Valera Catherine Vaubel1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 3687, (1909 - 2000)
FatherRev. Edward George Vaubel4,5,6 (25 Apr 1878 - 18 Sep 1964)
MotherCatherine Angelia Glabe4,7,8 (25 Sep 1888 - 25 Jan 1964)

Key Events:

Birth: 6 Oct 1909, Chatsworth, Illinois9,10,11
Marriage: 15 Aug 1957, Washington, Illinois, John Alonzo Corbin (23 May 1905 - 12 Sep 1996)12,9,13
Divorce: 1958, John Alonzo Corbin (23 May 1905 - 12 Sep 1996)14
Marriage: 17 Dec 1972, San Diego, California, Dante Elwyn Wiskerson (5 Jan 1903 - 20 Aug 1994)15
Death: 8 Dec 200016,17
Burial: El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, San Diego Co., California18
ChartsDescendants of Jakob and Anna Katharina Glebe
AncestryThe Glabe Family

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Valera Catherine Vaubel was born on 6 Oct 1909 in Chatsworth, Illinois.9,10,11
     She appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Chatsworth, Livingston Co., Illinois, in the household of her parents, Rev. Edward George Vaubel and Catherine Angelia Glabe.5 She appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Bonfield, Kankakee Co., Illinois, in the household of her parents.19
     Valera appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Freeport Twp., Stephenson Co., Illinois, at 1251 So. Harlem Ave., enumerated 3 Apr 1930, listed as a lodger and student nurse at Evangelical Deaconess Hospital.20 She also appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Ottawa, LaSalle Co., Illinois, in the household of her parents, but marked as absent.21
     Valera graduated from the nursing school at Deaconess Hospital, in Freeport, Illinois, in 1930.22,6,23 She then attended LaSalle Junior College, Oglesby, Illinois, now Illinois Valley Community College, for two years.22
     She worked at St. Luke's Hospital, in Chicago, for a year and a half.22
     Valera joined the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps, commissioned 4 Oct 1937. She spend three years at San Diego, California.24,25,26
     Valera appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of San Diego, San Diego Co., California, at U.S. Naval Hospital, enumerated 2 Apr 1940, where she was a nurse. She reported that she had lived in Chicago, Illinois in 1935, had worked 40 hours the last week of March, and that she had worked 52 weeks the prior year, earning $840.27
     She was sent to the naval hospital at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory, departing Los Angeles 24 Oct, 1940 aboard the S.S. Lurline. She arrived in Honolulu 30 Oct 1940.28,29 She was at Pearl Harbor during the attack on 7 Dec 1941, and was one of 29 Navy nurses awarded a citation for "outstanding ability in performance of duty under enemy fire" by Admiral Nimitz, commander-in-chief of the U.S. Pacific fleet in Feb 1943. The citation reads in part:
At the time of the attack and afterwards, this unit displayed conspicuous devotion in the line of duty. Its ability to cope with this disaster was responsible for the successful care of all casualties and the saving of many lives. The professional skill displayed and the distinguished service rendered by this hospital unit were in keeping with the highest traditions of the naval service.6

     She returned to the mainland in Nov 1942, and was assigned to the Great Lakes area. She was promoted to lieutenant 30 Jun 1944. The Navy took over four and a half floors at Wesley Memorial Hospital, Chicago, and she became assistant chief nurse and later chief nurse. She was the last chief nurse there, helping close the clinic in May 1946.30,31
     Valera appeared on the 1950 Federal Census of the Naval Supply Depot, Rough and Ready Island, San Joaquin Co., California, enumerated 8 Aug 1950. She reported she had worked 52 weeks in 1949, earning $3,500 in wages or salary.32
     She was promoted to lieutenant commander 1 Apr 1953. Among her other assignments, she spent one year in the Philippines where she was chief of the nursing service and six months in Japan where she was head of out-patient dependent commission.33,22
     Valera married first John Alonzo Corbin, son of William A. Corbin and Ollie C. Smith, on 15 Aug 1957 in Washington, Illinois. He had previously been married to Helen Ann Kowker and Harriet Gertrude Thiemann.12,9,13
     Valera retired from the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps 1 Nov 1957, as a lieutenant commander.34,35,36
     Valera and John settled in Kingsville, Texas, where he had been living, after their marriage.37
     She attended Texas College of Arts and Industries, Kingsville, Texas, now Texas A&M University-Kingsville, from Jun to Dec 1958.38,39
     Valera and John were divorced in 1958.14
     Valera returned to Illinois where she attended Bradley Polytechnic Institute, Peoria, working on a degree in elementary education.22 She was fifth grade teacher in Washington, Illinois, near her hometown, by 1964.40
     Valera married second Dante Elwyn Wiskerson, son of Charles H. Wiskerson and Myrtle Essie Ludington, on 17 Dec 1972 in San Diego, California. He was the widower of Laura Bessie Massey. He had previously been married to Viola May Mattocks.15
     Her second husband died on 20 Aug 1994 in La Mesa, San Diego Co., California.41,42
     Valera died on 8 Dec 2000 at age 91.16,17 She was buried in El Camino Memorial Park, San Diego, San Diego Co., California.18

