Compiled by Teresa
Martin Klaiber 2023
As
I have said so many times our family lives on in our memories and our littlest
angels should never be forgotten. Virginia
Myrtle Lucas was born 24 September 1924, and according to her death certificate
the birth took place in Carter County, Kentucky. To date this compiler has not
found an official birth record in Kentucky, Ohio or West Virginia.
Virginia
Myrtle Lucas died in White Cross Hospital, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio 29
July 1926[i]. White Cross had converted affiliation with
the Protestant Hospital Association to the Ohio Methodist Episcopal Conference
in 1922.
The
cause of death is cited as cholera infantum.
Cholera is an infectious disease caused by bacteria. A child could get
cholera by eating food or drinking water contaminated with bacteria. Combined with Infantum, a viral disease of
infants and young children, it is deadly causing speedy wasting.
Virginia
was the daughter of Reuben Harrison Lucas born 9 January 1889 in Carter County
and wife Cora Combs. She was the
granddaughter of Henry Kane Lucas, Lucinda Sexton Lucas, John “Jack Combs and
Martha J. Cotton.
Virginia
had at least three siblings: John D., Lelia and Lewis, all born in
Kentucky. Her parents married 27 August
1910 in Boyd County, Kentucky[ii]
and by 1920 are listed in Cabin Creek, Kanawha County, West Virginia where
Reuben was trying his hand at mining.
The
1927 City Directory for Columbus, Franklin County, shows Reuben, laborer, and
Cora residing at 1190 St. Clair Avenue.
This is the same address given on Virginia Myrtle’s death
certificate. I find there is often a lag
time in posting in city directories and they did not appear in the 1926
edition. By 1928 only Cora is listed
working as a waitress. I speculate that
Reuben had returned to Cabin Creek, as they appear on the 1930 census in Burnwell,
West Virginia where, once again “Rube” is mining, working for Case Mining
Company.
Virginia’s
father, Reuben Harrison Lucas died 20 January 1972 in Kanawha County, West
Virginia and buried in Montgomery Memorial Park at London, Kanawha County, West
Virginia. Montgomery Memorial Park is
an active, perpetual care cemetery. In
1971, Cora was living in Rand, Kanawha
County[iii]
and died July 1980, according to the Social Security Death Index.
[i]
OH, Franklin d cert 44135
[ii]
KY, Boyd M bk 32A p 97
[iii]
Charleston Gazette 4 Mar 1971 obit of Stephen Franklin Combs
