John Willis Reep (1919 - 2005)

Born 11 Jul 1919 in Pleasanton, Alameda, California, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Frances Harrison Stevens — married 15 Dec 1945 in Los Angeles, California, United States

Husband of Kathryn (Brown) Reep — married 1949 in Fresno, Fresno, California, United States

Died 4 Mar 2005 at age 85 in Placerville, El Dorado, California, United States

Biography

The son of Frank Reep and Muriel (Billing) Broman, John Reep was born in Pleasanton, California^{[citation needed]} in 1919. His father was being treated for tuberculosis and John and his parents lived in the Alpaugh home of John's aunt, Mamie (Reep) Settles, a home that included John's widowed grandmother, Henrietta Reep. In 1920, John and his family lived with his aunt, Henrietta "Mamie" (Reep) Settles and her family, a household that included John's widowed grandmother, Henrietta Reep, and a private nurse for his father.^[1] A few weeks later, his father was admitted to the Tulare and Kings Joint Tubercular Hospital in Springsville, California, where he passed away in July of 1920.

After his father's death, John and his mother, who received a Postmaster appointment, lived in Alpaugh with his maternal grandparents, Willis and Margaret Billing.^[2] In 1940, John and his mother lived in Alpaugh with John's widowed maternal grandfather, Willis Billing, where the household included John's cousin, William N. Billing, for whom John was named.^[3]

John registered for the World War II draft when he was 21, registering in Visalia, California on October 16, 1940.^[4] John stated that he lived in Alpaugh, California and that he worked as a bus driver for Visalia Union High School; he was described as 5'10" tall and 145 pounds with brown hair and grey eyes.

On March 19, 1943, John enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps Reserve, listing his civilian occupation as a surveyor.^[5] He served as a Captain with the US Army Air Forces in World War II, piloting B-17s and flying 31 missions over Europe, based out of Lavenham Airfield near Sudbury, Suffolk, England. He received numerous medals for valor, including the Distinguished Flying Cross and Oak Leaf Clusters. He never lost a plane or crew, and only one time had a crew member suffer a minor injury from a shell fragment as it passed just behind the pilot's seat.^[6]

After the war, John married Frances Stevens, the daughter of Frank Gilbert Haven Stevens and Permelia Adelaide Harrison, marrying in Los Angeles on December 15, 1945.^[7] The couple later divorced and John remarried, marrying Kathryn (Brown) Reep, the daughter of Jacob A. Brown (Braun) and and Maria (Mary) Toews, marrying in Auburn, California, in Placer County, on January 21, 1949^{[citation needed]} and making their home in 1950 in Fresno, California, where John worked as a salesman for a wholesale paint company.^[8] John later taught elementary school in Clovis, California, became an elementary school principal, then returned to teaching 6th grade. He worked for Clovis Unified School District until he retired.^[6]

John Reep passed away in Placerville, California^[9] at the age of 85, residing last in Rescue, California, in El Dorado County.^[10][11] and is buried at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella, California.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ , where his father was being treated for tuberculosis,
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCJZ-J63 : accessed 20 January 2021), John W Reep in household of Willis N Billing, Alpaugh, Tulare, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 4, sheet 1A, line 7, family 2, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 225; FHL microfilm 2,339,960.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K96F-528 : 6 January 2021), John W Reep in household of Willis N Billing, Alpaugh Judicial Township, Tulare, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 54-4, sheet 8B, line 65, family 171, 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 357.
4. ↑ "California, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGF9-X685 : 2 March 2020), John Willis Reep, Alpaugh, Tulare, California, United States; from "Draft Registration Cards for California, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947." Database and images. Ancestry. (www.ancestry.com : n.d.); citing Draft Registration, Alpaugh, Tulare, California, United States, citing NARA Records of the Selective Service System, 1926-1975. Record Group Number 147. NAID: 7644723. Records of the Selective Service System. The National Archives at St. Louis, Missouri, n.d.
5. ↑ "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8GF-23C : 5 December 2014), John W Reep, enlisted 19 Mar 1943, Santa Ana, California, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV2D-XB18 : 10 June 2020), John Willis Reep, 2005; Burial. Find A Grave: Memorial #72834837
7. ↑ "California, County Marriages, 1850-1952," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8K3-X8Y : 8 December 2017), John W Reep and Frances Harrison Stevens, 15 Dec 1945; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 2,115,298.
8. ↑ "United States 1950 Census", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XLY-P5L7 : Thu Oct 05 02:48:10 UTC 2023), Entry for John W Reep and Katheryn Reep, 3 April 1950.
9. ↑ "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6K4W-2N36 : 11 February 2023), John Willis Reep.
10. ↑ "United States Public Records, 1970-2009", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJFX-KF5K : 8 June 2020), John W Reep, 2002.
11. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VSC6-7WP : 11 January 2021), John W Reep, 04 Mar 2005; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).