Erma Fae O'Dell (1923 - 1969)

Born 22 Jan 1923 in Jackson, West Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Russell Vernon Miller — married 24 Dec 1941 in Jackson, West Virginia, United States

Died 31 Dec 1969 at age 46 in Jackson, West Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jeanne Howell [send private message]

Biography

Erma Fae O'DELL was born on 22 January 1923 in Jackson County, West Virginia. She was the daughter of James O'DELL and Mabel WILCOX. She passed away on 31 December 1969 in Wood County, West Virginia.^[1]

She was married on 24 December 1941 in Jackson County, West Virginia to Russell Vernon MILLER.

Spouse:

Russell Vernon MILLER was born on 23 April 1912 in Jackson County, West Virginia^[2] and died 5 June 2000 in Jackson County, West Virginia. He was the son of Grovener C. Miller (Born: 4 November 1869 in Jackson County, West Virginia; Died: 22 October 1950 in Wood County, West Virginia) and Mary Blanche PORTER (Born: About 1874 in Ohio; Died: 23 June 1950 in Jackson County, West Virginia). He was buried in Independence Cemetery, Sandyville, Jackson County, West Virginia.

Memories of Jeanne Howell

Erma Fae (ODELL) MILLER was my grandmother's sister, she was the one who gave my mother her first name of Marcella. The story I was told was that my grandparents had the middle names picked out for both of their children, but not the first names. When asked for suggestions, Erma said Marcella and my grandmother used that name as my mother's first name. My grandparents always called their children by their middle names and did not use their first names except in legal documents.

My mother, M. PICKRELL used to play around with her cousin, Phyllis MILLER, who was Erma's daughter. One day, they were playing at her Aunt Lennie (WILCOX) LEEPER's house, they saw her wild rose bushes and decided to pick roses. Little did they know that the bushes were infested with poison ivy and they both had a reaction to it. My mom's eyes swelled shut and Phyllis was highly allergic to it and had a really bad case of it. My mother got blamed for the incident by Erma.

Their daughter, Phyllis Jo MILLER, was killed along with five other individuals in a car accident on 12 September 1960 in Jackson County, West Virginia. She was only about 13 years old at the time of her death.

Obituary: "Phyllis Miller of Sandyville was born July 14, 1947 in Jackson County, a daughter of Russell and Erma O'Dell Miller, and was an eighth grade student at Gilmore High School. She served as class treasurer and attended the Church of Christ at Odaville. She was also a member of the Victory Fighters 4-H Club. Survivors include her parents, a sister, Pam Kay Miller, at home; and grandparents, Mrs. and Mrs. James Lewis O'Dell of New Era. A joint service was held yesterday afternoon at 1 p. m. in the Gilmore high school for Miss Miller, Lynda Gale Thompson and Linda Lou Smith. Officiating were the Rev. Perry Parsons, the Rev. Denver Cooper and the Rev. Earl Seaman. Schoolmates of the girls acted as pallbearers. Burial for Miss Miller was in the Independence Cemetery with Parsons Funeral Home in charge. *Killed in Jackson County's worst traffic accident with five other on Route 21 at Sandyville." [Jackson Herald, 15 September 1960]

Sources

1. ↑ "West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NMWK-7R3 : 11 February 2018), Erma O'Dell Miller, 31 Dec 1969; citing Wood, West Virginia, County Records, 19955, county courthouses, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 1,992,292.
2. ↑ Jackson County, West Virginia, "Birth Record Search (1843, 1852 - 1854, 1856 - 1917)," Russell Vernon Miller, 1912; database with images, West Virginia Vital Research Records Project (http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_bcsearch.aspx : accessed 8 November 2018); citing West Virginia State Archives, Charleston, West Virginia.

• Memories of M. PICKRELL (her niece) and Ilia Mae (ODELL) PICKRELL (her sister, now deceased).