Elizabeth E. (Caperton) Gomer (1925 - 2012)

Born 20 Aug 1925 in Columbus, Franklin, Ohio, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Joseph Philip Gomer — married 12 Mar 1949 in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio, United States

Died 4 Nov 2012 at age 87 in Duluth, St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States

Biography

Elizabeth (Caperton) Gomer is a part of US Black heritage.

Elizabeth was a daughter of Ralph James Caperton and his wife Estella Treacy. She was born 20 August 1925 in Columbus, Ohio. ^[1][2]

The 1930 U.S. Census recorded 4-year-old Elizabeth living on Agate Alley in Columbus, Ohio, in the household of her parents Ralph J. Caperton, 35, and his wife Estella Caperton, 36, who had been married 10 years (based on their stated ages at first marriage). Ralph Caperton was born in Ohio to a father born in West Virginia and a mother born in Ohio. He worked as a truck driver for the city. Estella Caperton was born in Kentucky to parents born in Kentucky. She did day work for a private family. All family members were described as Negro.^[3]

Ralph Caperton died in February 1940. Later that year, the U.S. Census recorded Stella Caperton, age 41 and a widow, and Elizabeth Caperton, 14, as roomers in the home of William Haney and his cousin Irene Johnson, on 17th Street in Columbus, Ohio. All household members were described as Negro; all had lived in the same place (Columbus) in 1935. Stella Caperton, a native of Kentucky, had been educated through 6th grade and worked as a private family maid. Elizabeth, a native of Ohio, had finished 2 years of high school and was attending school.^[4] Elizabeth was left an orphan later that same year when her mother, Estella Caperton, died on 15 November 1940.^[5]

After her mother's death, Elizabeth moved in with her grandparents. The 1941 city directory for Columbus listed Elizabeth Caperton at 111 N. 17th St. in Columbus, a renter at the same address as the household of Geo W and Cora Caperton (her grandparents).^[6] In the 1946 city directory Elizabeth was recorded as a student living at the same address, in association with Cora Caperton, widow of Geo Caperton.^[7]

Elizabeth Caperton attended the Ohio State University, where she was a member of the class of 1947 and the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.^[8] She received Bachelor's Degrees in English and Psychology, and worked in state government as a psychometrist.^[2]

She married Joseph Philip Gomer in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio, on 12 March 1949.^[1] They had two daughters together:

Tanya Gomer

Phyllis Gomer

Elizabeth Gomer was an active member of the community, serving on Duluth's city charter commission, as local president of the League of Women Voters, as a member of the Women's Institute and also serving in a number of capacities with the Girl Scouts in Piedmont Heights. She was an active and involved member of Hillside United Methodist Church as well.

Liz was an enthusiastic community activist, a dedicated amateur bowler and enjoyed spending time out in nature. She loved fishing, spending the spring and summer months at River Point Resort in Ely, Minn.

Elizabeth Gomer was first diagnosed with cancer in 1965, and was clear of the disease for 25 years after winning her first bouts with it. But a new type of stubborn cancer emerged in recent years. Elizabeth Gomer was placed in hospice care and died at 5 a.m. Sunday, 4 November, 2012. ^[9]

Elizabeth (Caperton) Gomer died at age 87 on 4 November 2012 in Duluth, Minnesota.^[2] She was survived by her husband, who died the following year.^[10] Elizabeth was cremated and her ashes given to family.^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-FC9L-YV?cc=1614804&wc=ZBFT-PTL%3A121350601%2C123890301 : 15 July 2014), Franklin > Marriage index and records 1948-1949 vol 162 > image 220 of 335; county courthouses, Ohio.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Ancestry.com. Minnesota, Death Index, 1908-2017 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2001. Original data: State of Minnesota. Minnesota Death Index, 1908-2017. Minneapolis, MN, USA: Minnesota Department of Health. Accessed at https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=7316&h=3264581
3. ↑ United States Census, 1930. Enumeration sheet for Columbus, Franklin, Ohio; Page: 14B; Enumeration District: 0028; FHL microfilm: 2341529. Accessed on Ancestry.com at https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6224/images/4638934_00629
4. ↑ United States Census, 1940. Enumeration sheet for Columbus, Franklin, Ohio; Roll: m-t0627-03244; Page: 12B; Enumeration District: 93-116. Accessed on Ancestry.com at https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2442/images/m-t0627-03244-00307
5. ↑ "Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6WJQ-33C?cc=1307272&wc=MD9F-P2S%3A287598901%2C294671401 : 21 May 2014), 1940 > 65901-68900 > image 1691 of 3344.
6. ↑ Columbus, Ohio, city directory. 1941. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/3887013
7. ↑ Columbus, Ohio, city directory. 1946. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/3887013
8. ↑ The Ohio State University, 1947 yearbook. Accessed on Ancestry.com. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1265/images/40392_b065102-00509
9. ↑ News Tribune, Duluth, Minnesota, November 2012.
10. ↑ Douglass, Phyllis G. OBITUARY – for Joseph Philip Gomer. Appearing in the Duluth News & Tribune Newspaper on Monday, October 14, 2013.
11. ↑ FAG memorial #100257055

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/100257055/elizabeth-gomer) : accessed 18 August 2020, memorial page for Elizabeth “Liz” Caperton Gomer (20 Aug 1925–4 Nov 2012), Find a Grave Memorial no. 100257055, ; Maintained by James Radzak (contributor 46484385).