Oakley Ethington was a wonderful singer. At the 1980 Shelbyville Ethington Family Reunion, he sang My Old Kentucky Home as a solo. It was wonderful.
OBITUARY FROM FOREST CITY COURIER, Monday 8 Jan 1990:
Oakley Valmore Ethington, 72, of Rt 6, Tanners Grove Road, Forest City, diedFriday in the Rutherford Hospital.A native of Bloomington, Illinois, he was the son of the late James William and Harriett Logan Ethington: was a minister and retired high school teacher for 40 years; was a member of the Church of the Nazarene of Forest City; graduate of Northwest Missouri State University Teachers College and Drake University.
He is survived by his wife, Marie Hudsepth Ethington; three sons, John Ethington of Riverside, Calif., James Ethington of Plano, Texas, and Paul Ethington of Anaheim, California, seven Grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Memorial services will be conducted at 7 tonight at the Missionary Methodist Chrurch in Forest City with Rev. Tim Livengood, Dr. Bill Dean and Rev Kenneth Howell officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Organ Fund, Church of the Nazarene, 1206 Hardin Road, Forest City, 28043. Padgett-King Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.
Letter dated 28 Jan 1973 to Pat Beadle mentions "Our little grandaughter, Mary" Parents of Mary are not identified.
Letter dated Christmas 1980 mentions grandsons, also unidentified:
"We will be going to San Diego this Saturday night to hear our grandsons, James and Jon Jon Harvill, performing in a musical group. They are just returning from the East where they have touring the past year. They have had concerts in many states, and Canada, and have performed for five weeks in Europe also. We plan to have them at Katella High in January sometime..."Oakley gives his place of birth (in his own personal records) as Karksville, MO. He also gives as the place of his marriage, Johnston Station, Iowa. He states that his special interests are "Preaching, Music (College Major), Soloist, English (master's degree), Poet, and loved to read it and teach it, and loved his family and loved God."
Marriage place given also as Johnston Station, IA by Wallace Harold Erickson.
See Christmas letter of 1980.
BURIAL: PLAC Sale Lake City Cem,Salt Lake City,Salt Lake,UT
Bertha was a member of the LDS church. Assume that it is her that is buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery: Bertha Ethington. Need to check dates with the sexton to verify.
HUSBAND'S AGE AT MARR: 28
ROSCOE GERALD ETHINGTON MOTHERS MADEN NAME HATTIE ALEXANDRA LOGAN LETTEN FROM DENZEL LEICHT ADOPTED BY MOTHERS SECOND HUSBANDJul 1990:
Two children have been shown as belonging to this marriage, but documentation now indicates that they are not. The children are:
RIN 907 Denzel Gerald Ethington
RIN 906 Darwin Gene EthingtonThese two children will be removed from this marriage and referenced here to be included when properly identified. For children of Roscoe Gerald and Eleanor Higgenbotham see letter from Duane Ethington to HE dated about 1972.
Sep 1990: Denzel and Darwin properly identified in letter from Denzel to HE dated 23 Sep 1978. RIN's 907 and 906 deleted. Portions as follows:
"Dad and Mother divorced in 1931. Mother married again in 1936. My step Father adopted me and my brother, and our last name is now Leicht. My brother, Darwin Gene Ethington (Leicht) lives in San Diego. My Father married again in 1936 and fathered 9 more children, 5 boys and 4 girls. They have all moved to Dallas Texas."
Roscoe Ethington
8250 Grove St
Sunland CA
91040Telcom with son Buck Ethington in Aug 1990, Buck stated that his father was dead.
Letter from Denzel Gerrald Ethington to HE dated 23 Sep 1978 states that he and his brother Darwin Gene Ethington were sons of Roscoe Gerrald by his wife who later married Mr. Leicht. See letter in Denzel Gerrald Ethington file.
Letter from Roscoe Gerald Ethington dated 22 Jan 1971 to Pat Beadle in file.