4. Documentation for Roy Burton Older
(Feb 10, 1886 to Apr 13, 1964)
father of Truxton James Older
(Sept 28, 1911 to Apr 06, 2009)


Roy Burton Older was born February 10, 1886, the son of James Grant Older and Wilhelmina Fredericka Lorenz.(1) Roy married Ethel Leona Worth on March 1, 1911, in Decatur, Illinois.(2) Ethel Leona Worth was born in Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana, on January 8, 1893.(3) She was the daughter of Chesterfield Worth and Lucy Jane Harmison.(4)
Roy Burton and Ethel Leona (Worth) Older were the parents of three children. Truxton James Older was born at 1165 North Edward Street in Decatur, Macon County, Illinois, on September 28, 1911.(5) A daughter, Wilma Jane Older, born May 10, 1915, and a son, Robert Burton Older, born November 26, 1922, were born in Danville, Illinois.(6) Robert Burton Older landed at Normandy on the 25th hour of D-Day, or the 1st hour of the second day, in the Allied Invasion of Europe in 1944. He was wounded at some point before the end of the war. He helped liberate at least one German concentration camp and served in Belgium. The 1930 Federal Census records indicate Roy was age 25 and Ethel was age 18 at the time of their marriage.(7)
Roy worked himself up from being a janitor to being over the entire Alith-Prouty company in Danville, Illinois, except for the owner of the business. Roy apparently worked at Alith Prouty his entire working life, not ending his career there until age 76. I don't recall seeing Roy without a cigar in his mouth. My dad, Truxton, told me Roy used to shave with a cigar in his mouth. Cigars were all my dad and I ever got Roy for any celebration, such as his birthday, Christmas, etc.
Roy Burton Older died on April 13, 1964, at Lake View Hospital in Danville, Illinois, after having a hole develop in his esophagus about a month before. He was buried near his parents at Springhill Cemetery on Voorhees Street in Danville, Illinois.(8) Ethel Leona Worth Older, Roy's wife, died at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura, Ventura County, California, on December 26, 1976, at age 82.(9)
Roy Older is listed with his parents, his two sisters, and his paternal grandmother in the 1900 United States Census for Indiana, Vigo County, city of Terre Haute, Harrison Township, Ward #8, house number 1658, dwelling number 51, and family number 52. Roy, Ethel, Truxton and Wilma Jane Older are listed in Newell ED #173, city of Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois, U. S. Federal Census in 1920. Roy, Ethel, Truxton, Wilma Jane, and Robert B. Older appear in the 1930 Federal Census for Ward 4, Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois. Roy B. and Ethel L. (Worth) Older should be listed in the 1940, 1950, and 1960 Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois, Federal Census records.(10)

Children (Older), born in Illinois:
i. Truxton James, born in Decatur, September 28, 1911
ii. Wilma Jane, born on Danville, May 10, 1915
iii. Robert Burton, born in Danville, November 26, 1922


REFERENCES

1. State of Illinois Medical Certificate of Death for Roy Burton Older, registration district #92.0, registered number 347, date of birth February 10, 1886, date of death April 13, 1964, Danville, Illinois, father's full name James Grant Older, mother's full maiden name Minnie Lorenz, signed by Truxton J. Older, son, informant.

2. Per statement of Wilma Jane (Older) Zillman to Curtis Lynn Older in November 2003.

3. State of California Certification of Vital Record, Certificate of Death for Ethel Leona Worth Older, Ventura County, local registration district 5600, certificate number 2405, date of death December 26, 1975, date of birth January 8, 1893. On an application for a Social Security number dated April 25, 1972, at Ventura, California, Ethel L. Older gives her date of birth as January 8, 1892. The 1900 Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana, Federal Census lists her age as seven, indicating her birth year was 1893 and not 1892, since her birth month of January already had passed in 1900.

4. State of California Certification of Vital Record, Certificate of Death for Ethel Leona Worth Older, Ventura County, local registration district 5600, certificate number 2405, date of death December 26, 1975, father was Chesterfield Worth and mother was Lucy Jane Harmison. On an application for a Social Security number dated April 25, 1972, at Ventura, California, Ethel L. Older lists her parents as Chesterfield Worth and Lucy Jane Harmison.

5. Birth certificate, State of Illinois, Report of Birth to County Clerk, Decatur, Macon County, Illinois, date of birth September 28, 1911. The residence of the mother and the location of birth was 1165 North Edward Street, Decatur, Illinois. The name of the child was added to the birth certificate per affidavit of July 3, 1973. Ethel Belle (Fox) Gouty Family Bible in the possession of Curtis Lynn Older. Copies of pages from the Ethel Belle Fox Family Bible are in a CD-rom disc entitled Fox's Gap in Maryland, which is at the Frederick County Historical Society, Frederick, Maryland.

6. Birth certificates for Wilma Jane Older and Robert Burton Older should be on record at the Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois, courthouse.

7. 1930 Federal Census, Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois, Ward Four, enumerated April 3, Roy Older head of household.

8. State of Illinois, Medical Certificate of Death, registration district 920, registered number 347, date of death April 13, 1964, date of birth February 10, 1886, age 78 years, never in Armed Forces, birthplace Danville, Illinois, father's full name James Grant Older, mother's full maiden name Minnie Lorenz, signed by Truxton J. Older, son, informant. Danville Commercial News newspaper death announcement, probably on April 13 or 14, 1964. Buried in Lot 337, Block 21, Springhill Cemetery, Danville, Illinois.

9. State of California Certification of Vital Record, Ventura County, local registration district 5600 and certificate number 2405, date of death December 26, 1975, buried December 30, 1975 at Springhill Cemetery, Danville, Illinois. Danville Commercial News newspaper death announcement, probably on December 27 or 28, 1975.

10. The 1890 Federal Census records were destroyed by a fire. 1900 U. S. Census for Indiana, Vigo County, city of Terre Haute, Harrison Township, Ward #8, house number 1658, dwelling number 51, and family number 52. 1920 U. S. Federal Census for Illinois, Vermilion County, city of Danville, Newell ED #173. 1930 U. S. Federal Census for Illinois, Vermilion County, city of Danville, Ward 4. Roy Burton and Ethel Leona (Worth) Older should be included in the 1940, 1950, and 1960 Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois, Federal Census records. Ethel Leona (Worth) Older should be in the 1970 U. S. Federal census for California, city of Ventura, Ventura County.

World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Record about Roy Burton Older
Name: Roy Burton Older
City: Danville County: Vermilion State: Illinois
Birth Date: 10 Feb 1886
Race: White
Roll: 1613187
DraftBoard: 0
Age: Occupation: Nearest Relative: Registration Place:
Height: Build: Color of Eyes: Color of Hair:
Signature: