Ruth Monzella (McGee) Downs (1921 - 1971)

Born 1 May 1921 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States

Ancestors

Biography

Ruth (McGee) Downs is a part of US Black heritage.

Ruth Monzella (McGee) Downs was born on 1 May 1921 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States. Her parents were Cpt Lewis Allen McGee (1893 - 1979) and Ruth Elizabeth (Beatty) McGee (1897 - 1922).

Her siblings were as listed below.

1. Lewis Allen McGee Jr (1918 - 1954)
2. Charles Edward McGee (1919 - 2022)

In the 1930 census Ruth (age 8) was lodging, with her brothers, with Hearshel Harris in Saint Charles, Kane, Illinois, United States.^[1]

In the 1940 census Ruth (age 19) was the single daughter of Lewis McGee in Gary, Lake, Indiana, United States.^[2]

Ruth married Donald M Parker on 4 June 1941 in Lake, Indiana, United States. Her father performed the ceremony.^[3]

Ruth served in the Women's Army Corps from 1 Sep 1943 to 16 May 1945, rising to the rank of sergeant.^[4] When she enlisted, she had separated from her husband.^[5]

Ruth married Jacob Avery Downes Jr around 1950.

Ruth died on 14 May 1971 aged 50. She is buried in Bluff City Cemetery, Elgin, Cook, Illinois, United States of America.

Sources

1. ↑ 1930 Census: "United States Census, 1930"
   Citing enumeration district (ED) ED 93, sheet 8B, line 93, family 198, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 525; FHL microfilm 2,340,260.
   FamilySearch (accessed 17 January 2022)
   FamilySearch Image Image number 00901
   Ruth Mcgeo (8), single lodger in household of Hearshel Harris (38) in Saint Charles, Kane, Illinois, United States. Born in Ohio.
2. ↑ 1940 Census: "United States Census, 1940"
   Citing enumeration district (ED) 95-60, sheet 61A, line 16, family 307, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1121.
   FamilySearch (accessed 17 January 2022)
   FamilySearch Image
   Ruth McGee (19), single daughter in household of Lewis McGee (43) in Gary, Lake, Indiana, United States.
3. ↑ Marriage: "Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019"
   Citing Lake, Indiana, United States, Marriage License, Indiana Commission on Public Records, Indianapolis; FHL microfilm 007578304.
   FamilySearch (accessed 17 January 2022)
   FamilySearch Image Image number 00441
   Name: Ruth M Mcgee; Marriage License Date: 04 Jun 1941; Marriage License Place: Lake, Indiana, United States; Images Count: 1.
4. ↑ Military: "U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010"
   Ancestry Record 2441 #9773569 (accessed 17 January 2022)
   Name: Ruth M Downs; Birth Date: 1 May 1921; Death Date: 14 May 1971; SSN: 333182416; Enlistment Branch: ARMY; Enlistment Date: 1 Sep 1943; Discharge Date: 16 May 1945; Page number: 1.
5. ↑ Military: "U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946"
   National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, USA; Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946; NAID: 1263923; Record Group Title: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789-ca. 2007; Record Group: 64; Box Number: 00061; Reel: 6
   Ancestry Record 8939 #60226 (accessed 17 January 2022)
   Name: Ruth M Parker; Race: Negro (Black); Marital status: Separated, without dependents (Separated); Rank: Aviation Cadet; Birth Year: 1921; Nativity State or Country: Ohio; Citizenship: Citizen; Residence: District of Columbia, District of Columbia; Education: 1 year of college; Civil Occupation: Stenographers and typists; Enlistment Date: 21 Dec 1942; Enlistment Place: Washington, District of Columbia; Service Number: A-303941; Branch: Inactive Reserve; Component: Womens Army Corps; Source: Civil Life; Height: 64; Weight: 128.

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 18 January 2022, 02:38), entry for Ruth Monzella McGee (PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:L5DR-7ZD ); contributed by various users.