William Henry Morris1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 19375, (1925 - 1993)
FatherLeRoy Morris1,4,3 (28 Feb 1895 - 4 Dec 1974)
MotherZenie Daugherty1,5,3 (19 Aug 1892 - 15 Feb 1963)

Key Events:

Birth: 3 Oct 1925, Madison Twp., Richland Co., Ohio6,7,8
Marriage: 22 May 1944, Wooster, Wayne Co., Ohio, Virginia Maxine Adkins (27 Jun 1927 - 29 May 1975)3
Divorce Filing: 28 Apr 1949, Wayne Co., Ohio, Virginia Maxine Adkins (27 Jun 1927 - 29 May 1975)9
Marriage: 22 Jun 1949, Ashland Co., Ohio, Ruth Anne Trott (15 Mar 1922 - 13 Sep 2003)10,11
Divorce: before 1956, Ruth Anne Trott (15 Mar 1922 - 13 Sep 2003)
Marriage: Mar 1958, Jersey City, Hudson Co., New Jersey, Helene Terilli (15 May 1930 - 25 Feb 2006)12,13,14
Death: 8 Nov 1993, Bordentown, Burlington Co., New Jersey15,16,17
Burial: Brig. Gen. Wm. C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Wrightstown, Burlington Co., New Jersey18,19
AncestryThe Reigel Family

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     William Henry Morris was born on 3 Oct 1925 in Madison Twp., Richland Co., Ohio.6,7,8
     He appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Smithville, Wayne Co., Ohio, in the household of his parents, LeRoy Morris and Zenie Daugherty.4 He appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Creston, Wayne Co., Ohio, in the household of his parents.20
     William registered for the draft for World War II on 4 Oct 1943, while living at 28 Salt St., Rittman, Wayne Co., Ohio, reporting he was unemployed.21
     William was drafted as a private in the U.S. Army, entering the service 28 Feb 1944, in Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana.22,23,24,25 He made the Army his career, serving in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He retired 1 Dec 1968 with a rank of platoon sergeant.26,27,28
     William married first Virginia Maxine Adkins, daughter of John William Adkins and Rebecca Wilson, on 22 May 1944 in Wooster, Wayne Co., Ohio, with O. C. Franks, justice of the peace officiating.3
     William filed for divorce from Virginia on 28 Apr 1949 in Wayne Co., Ohio, which was granted the following year.9
     William married second Ruth Anne Trott, daughter of Thomas Elmer Trott and Jennie M. Peters, on 22 Jun 1949 in Ashland Co., Ohio, with Rev. C. S. Applegath officiating. She had previously been married to Mr. Gross and Richard Earl Hahn.10,11
     William's children by his first wife were adopted on 25 Jun 1949 in Wayne Co., Ohio, by Gerald Crombie McWilliams and Margaret Hazel Morris, his aunt and her husband.29
     William and Ruth appeared on the 1950 Federal Census of Wooster, Wayne Co., Ohio, at 147 Spink, enumerated 3 Apr 1950, reporting they lived in a home that was not on a farm and he lived in a different house but the same county the year before. Her daughter by her previous marriage was listed as living with them, as was her mother.30
     He was listed in the 1950 census as a truck driver at a retail coal and gas company, reporting he had not worked the prior week and was not looking for work. He also reported working 50 weeks in 1949, earning $2,450 in wages or salary, and $148 in interest, dividends, etc.31,32
     William and Ruth were apparently divorced before 1956, as she had remarried by then, but no record of the divorce has been found.
     William married third Helene Terilli, daughter of Vincent Terilli and Amalia Laura Baris, in Mar 1958 in Jersey City, Hudson Co., New Jersey.12,13,14
     He worked for Pinkerton Security Inc. after he retired from the Army, retiring as a regional manager.33
     William died on 8 Nov 1993, at his home, Bordentown, Burlington Co., New Jersey, at age 68.15,16,17 He was buried in Brig. Gen. Wm. C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Wrightstown, Burlington Co., New Jersey.18,19

Children:
     Children with Virginia Maxine Adkins:

William and Virginia's children are still living (Aug 2023).

Children:
     Children with Ruth Anne Trott:

William and Ruth had no known children.

