Odessa L. Flora1,2,3,4

Family Chart
ID# 20749, (1904 - 1976)
FatherEdward K. Flora2,5,4 (Jan 1868 - 16 May 1932)
MotherMary Arizona Wellen2,6 (Mar 1873 - 22 Sep 1912)

Key Events:

Birth: 29 Nov 1904, Berkeley Springs, West Virginia7,8,9
Marriage: 24 Dec 1921, Martinsburg, West Virginia, John William Weidman (24 Nov 1900 - 1 Jul 1934)10,11
Death: 20 Mar 1976, Martinsburg, Berkeley Co., West Virginia9,12
Burial: 23 Mar 1976, Rosedale Cemetery, Martinsburg, Berkeley Co., West Virginia13,14
ChartsDescendants of David Dutt/Toot
AncestryThe Dutt/Toot Family

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     
Odessa L. Flora
courtesy Dwight Weidman
Odessa L. Flora was born on 29 Nov 1904 in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.7,8,9
     She appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Berkeley Springs, Morgan Co., West Virginia, in the household of her parents, Edward K. Flora and Mary Arizona Wellen.5
     Her mother died on 22 Sep 1912, when Odessa was 7 years old.15,16,17
     Odessa appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Martinsburg, Berkeley Co., West Virginia, in the household of Charity Ann Merchant, her father's step-mother.18
     Odessa married John William Weidman, son of Fredrick G. Weidman and Samantha Kisner, on 24 Dec 1921 in Martinsburg, West Virginia, after obtaining permission from her step-grandmother since she was a minor, with Frank Steelman officiating.10,11
     Odessa and John William Weidman lived at 212 N. High, Martinsburg, for a time after their marriage.19 They appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Berkeley Co., West Virginia, enumerated 21 Apr 1930, reporting they were renting their home, for $7 per month. Their children William, Donald, Charles, Phyllis and Helen were listed as living with them.20
     Her husband died on 1 Jul 1934 in Martinsburg, Berkeley Co., West Virginia.21
     Odessa appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Berkeley Co., West Virginia, enumerated 8 Apr 1940, reporting she was renting her home, for $10 per month, and had lived in the same town in 1935. Her children William, Donald, Charles, Phyllis, Helen and Nancy were listed as living with her, as was Lee Weidman, her late husband's brother, a laborer on power lines.22
     By 1945 Odessa had moved to 515 N. Queen, Martinsburg.23 By 1953 she and her daughter Helen had moved to 503 Bowers, Martinsburg.24
     She was a knitter at Interwoven Mills for a time after their marriage. She stayed at home caring for her young children after her husband's death, but by 1945 was working as a cook. By 1953 she was a dietitian. She retired from the dietetic department at the Veteran's Administration Medical Center in 1968.25,26
     Odessa died on 20 Mar 1976 in Martinsburg, Berkeley Co., West Virginia, at age 71.9,12 She was buried on 23 Mar 1976 in Rosedale Cemetery, Martinsburg, Berkeley Co., West Virginia.13,14

Children:
     Children with John William Weidman:

  • William Eugene Weidman27,22,28 (31 Oct 1922 - 7 Aug 1998)
  • Donald L. Weidman27,22 (abt 1924 - 21 Jan 1944)
  • Charles Edward Weidman27,29,22 (5 Apr 1925 - 19 Nov 2006)
  • Phyllis Marie Weidman30,28,31 (28 Mar 1927 - 21 Feb 2015)
  • Helen Mae Weidman30,22,32 (22 May 1929 - 24 Mar 2008)
  • Nancy Louise Weidman22,28,33 (15 Oct 1931 - 3 Apr 2017)

Citations

  1. [S6911] Odessa L. Weidman obituary, The Daily Mail, shows father's surname as Flora.
  2. [S6826] Birth Register, Morgan Co., West Virginia, Delayed Births 1:59 & 60A, Odessa L. Flora, notation "By order of Co. Ct., Apr 11, 1944" and "Bible Record."
  3. [S6825] Edward Flora household, 1910 U.S. Census, Morgan Co., West Virginia, shows name as Odessa Flora.
  4. [S6832] Marriage Record, Berkeley Co., West Virginia, 44:10, John William Weidman and Odessa Flora.
  5. [S6825] Edward Flora household, 1910 U.S. Census, Morgan Co., West Virginia.
  6. [S6825] Edward Flora household, 1910 U.S. Census, Morgan Co., West Virginia, shows the girl as daughter of Mary's husband and that the parents had been married longer than the age of the child.
  7. [S6826] Birth Register, Morgan Co., West Virginia, Delayed Births 1:59 & 60A, Odessa L. Flora, notation "By order of Co. Ct., Apr 11, 1944" and "Bible Record," shows date.
  8. [S6825] Edward Flora household, 1910 U.S. Census, Morgan Co., West Virginia, shows age 6 and state.
  9. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 153892409, Odessa L. Weidman, shows date and includes tombstone photo showing same.
  10. [S6832] Marriage Record, Berkeley Co., West Virginia, 44:10, John William Weidman and Odessa Flora, shows date, city, state, and officant.
  11. [S6907] John W. Weidman household, 1930 U.S. Census, Berkeley Co., West Virginia, shows married, with his first marriage at age 21 and hers at 18.
  12. [S6911] Odessa L. Weidman obituary, The Daily Mail, shows she died Saturday, at Kings Daughters Hospital.
  13. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 153892409, Odessa L. Weidman, includes tombstone photo.
  14. [S6911] Odessa L. Weidman obituary, The Daily Mail, shows services Tuesday and cemetery.
  15. [S6777] Death Record, Index, Counties, Maryland, SE58-33, Flora, Mary A., shows date and county.
  16. [S6830] Edward K. Flora and Martha A. Foreman, Application for Marriage License and Return.
  17. [S6834] Charles Bossley household, 1920 U.S. Census, Allegany Co., Maryland, shows her husband as widowed.
  18. [S6823] Anna Flora household, 1920 U.S. Census, Berkeley Co., West Virginia.
  19. [S6822] Polk's Tacoma City Directory, 1922, pg 269.
  20. [S6907] John W. Weidman household, 1930 U.S. Census, Berkeley Co., West Virginia.
  21. [S6889] John William Weidman, Certificate of Death.
  22. [S6912] Odessa L. Weidman household, 1940 U.S. Census, Berkeley Co., West Virginia.
  23. [S6822] Polk's Tacoma City Directory, 1945 pg 186.
  24. [S6822] Polk's Tacoma City Directory, 1953 pg 261.
  25. [S6822] Polk's Tacoma City Directory, 1922 pg 269, shows occupation as "knitter Intw Mills"; 1945 pg 186, shows occupation as cook; and 1953 pg 281, shows occupation as "dietn."
  26. [S6911] Odessa L. Weidman obituary, The Daily Mail, shows employment in VA hospital and retiirement.
  27. [S6907] John W. Weidman household, 1930 U.S. Census, Berkeley Co., West Virginia, shows him as the son of her husband.
  28. [S6911] Odessa L. Weidman obituary, The Daily Mail.
  29. [S1500] "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007," Ancestry.com, record for Charles Edward Weidman.
  30. [S6907] John W. Weidman household, 1930 U.S. Census, Berkeley Co., West Virginia, shows the girl as daughter of Odessa's husband.
  31. [S6909] Phyllis Marie Keesecker obituary, Brown Funeral Home.
  32. [S6910] Helen Mae Keesecker obituary, Brown Funeral Home.
  33. [S6909] Phyllis Marie Keesecker obituary, Brown Funeral Home, shows she had a sister Nancy Hayes.