Olan David Meckley1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 8986, (1913 - 1981)
FatherCalvin David Meckley3,5,2 (16 Mar 1878 - 20 Mar 1955)
MotherBertha Mae Simons3,4,2 (16 Sep 1880 - 23 Oct 1956)

Key Events:

Birth: 15 Aug 1913, Milton, Pennsylvania6,7,8
Marriage: 29 Sep 1951, White Deer Evangelical and Reformed Charge Parsonage, West Milton, Union Co., Pennsylvania, Mary Margaret Williams (7 Jan 1929 - 12 Apr 2016)9,10
Death: 2 Oct 1981, Allenwood, Union Co., Pennsylvania11,12,13
Burial: Allenwood Cemetery, Allenwood, Union Co., Pennsylvania14
ChartsDescendants of Jacob K. and Christiana Ohl Riegel
AncestryThe Reigel Family

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Olan David Meckley was born on 15 Aug 1913 in Milton, Pennsylvania.6,7,8
     Olan appeared with his mother on the 1920 Federal Census of Milton, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, in the household of John Henry Simons, his grandfather.15
     He appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Milton, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, in the household of his mother, Bertha Mae Simons.4
     Olan applied for a Social Security Number 19 Apr 1937, while living at 454 Columbia Ave., Milton, Pennsylvania, where he was employed by Ervin R. Farver.2
     Olan appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Milton, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, in the household of Jay Nicholas Simons and Anna Marie Styers, his half-brother and his wife.16
     Olan registered for the draft for World War II on 16 Oct 1940, while living at 454 Columbia Ave., Milton, Lewisburg Co., Pennsylvania, reporting he was employed by West Branch Novelty Company in Milton.17
     Olan was drafted into the U.S. Army as a private during World War II. He was inducted 28 Nov 1942, at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.18 He entered active service 5 Dec 1942, at New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, serving within the U.S. until 28 Sep 1944. He was then shipped overseas, where he served unti 2 Mar 1946.19 While serving as a ground gunner instructor in England, with a rank of private first class, he broke a bone in his foot and spend some time in a hospital.20 He was discharged 24 Mar 1946 at Ft. Dix, New Jersey.13,21
     He was a cleaner at a silk mill in 1930. By 1940 he was a laborer in a novelty works. That year he reported he had worked 40 hours the last week of March and had worked 24 weeks the prior year, earning $400.22,16
     On 10 Feb 1950 Olan, while living outside Lewisburg, applied for compensation for his World War II service under the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's bonus compensation program. On 6 May 1950 his application was approved for $475, $220 for 22 months of domestic service and $255 for 17 months of foreign service.19
     Neither Olan nor his mother has been found in the 1950 census. His application for a marriage license in Sep 1951 shows both as living on RD#3 in Lewisburg. It seems likely they were both living in rural Union Co. in 1950, perhaps living together.23,24
     Olan married Mary Margaret Williams, daughter of Victor L. Williams Sr. and Idilla M. Jamison, on 29 Sep 1951 in White Deer Evangelical and Reformed Charge Parsonage, West Milton, Union Co., Pennsylvania, with Rev. Thomas B. Musser officiating.9,10
     He retired from American Car and Foundry in Milton, where he was employed as a burner, about 1978.25
     Olan died on 2 Oct 1981 in Allenwood, Union Co., Pennsylvania, at age 68.11,12,13 He was buried in Allenwood Cemetery, Allenwood, Union Co., Pennsylvania.14
     
Research Note, 10 Nov 2023:

Calvin David Meckley seems to have been Olan's father, even though he was apparently not yet married to the boy's mother when he was born. In his applications for a Social Security number in 1937 and for a marriage license in 1951 Olan listed Calvin as his father. Calvin's obituary shows Olan as his son, and Olan's shows Calvin as his father. Olan filed for a delayed birth certificate in 1942, also claiming Calvin was his father, and stating that he and Olan's mother were married at the time. But the only marriage record found for them was in 1916, three years after Olan's birth.2,26,27,28,29,30

Children:
     Children with Mary Margaret Williams:

The children of Olan and Mary are still living.

Citations

  1. [S3136] John H. Simons household, 1920 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, shows name as Olans D. Simons.
  2. [S13641] Olan David Meckley, Application for Account.
  3. [S7370] Olan David Meckley, Delayed Certificate of Birth.
  4. [S5680] Bertha M. Meckley household, 1930 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania.
  5. [S12717] Calvin D. Meekly obituary, Sunbury Daily Item.
  6. [S3136] John H. Simons household, 1920 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, shows age 6 and state.
  7. [S7370] Olan David Meckley, Delayed Certificate of Birth, shows date, town, county, and state.
  8. [S13641] Olan David Meckley, Application for Account, shows date, town, and state.
  9. [S6904] Olan D. Merkley and Mary Margaret Williams, Application for Marriage License and return, shows date, place, town, state, and officiant.
  10. [S6799] Mary M. Meckley obituary, Williamsport Sun-Gazette, shows year.
  11. [S12716] Olan D. Meckley obituary, The Morning Press, shows died Friday, pronounced dead on arrival a Evangelical Community Hospital (Lewisburg) after being stricken at home in Allenwood.
  12. [S6835] Burkholder, "Re: Are we related?," e-mail to author, 22 May 2016, shows date, town, and state.
  13. [S3504] "U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010," Ancestry.com, record for Olan Meckley, shows date.
  14. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 57149233, Olan D Meckley, includes tombstone photo.
  15. [S3136] John H. Simons household, 1920 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania.
  16. [S5698] Jay Simons household, 1940 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania.
  17. [S12730] Olan David Meckley, WWII Draft Registration Cards for Pennsylvania, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947.
  18. [S1356] "U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," Ancestry.com, record for Olan D Meckley.
  19. [S12731] Olan David Meckley, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Application for World War II Compensation Files.
  20. [S12733] "Convalescing In England," Sunbury Daily Item, 25 Nov 1944.
  21. [S12731] Olan David Meckley, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Application for World War II Compensation Files, shows date and place.
  22. [S5680] Bertha M. Meckley household, 1930 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, shows occupation as cleaner, industry as silk mill.
  23. [S6904] Olan D. Merkley and Mary Margaret Williams, Application for Marriage License and return.
  24. [S12730] Olan David Meckley, WWII Draft Registration Cards for Pennsylvania, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947, shows moved to Lewisburg RD#3 written in address field.
  25. [S12716] Olan D. Meckley obituary, The Morning Press, shows retired there three years before.
  26. [S6904] Olan D. Merkley and Mary Margaret Williams, Application for Marriage License and return, shows his father as C. D. Meckley.
  27. [S12717] Calvin D. Meekly obituary, Sunbury Daily Item, shows Olan as his son.
  28. [S12716] Olan D. Meckley obituary, The Morning Press, shows Calvin and Bertha Simons Meckley as his parents.
  29. [S7370] Olan David Meckley, Delayed Certificate of Birth, document sworn to by Olan and notarized. Form calls for no indication of supporting evidence nor approval by any offical.
  30. [S6901] Calvin D. Meckley and Bertha Mae Simons, Application for Marriage License, shows as her first marriage.