Children:
     There were no children with John Alonzo Corbin

Children:
     There were no children with Dante Elwyn Wiskerson

Citations

  1. [S3741] Edward Vaubel household, 1910 U.S. Census, Livingston Co., Illinois, shows name as Valera Vaubel.
  2. [S3742] Edward G. Vaubel household, 1920 U.S. Census, Kankalee Co., Illinois, shows name as Valera C. Vaubel.
  3. [S54] Pound, Glabe Family, shows name as Valera Catherine Vaubel.
  4. [S54] Pound, Glabe Family.
  5. [S3741] Edward Vaubel household, 1910 U.S. Census, Livingston Co., Illinois.
  6. [S3763] "Freeport Nurse Given Citation," Rockford Morning Star, 17 Feb 1943.
  7. [S3633] Obituary: Mrs. Catherine A. Vaubel, Chatsworth Plaindealer, 30 Jan 1964.
  8. [S3741] Edward Vaubel household, 1910 U.S. Census, Livingston Co., Illinois, shows the girl as daughter of Katherine's husband.
  9. [S54] Pound, Glabe Family, shows date, town, and state.
  10. [S3754] Valera Vaubel Wiskerson obituary, The San Diego Union-Tribune, shows date, town, and state.
  11. [S3741] Edward Vaubel household, 1910 U.S. Census, Livingston Co., Illinois, shows age 6/12 and state.
  12. [S13277] "Tazewell Marriage Licenses," Peoria Journal Star Evening, 13 Aug 1957, shows license issued for A. Corbin and Valera Vaubel.
  13. [S3633] Obituary: Mrs. Catherine A. Vaubel, Chatsworth Plaindealer, 30 Jan 1964, shows her as Mrs. Valera V. Corbin.
  14. [S54] Pound, Glabe Family, shows year.
  15. [S1271] "California Marriage Index, 1960-1985," Ancestry.com, record for Dante E. Wiskerson and Valera C Vaubel or Valera C Corbin, shows date and city.
  16. [S3754] Valera Vaubel Wiskerson obituary, The San Diego Union-Tribune.
  17. [S3633] Obituary: Mrs. Catherine A. Vaubel, Chatsworth Plaindealer, 30 Jan 1964, shows her a surviving daughter.
  18. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 215771041, LCDR Valera Catherine Vaubel Wiskerson, includes tombstone photo.
  19. [S3742] Edward G. Vaubel household, 1920 U.S. Census, Kankalee Co., Illinois.
  20. [S13296] Evangelical Deaconess Hospital, 1930 U.S. Census, Stephenson Co., Illinois.
  21. [S3743] Edward G. Vaubel household, 1930 U.S. Census, Lasalle Co., Illinois.
  22. [S13300] "Feminine Naval Officer Goes Collegiate," Peoria Journal Star Morning, 13 Apr 1960.
  23. [S13296] Evangelical Deaconess Hospital, 1930 U.S. Census, Stephenson Co., Illinois, shows occupation as student and industry as nurse.
  24. [S13295] U.S. Naval Supply Depot, 1950 U.S. Census, San Joaquin Co., California, shows her as veteran of World War II and other service.
  25. [S13300] "Feminine Naval Officer Goes Collegiate," Peoria Journal Star Morning, 13 Apr 1960, shows joined Nurse Corps, 3 years in San Diego.
  26. [S13304] Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, pg 345, serial no. 33878 Vaubel, Valera Catherine, shows date of first commission.
  27. [S3758] U.S. Navel Hospital, 1940 U.S. Census, San Diego Co., California.
  28. [S13301] Lurline arrival 30 Oct 1940, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S., Arriving and Departing Passenger and Crew Lists, 1900-1959, shows ship and departure and arrival dates and ports.
  29. [S13300] "Feminine Naval Officer Goes Collegiate," Peoria Journal Star Morning, 13 Apr 1960, shows sent to Pearl Harbor in fall 1940.
  30. [S13302] "Navy's Well," Daily Times, 31 May 1946, shows her helping close Navy operation at Welsey.
  31. [S13304] Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps, pg 345, serial no. 33878 Vaubel, Valera Catherine, shows rank and date present rank.
  32. [S13295] U.S. Naval Supply Depot, 1950 U.S. Census, San Joaquin Co., California.
  33. [S13305] Register of Reitred Commissioned and Warrant Officers, Regular and Reserve, of the United States Navy, no 2903 Corbin, Valera Vaubel, shows highest rank and date of rank.
  34. [S13297] "273 Navy Personnel Retired Nov. 1," Navy Times, 23 Nov 1957, shows date and rank.
  35. [S13305] Register of Reitred Commissioned and Warrant Officers, Regular and Reserve, of the United States Navy, no 2903 Corbin, Valera Vaubel, shows month and year of retirement.
  36. [S3754] Valera Vaubel Wiskerson obituary, The San Diego Union-Tribune, shows she served 20 years in the Navy, and was a nurse.
  37. [S13277] "Tazewell Marriage Licenses," Peoria Journal Star Evening, 13 Aug 1957, shows him as from Kingsville, Tex.
  38. [S13306] Mildred Slaughter, Registrar Texas A&M University-Kingsville, e-mail to author, 12 Mar 2024, shows attendance dates.
  39. [S13300] "Feminine Naval Officer Goes Collegiate," Peoria Journal Star Morning, 13 Apr 1960, shows she attended one year.
  40. [S13303] "Gifts Go To Moms' Heads," Peoria Journal Star Evening, 24 Dec 1964.
  41. [S3755] The San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug 1994, pg B-4, shows date, city, and state.
  42. [S885] "California Death Index, 1940-1997," Ancestry.com, record for Dante Elwynn Wiskerson, citing Soc. Sec No. 547-01-9509, shows date and county.