Willoughby Notes ( Munselle)

Valdrice Sylvia Willoughby Friday, November 10, 2006

Valdrice Sylvia Kirby Willoughby, 88, of Wardell, Mo., died Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2006, at her residence. Born April 21, 1918, in Bucoda, Mo., daughter of the late Edgar Lee and Pearl Hurst Kirby, she was a cook for Wardell School. On July 26, 1937, in Blytheville, Ark., she married John Leslie "Buck" Willoughby, who preceded her in death on Aug. 31, 1972. She was also preceded in death by four sons, Jimmy Dale, Frank Cecil, Lawrence Jr., and Carl Eugene Willoughby; two daughters, Lesta Sue Willoughby and Rosetta Elaine Rudd; two brothers, John "Bill" William and Herschel Kirby; three sisters, Annie Mae Rackley, Wathena Euvyonne Bauer and Phyllis Kirby and one granddaughter, Mary Jane Canoy. Survivors include three daughters, Loretta Canoy and husband, Sammy, of Kennett and Mary Wheatley and husband, Charles and Erma Page and husband, Kenny, all of Wardell; one sister, Ida Ethelen Shirmen, of Kennett; a sister-in-law, Ada Jean Kirby, of Kennett; 18 grandchildren, Marvin Lee Dunaway, David, Leslie, Jeff and Bradley Willoughby, Mary Lynn Birmingham, Tresa Brinkley, Sarah Windham, Audra Perry, Bo Canoy, Cherie Fowler, Leah Stover, Heather Lacey, Buck Wheatley, Kenneth and Tyler Riddle and Tommy Ward; 34 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m., today, Friday, Nov. 10, at the Bradshaw Funeral Home in Wardell. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Lighthouse Church in Wardell with Brother Jeremy Damesworth officiating. Burial will follow in the Oak Ridge Cemetery at Kennett.

Here is what I have on him and some others: Thomas Otto Willoughby b. June 7, 1896 Sikeston, Scott Co., Missouri d. Sept. 9, 1952 Dubuque, Iowa His father was William Noah Willoughby b. December 17, 1890 in Paducah, McCracken Co., Kentucky d. July 20, 1918 in Holcomb, Dunklin Co., Missouri m. Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Pearl) Bell Murray b. March 21, 1867 in Bolden or Murray, Kentucky d. July 23, 1918 in Clarkton, Dunklin Co., Missouri She is supposed to have had a brother named Jim. Their children: Walter G. Willoughby b. July 17, 1892 in Sikeston, Scott Co., Missouri d. October 1, 1967 in Kennett, Dunklin Co., Missouri Jimmy Willoughby b. March 13, 1894 in Sikeston, Scott Co., Missouri d. Abt. 1907 in Sikeston, Scott Co., Missouri Thomas Otto Willoughby (see above) Ardell Hobson Willoughby b. February 17, 1899 in Sikeston, Scott Co., Missouri d. May 30, 1954 in Wardell, Pemiscot Co., Missouri Ruth Ola Willoughby b. March 22, 1901 in Sikeston, Scott Co., Missouri d. January 13, 1980 inCommunity Methodist Hospital, Paragould, Arkansas David "Dave" Gordon Willoughby b. Jan. 13, 1905 in Oran, Scott Co., Missouri d.July 31, 1969 in Wardell, Pemiscot Co., Missouri His son is possibly named William Carol Willoughby and his wife was Beulah who is deceased as well. There is another possible son -Arthur- who died at abt. aged 42 from a heart attack. His mother Beulah died the day before he did. William Carol Willoughby was last known to reside in St. Louis. John "Buck" Leslie Willoughby b. Feb. 26, 1908 in Paducah, McCracken Co., Kentucky d. Aug. 31, 1972 in Wardell, Pemiscot Co., Missouri I know he had a 3rd wife by the name of Valdrice. She has a daughter Mary Lee Wheatley who was last known to be taking care of her in her home. Rosella "Ella" Willoughby b. Oct. 19, 1911 in Clarkton, Dunklin Co., Missouri d. May 1978

Thomas Otto worked for an electric company when he had a heart attack on the pole. He survived that one and passed from a subsequent heart attack and is buried in Steeleville, Illinois. (Notes from Mary Wheatley) He was married to his second wife Nora. Obituary for Thomas Otto Willoughby: Died at Dubuque, Iowa, September 9, 1952 at the age of 56 years. Remains will lie in state at Wedge Funeral Home in Steelville, Illinois, until Friday noon, thence to Peace Lutheran Church where services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Reverend E.W. Belter officiating. Interment Peace Lutheran Cemetery, Steeleville, Illinois. Word War I Military Record: Name: Willoughby, Thomas O. Serial No. 51, 370 Race:W Residence: Gibson, Mo. Inducted at: Jefferson Barracks, Mo. January 10, 1917 Organizations served in, with dates of assignments and transfers: Co. I 23 Inf. to Discharge Grades, with date of appointment: PVT Served overseas from Sept. 7, 1917 to Sept. 8, 1919 Honorably discharged on demobilization: Yes In view of occupation he was, on date of discharge, reported N per cent disabled. Remarks: Re-enlistment Form No. 724-1, A.G.O. I think this is relevant and should help immensely. This is my descending line including Thomas Otto (my grandad) and my dad. William Willoby 1621 or 1623-1713 wife Hanna Andrew Will be 1755- wife Anna Richard Willoughby 1735-1780 wife Margaret Vincent Solomon Willoughby 1766-1825 wife Martha Clark Samuel L. Willoughby 1788-1861 wife Martha Ragsdale Solomon Willoughby 1838-1911 wife Nancy Atcherson Ayers William Noah Willoughby 1870-1918 wife Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Pearl) Bell Murray Thomas Otto Willoughby 1896-1952 wife Lillian Marie Munselle Thomas Leslie Willoughby 1921 or 1923-1980 wife Rita Kathleen Mahoney Lesley Marie Willoughby 1959- husband Larry James Haggerton

On one line, I have traced back to the 900's to Sir John Willoughby. He was the son of a Danish Thane of Merlitor who served under William the Conqueror. It was William the Conqueror who gave him his title after he served under him. Through other lines, I have found connections to Charlemagne, King Richard III of England, the Plantagenet line (Henry VIII) as well as others. There was even a relative who was in the Crusades in Jerusalem.The Willoughby's served under Richard III or "Longshanks" as he was known in Mel Gibson's movie "Braveheart". The Mahoney's on my mom's side served with Wallace and Robert the Bruce on the other side of the war for Scottish independence. Why couldn't we all just get along? LOL Weaver-Bailey-Le Strange- are some of the other names connected to the Willoughby side. In the family name history, before Mahoney or O Mahony was anglicized, it was O Mathghamhana (descendant of the bear). Hope the info helps with the search.-Lesley