Children:
     Children with Helene Terilli

William and Helene's other child is still living (Aug 2023).
  • William H. Morris Jr.34,35,36 (19 Oct 1967 - 15 Jul 2010)

Citations

  1. [S5531] William Henry Morris, Certificate of Birth.
  2. [S5265] Leroy Morris household, 1930 U.S. Census, Wayne Co., Ohio, shows name as William Morris.
  3. [S5542] William Henry Morris and Virginia Maxine Adkins, Marriage Record.
  4. [S5265] Leroy Morris household, 1930 U.S. Census, Wayne Co., Ohio.
  5. [S5265] Leroy Morris household, 1930 U.S. Census, Wayne Co., Ohio, shows him as the son of her husband.
  6. [S5531] William Henry Morris, Certificate of Birth, shows date, township, and county.
  7. [S5265] Leroy Morris household, 1930 U.S. Census, Wayne Co., Ohio, shows age 4 5/12 and state.
  8. [S12525] William Henry Morris, Draft Registration Cards for Ohio, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947, shows date, town, as Mansfield, and state.
  9. [S693] McWilliams, "Descendants of Jacob Reigle", citing William Henry Morris, Plaintiff vs Virginia Maxine Morris, Defendant
    Number 36266 Journal Entry Filed April 28, 1949, Common Pleas Court of Wayne Co., Ohio.
  10. [S12526] Marriage Record, Ashland Co., Ohio, 18:570, no. 2285, William H. Morris and Ruth T. Hahn, shows date, county, state, and officiant.
  11. [S12527] William H. Morris household, 1950 U.S. Census, Wayne Co., Ohio, shows married.
  12. [S10022] "New Jersey, U.S., Marriage Index, 1901-2016," Ancestry.com, record for William H. Morris and Elena Terilli, citing cert. no. 5678, shows date, city, county and state.
  13. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 72299162, Elena Terilli Morris, includes photo of joint cemetery plaque showing her as his wife.
  14. [S12536] William Henry Sr. Morris obituary, The Philadelphia Inquirer, shows her as his widow.
  15. [S9896] "New Jersey, U.S., Death Index, 1901-2017," Ancestry.com, record for William H. Morris Sr, shows date, city, county, and state.
  16. [S1000] "Social Security Death Index," Ancestry.com, record for William H. Morris, Soc. Sec. No. 298-14-4015, shows date and last residence, as 08505 Bordentown, Burlington, New Jersey.
  17. [S12536] William Henry Sr. Morris obituary, The Philadelphia Inquirer, shows died Monday, town, as his home.
  18. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 123382483, William H Morris, Sr, includes photo of cemetery plaque.
  19. [S1041] "U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006," Ancestry.com, record for William H Morris Jr.
  20. [S5266] Leroy Morris household, 1940 U.S. Census, Wayne Co., Ohio.
  21. [S12525] William Henry Morris, Draft Registration Cards for Ohio, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947.
  22. [S2918] "U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records," Ancestry.com, record for William H Morris birth year 1925 in Ohio, shows date, location, and "Selectees."
  23. [S5542] William Henry Morris and Virginia Maxine Adkins, Marriage Record, shows occupation as U.S. Army.
  24. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 123382483, William H Morris, Sr, includes photo of cemetery plaque showing PSGT US Army.
  25. [S3504] "U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010," Ancestry.com, record for William H Morris, Soc. Sec. No. 298-14-4015, shows enlistment date and service.
  26. [S12536] William Henry Sr. Morris obituary, The Philadelphia Inquirer, shows veteran, three wars, retired a with more than 25 years service.
  27. [S3504] "U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010," Ancestry.com, record for William Morris, Soc. Sec. No. 298144015, shows branch and release date.
  28. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 123382483, William Henry Morris, Sr., includes tombstone photo showing military service as PSGT US Army.
  29. [S693] McWilliams, "Descendants of Jacob Reigle", provides transcription of final orders of Probate Court.
  30. [S12527] William H. Morris household, 1950 U.S. Census, Wayne Co., Ohio.
  31. [S5542] William Henry Morris and Virginia Maxine Adkins, Marriage Record, shows occupation as truck driver.
  32. [S12527] William H. Morris household, 1950 U.S. Census, Wayne Co., Ohio, shows occupation as truck driver and industry as retail coal & gas co.
  33. [S12536] William Henry Sr. Morris obituary, The Philadelphia Inquirer, shows recently retired, regional manager, firm.
  34. [S693] McWilliams, "Descendants of Jacob Reigle."
  35. [S12536] William Henry Sr. Morris obituary, The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  36. [S5604] William H. Morris obituary, James J. Dougherty Funeral Home Inc.