William Lester Woodcock1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 24136, (1891 - 1965)
FatherVernon Woodcock4,5 (2 Apr 1865 - 22 Mar 1930)
MotherMinnie Irena Hopper6,5 (11 Sep 1866 - 17 Mar 1950)

Key Events:

Birth: 8 Dec 1891, Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania7,8,9
Marriage: 14 Nov 1909, Delaware, Dorothy Ellen Conrad (22 Aug 1892 - 10 Aug 1950)10,11,12
Marriage: between Mar 1951 and Mar 1952, Lera R. Simons (18 Apr 1889 - 19 Feb 1989)13,14,15
Death: 7 Oct 1965, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania16,17
Burial: Grandview Cemetery, Altoona, Blair Co., Pennsylvania18,19
ChartsDescendants of Jacob K. and Christiana Ohl Riegel

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     William Lester Woodcock was born on 8 Dec 1891 in Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania.7,8,9
     He appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, in the household of his parents, Vernon Woodcock and Minnie Irena Hopper.4
     He was first employed as a blue flag boy by a railroad in 1905, when he was about 16 years old. He was later a call boy, then transferred to the Sunbury shop, where he was a laborer and then an apprentice.5,20
     William married first Dorothy Ellen Conrad, daughter of William H. Conrad and Elizabeth Kline, on 14 Nov 1909 in Delaware, with W. F. Conrad officiating.10,11,12
     William and Dorothy appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, at 156 South St., enumerated 20 Apr 1910, reporting they rented their home.3
     He was made a fireman in 1911, a position he held until 1924, when the shop closed.5,21
     William and Dorothy appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, at 801 S Second St., enumerated 10 Feb 1920, reporting they rented their home. Their children Ethel and Donald were listed as living with them.22
     He was transferred to Altoona, as in inspector of steam locomotives.5,23
     William and Dorothy appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Altoona, Blair Co., Pennsylvania, at 1109 20th Ave., enumerated 14 Aug 1930, reporting they rented their home, for $35.00 per month, and owned a radio. Their children Ethel and Donald were listed as living with them.24
     William and Dorothy appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Altoona, Blair Co., Pennsylvania, at 314 27th Ave., enumerated 4 Apr 1940, reporting they rented their home, for $30 per month, and that they had lived in the same city in 1935. Their children Ethel, Donald and Ronald were listed as living with them.25
     He reported in 1940 he had worked 44 hours the last week of March, and 30 weeks the prior year, earning $1,100.26 He registered for the draft for World War II on 27 Apr 1942, while living at 314 27th Ave., Altoona, the Blair Co., Pennsylvania, reporting he was employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad, in Altoona.5
     He was made chief inspector of the new locomotive building in 1949. He reported in the 1950 census he had worked 40 hours the prior week. He also reported working 52 weeks in 1949, earning $3,600 in wages or salary. He later became chief diesel inspector of the plant in Altoona, where he remained until he retired in 1952.5,27
     William and Dorothy appeared on the 1950 Federal Census of Altoona, Blair Co., Pennsylvania, at 314 27th Ave., enumerated 4 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 son Ronald was listed as living with them.28
     His wife died on 10 Aug 1950 in Altoona, Blair Co., Pennsylvania.29
     William married second Lera R. Simons, daughter of John Henry Simons and Mary Catharine Riegel, between Mar 1951 and Mar 1952. She was the widow of Franklin Gold Redcay.13,14,15
     William and Lera moved to Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania, after he retired.5
     William died on 7 Oct 1965 in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, at age 73.16,17 He was buried in Grandview Cemetery, Altoona, Blair Co., Pennsylvania.18,19

Children:
     Children with Dorothy Ellen Conrad:

  • Ethel Elizabeth Woodcock22,24,30 (21 Apr 1911 - 9 May 2005)
  • Donald C. Woodcock22,24,5 (1916 - 1990)
  • Ronald C. Woodcock25,28,5 (15 Apr 1931 - 28 Aug 1982)

Children:
     There were no children with Lera R. Simons

Citations

  1. [S12709] William Lester Woodcock, World War II Draft Cards (Fourth Registration) for the State of Pennsylvania.
  2. [S12700] Vernon Woodcock household, 1900 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, shows name as Lester W. Woodcock.
  3. [S12703] William Lester Woodcock household, 1910 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania.
  4. [S12700] Vernon Woodcock household, 1900 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania.
  5. [S12699] William Lester Woodcock obituary, Sunbury Daily Item.
  6. [S12700] Vernon Woodcock household, 1900 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, shows him as the son of her husband and that the parents had been married longer than the age of the child.
  7. [S12700] Vernon Woodcock household, 1900 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, shows month, year, age 8, and state.
  8. [S12709] William Lester Woodcock, World War II Draft Cards (Fourth Registration) for the State of Pennsylvania, shows date, with year as 1891, city, and state.
  9. [S12699] William Lester Woodcock obituary, Sunbury Daily Item, shows date, with year as 1889, and city.
  10. [S12710] Marriage Register, Delaware, 1909:168, no. 51388, Wm L. Woodcock and Dorothy Conrad, shows date, state, and officiant.
  11. [S12703] William Lester Woodcock household, 1910 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, shows married 0 years.
  12. [S12706] William L. Woodcock household, 1930 U.S. Census, Blair Co., Pennsylvania, shows married, with his age at first marriage as 18, and hers as 17.
  13. [S12712] "Vet's Auxiliary Dines," Sunbury Daily Item, 2 Mar 1951, shows her as Mrs. Lera Redcay.
  14. [S12711] "Property Sold," Sunbury Daily Item, 3 Mar 1952, shows her as Mrs. William L. Woodcock.
  15. [S12699] William Lester Woodcock obituary, Sunbury Daily Item, shows married 23 Apr 1912, probably the date of his first marraige, in Milton.
  16. [S12699] William Lester Woodcock obituary, Sunbury Daily Item, shows died today and city.
  17. [S12698] Lera S. Woodcock obituary, The Daily Item, shows year.
  18. [S12699] William Lester Woodcock obituary, Sunbury Daily Item, shows services Monday and cemetery, as Fairview.
  19. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 62422551, William Lester Woodcock, includes tombstone photo.
  20. [S12703] William Lester Woodcock household, 1910 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, shows occupation as apprentice machinist and industry as railroad.
  21. [S12705] William L. Woodcock household, 1920 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, shows occupation as machinist and industry as railroad shop.
  22. [S12705] William L. Woodcock household, 1920 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania.
  23. [S12706] William L. Woodcock household, 1930 U.S. Census, Blair Co., Pennsylvania, shows occupation as inspector.
  24. [S12706] William L. Woodcock household, 1930 U.S. Census, Blair Co., Pennsylvania.
  25. [S12707] William L. Woodcock household, 1940 U.S. Census, Blair Co., Pennsylvania.
  26. [S12707] William L. Woodcock household, 1940 U.S. Census, Blair Co., Pennsylvania, shows occupation as inspector and industry as R.R. steam locomotive shop.
  27. [S12708] William L. Woodcock household, 1950 U.S. Census, Blair Co., Pennsylvania, shows occupation as locomotive inspector and industry as railroad shop.
  28. [S12708] William L. Woodcock household, 1950 U.S. Census, Blair Co., Pennsylvania.
  29. [S12704] Dorothy Ellen Woodcock, Certificate of Death, shows date, city, county, and state.
  30. [S1500] "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007," Ancestry.com, record for Ethel Elizabeth Woodcock, Soc. Sec. No. 173-14-1075.