myers letter to author, [27 May 2008], shows date.
  7. [S1456] William Myers household, 1930 U.S. Census, St. Louis City, Missouri, shows age 8 and state.
  8. [S5317] James Myers and Alvina Gapsch, Marriage License, Randolph County Arkansas, shows date and officiant.
  9. [S815] Interview, Alvina Myers, 1 Jan 2004, said the James L. Myers I found in the SSDI was her husband.
  10. [S130] "Social Security Death Index," Rootsweb.com, record for James L. Myers, Soc. Sec. No. 487-20-3239, shows last residence as 63026 (Fenton, Saint Louis, MO).
  11. [S1041] "U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006," Ancestry.com, record for James L. Myers, shows date.
  12. [S1041] "U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006," Ancestry.com, record for James L. Myers.
  13. [S1041] "U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006," Ancestry.com, record for James L. Myers, shows service and start date.
  14. [S1457] Interview, Alvina Myers, 2 Jun 2008, described his service on the Shaw at Pearl Harbor, and at Bikini Atoll atomic tests.
  15. [S1265] Wikipedia, online, "USS Shaw (DD-373)" describes the attack on the Shaw including photographs, and "Pacific Proving Grounds" describes the atomic tests.
  16. [S13313] Edward Gapsch household, 1950 U.S. Census, Jefferson Co., Missouri.
  17. [S13313] Edward Gapsch household, 1950 U.S. Census, Jefferson Co., Missouri, shows occupation as laborer and industry as asphalt work.
  18. [S326] Questionnaire, Betty Jeane Spady, 22 Dec 2000.
  19. [S664] Myers, "Re: family history," e-mail to author, 6 Jan 2004.
  20. [S815] Interview, Alvina Myers, 1 Jan 2004.