Thomas Grundy (1879 - 1978)

Born 1879 in Springfield, Washington, Kentucky, United States

Husband of Willeen Suzanna (Fly) Grundy — married about 1969 (to 1978) in Evansville, Vanderburgh, Indiana, United States

Died 8 Oct 1978 at about age 99 in Owensboro, Daviess, Kentucky, United States

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Biography

Thomas Grundy is a part of US Black heritage.

Thomas was born in 1879 near Springfield, Kentucky.

About 1898 he went to Louisville, Kentucky and then took up "the cooking trade" across the river in Jeffersonville, Indiana.^[1] He passed away in 1978.

In the 1900 census Thomas Grundy (age 21), waiter in restaurant, was the single boarder of Thomas Brady in Jeffersonville, Clark, Indiana.^[2]

He first joined the US Army in 1900 and served in the 24th Infantry Regiment in the Philippines, fighting insurgent patriots, until 1902. Discharged as a sergeant in 1914, he re-enlisted and served in the 9th US Cavalry for two years. As World War I began, he was selected for officers candidate school, and commissioned a captain in 1917. He was commander of Co. L in a battalion of the 367th Infantry Regiment, serving under General Pershing in France. Discharged in 1919, he re-enlisted as a sergeant and returned to the Philippines for two years. His last assignment was teaching horsemanship at West Point. He was discharged from the Army in 1928 at age 48, with the rank of warrant officer. However, in 1932 his retirement rank was changed to captain.^[1]

About 1907 he married a woman named Martina. They were married 60 years until her death.^[3] They had children together, including Mrs. Louisa Grundy Ebo who died in Philadelphia on 16 Jul 1969.

After three years in the Army Reserves, he moved to New York and became a caterer.^[4]

In the 1940 census Thomas Grundy (age 61), butler, was the married servant of Harold Ober, publisher, in Greenburgh, Westchester, New York.^[5]

In 1956 an Army buddy invited him to live in Evansville, Indiana.

He married second in 1969 Evansville, Willeen S. Fly Ward, a veteran of the 6888th Central Postal Division of the US Army.^[6]

In the 1970s, Thomas Grundy gave three interviews concerning his life's adventures.^{[4] [1] [3]}

In March 1978, his step-son, Spec 4 Paul William Edgar Ward died in a shooting, age 21, in Evansville, Indiana.^[7]

Thomas Grundy, age 99, died on 8 Oct 1978 in Owensboro, Kentucky.^[8]

His obituary in the Evansville Press noted that he was a long-time soldier, cook, and Jehovah's Witnesses leader. He was buried on 11 Oct 1978.^[6] Another obituary stated that he was born in Springfield, Kentucky, and had three grandchildren.^[9]

Thomas Grundy was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Evansville, Indiana.^[10]

Research Notes

• A Marie Grundy 1881 - 1964 is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery. Could she be his first wife?

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} 1973 Newspaper: "Newspapers.com"
   Evansville Press (Evansville, Indiana) Tue, Aug 28, 1973, page 11
   Newspapers Clip: 136393973 (accessed 7 December 2023)
2. ↑ 1900 Census: "1900 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1900; Census Place: Jeffersonville, Clark, Indiana; Roll: 363; Page: 7; Enumeration District: 0009
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7602 #13148436 (accessed 7 December 2023)
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} 1975 Newspaper: "Newspapers.com"
   Evansville Courier and Press (Evansville, Indiana) Wed, Jul 16, 1975, page 1
   Newspapers Clip: 136393594 (accessed 7 December 2023)
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} 1972 Newspaper: "Newspapers.com"
   Evansville Courier and Press (Evansville, Indiana) Fri, Feb 18, 1972, page 1
   Newspapers Clip: 136393386 (accessed 7 December 2023)
5. ↑ 1940 Census: "1940 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1940; Census Place: Greenburgh, Westchester, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02804; Page: 28B; Enumeration District: 60-82
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2442 #12678999 (accessed 6 December 2023)
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Obituary: "U.S., Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current"
   Evansville Press; Publication Date: 10 Oct 1978; Publication Place: Evansville, Indiana, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/772952650/?article=fc40b7d7-152e-4bd4-be29-f5340da37d3e&focus=0.17804527,0.08996992,0.329745,0.2896602&xid=3355
   Ancestry Record 61843 #943316504 (accessed 6 December 2023)
7. ↑ Death of step-son: "Indiana, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-current"
   Evansville Press; Publication Date: 16/ Mar/ 1978; Publication Place: Evansville, Indiana, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/773127010/?article=9c149d37-30db-428c-a706-ba69a09dc2c8&xid=5498&terms=Thomas_A_WiHeen_Grundy
   Ancestry Record 50039 #4470593186 (accessed 6 December 2023)
8. ↑ Death: "Kentucky, U.S., Death Index, 1911-2000"
   Original data: Commonwealth of Kentucky, Health Data Branch, Divisision of Epidemiology and Health Planning. Kentucky Death Index, 1911-present. Frankfort, KY, USA: Kentucky Department of Information Systems; Volume: 49
   Ancestry Record 3077 #978791 (accessed 6 December 2023)
9. ↑ Obituary: "U.S., Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current"
   The Philadelphia Inquirer; Publication Date: 11 Oct 1978; Publication Place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/178147530/?article=d2fcf710-3ba6-41a1-a428-84abe4ecf2ed&focus=0.3542286,0.46766308,0.5067174,0.5109847&xid=3355
   Ancestry Record 61843 #553786596 (accessed 6 December 2023)
10. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #125211135 (accessed 6 December 2023)
    Memorial page for Thomas Grundy (1879-8 Oct 1978), citing Oak Hill Cemetery, Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by Linda Y (contributor 47158925).

• 1900 Enlistment: "U.S., Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914"
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1198 #992299 (accessed 6 December 2023)

• Enlistment 1904: "U.S., Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914"
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1198 #1078701 (accessed 6 December 2023)

• Enlistment 1910: "U.S., Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914"
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1198 #131971 (accessed 6 December 2023)

• 1917 Military: "Ohio, Roster of Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in World War I, 1917-1918"
  Original data: The Official Roster of Ohio Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in the World War, 1917-18. Columbus, OH, USA: The F.J. Heer Printing Co., 1926
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7895 #72509 (accessed 6 December 2023)

• 1919 Military: "U.S., Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940"
  Original data: United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2019
  Ancestry Record 61861 #2653650 (accessed 6 December 2023)