Tombstone Tuesday: Paul & Ocie Ruczhak

Uncle Paul (Ruczhak) is my grandfather’s brother. I thought it appropriate to feature him his week since, on Thursday (8 January) this week, it will be 20 years since he passed away.

The stone is a simple one with our Orthodox crosses (notice the footrest, which is different than that of a Catholic or Protestant cross). The praying hands in the center and the ovy leaves on either side of those hands, is exactly the same as his parents, Panko and Bessie Hruszczak. Uncle Paul and Aunt Ocie’s stone reads:

Ruczhak

Paul 1922-1995

Ocie M. 1915-1989

One his side of the stone, a flag is seen with a marker. He had enlisted in the Army 1 December 1942 in Philadelphia. He was released on 3 November 1945. I know nothing of his service time however, except obviously it was during World War II.

He is buried with his wife, Ocie Mae Bailey, in Holy Ghost Ukrainian Cemetery. They were married 20 September 1958 at Holy Ghost Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Coatesville. They did not have children.

Ocie was from Mohawk, West Virginia. She is the daughter of Emerson and Lydia Bailey.

Tombstone Tuesday is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers.

Photo and text by Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman

Comments

Coatesville's First Serial Killer

Young Alexander Meyer was a disturbed and angry young man with some major issues. He had failed sixth and seventh grade, and instead of having to repeat eighth grade again, he finally gave up on school. At age 16 he quit Downingtown Junior High. Meyer is not a relative, nor are his victims (that I am aware). I stumbled upon young Alex while reading Tortured Minds: Pennsylvania's Most Bizarre - But Forgotten - Murders by Tammy Mal. On 11 February 1937 Alexander Thweatt Meyer killed young Helen Moyer as she walked home from school in Coatesville along Modena Road. She was not his first. The jury was out only three minutes after hearing Dr. Michael Margolis' testimony on the death of Helen Moyer. The jury determined Meyer had murdered Moyer and should be held for first degree murder. The jury also condemned the parole system which had released Meyer back into the public, after having served just 14 months in Huntingdon Reformatory, for the murder of two other girls - Anna Blasc...

Thaddeus Stevens at the Lancaster Convention Center

Within the Lancaster Convention Center (Lancaster, PA) is a small section dedicated to Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith. The section is known as the Stevens & Smith Historic Site. It is scheduled for development this year. At the moment one can only get a glimpse of it through the Convention Center or by peeking in from the outside. Here at Queen and Vine Streets in Lancaster City, Pennsylvania, Thaddeus Stevens had his law office. Stevens was an abolitionist. An abolitionist is a person who favors the abolition of a practice or institution, especially capital punishment or (formerly) slavery. Stevens was born 4 April 1792 to Joshua Stevens and Sarah (Sally) Morrill in Danville Vermont. One of four children, he attended Vermont University from 1810 to 1812 when the War prompted its closure. He then went to Dartmouth, where he graduated in 1814. He then studied law and found himself set up in Gettysburg, PA in 1816. He practiced law there until 1828 when he...

52 Ancestors: Remembering the King

Today is Elvis’ birthday. He would have been 80 today. I was only eight when he died so obviously I am too young to have seen Elvis perform. However, when I hear his music, I go back in time. I am once again that young girl dancing in the living room to Elvis and other greats with my father. Back then girls learned to dance by dancing with their fathers not some video of scantly dressed people doing all sorts of things young ladies should not be doing in public! What is YOUR favorite memory - either of your father or of Elvis? 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is a weekly genealogical challenge issued by Amy Johnson Crow, of No Story Too Small . Look for my weekly posts each Thursday! © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

Genealogical Gems

Search This Blog