William Rich

Ancestors

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Rosa Lane [send private message]

Biography

William "Sonny" or "Ricky" Edwin Rich was born in Medford, Massachusetts on August 30, 1933. He was the son of William Lyle and Marie Genevieve (Haviland) Rich.

After his parents' divorce in June 1934, William E. and his older sister Marie E. were taken to Isle au Haut, Lincoln (now Knox) County, Maine where they were raised by their paternal grandparents, William Stillman and Emma Hooper (Crockett) Rich, until their early teen years. After death of their paternal grandfather William Stillman, William and his sister relocated to Wilmington, Massachusetts where they lived for a short time with their father, William Lyle and stepmother, Ivy Ruth (Hammond) Rich.

In summer 1948, William's sister, Marie, at age 16 moved to Pemaquid Beach, Bristol, Lincoln County, Maine, to assist their aunt Rosamond "Rose" (Rich) Kurlovich in the operations of her guest house and cottages known as "The Laughton House."

When his older sister, Marie, left for Pemaquid, William at age 15 left his father's home and made his way to Dover Foxcroft, Maine. After finding William sleeping in their barn, Rex Varnum and his wife in Dover Foxcroft, took in William and cared for him as if he was their own son. William worked on their farm for two years until his 17th birthday. William's biological father, William Lyle, signed a document giving William permission to join the Marines at his young age. William enlisted in the Marine Corp. on his 17th birthday, August 30, 1950 and was released from military service on December 31, 1968.

William 1st married Kathleen Kaye Kaufman about 1952. His wife preferred being called given name "Kaye." Though William was serving the military overseas, William and Kaye made their home in Asheville, North Carolina. William and Kaye had three daughters: Wilda "Ricky" Marie, Belinda Kaye, and Sharon. After his divorce from Kaye, William married 2nd Irma Debona in Palm Beach, Florida, on January 25, 1978. William divorced Irma a few months later on June 21, 1978. William's 3rd and last marriage was to Ilsa Eibl in Palm Beach, Florida on March 5, 1979.

William served the military for over 18 years. He actively fought in two wars including the Korean War and the Vietnam War to which he was sent twice. In both wars William was wounded in action (WIA). In the Korean War, he was WIA on November 8, 1952: Casualty type: WIA; Unit: F-2-7; Service Number: 1153286; Collection: U.S. Marine Korean War Casualty Card Database; Location: TAB RIC-RID; Item ID: 107673.

William passed away at age 56 on March 21, 1990 in Palm Beach, Florida. He is buried in the Garden of Honor, a military section of the Riverside Memorial Park cemetery, Tequesta, Martin County, Florida.

Sources

• Massachusetts, Birth Index, 1860-1970, Medford, Massachusetts, Volume No. 74; Page No. 282; Index Volume No. 132; Reference No. F63.M362 v.132. [Repository: Source Information: Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Birth Index, 1860-1970 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Original data: Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. Massachusetts Vital Records Index to Births [1916–1970]. Volumes 92–160, 162, 168, 175, 212– 213. Facsimile edition. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.] (birth record)

• U.S., Social Security Application and Claims Index, 1936-2007. SS #030242797; Death Certificate #: 034099; Name listed as W. E. Rich. (Includes birth date and birth place, parents names; and death dates)

• Massachusetts, Birth Index, 1860-1970 for William Edwin Rich, Births, 1931-1935. [Repository: Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Birth Index, 1860-1970 (database on-line, Frame #128 of 560). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Original data: Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. Massachusetts Vital Records Index to Births [1916–1970]. Volumes 92–160, 162, 168, 175, 212– 213. Facsimile edition. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.] (record of birth--William Edwin Rich)

• Massachusetts, Birth Index, 1860-1970 for Marie Edwina Rich, Births, 1931-1935. [Repository: Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Birth Index, 1860-1970 (database on-line, Frame #128 of 560). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Original data: Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. Massachusetts Vital Records Index to Births [1916–1970]. Volumes 92–160, 162, 168, 175, 212– 213. Facsimile edition. Boston, MA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.] (record of sister's birth--Marie Edwina Rich)

• 1940 United States Federal Census for Marie Rich, Maine, Knox, Isle au Haut, 7-10, Sheet 1B, Enumerated on April 26, 1940 by Eleanor H. Thornton. [Repository: Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census (database on-line, Frame #3 of 6). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls.] (Marie E. Rich, granddaughter, age 8; and William E. Rich, grandson, age 6; listed under William S. Rich, Head of Household, and wife Emma C., Household #22)

• U.S., Department of Veteran Affairs, BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010. [Repository: Source Information: Ancestry.com. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 (database on-line). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) Death File. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.] (service record, birth and death dates)

• Florida, Marriage Indexes, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001; Source: Florida Department of Health, Volume 4207; Certificate 003417. [Repository: Source Information: Ancestry.com. Florida, Marriage Indexes, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001 (database on-line). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Florida Department of Health. Florida Marriage Index, 1927-2001. Florida Department of Health, Jacksonville, Florida. Marriages records from various counties located in county courthouses and/or on microfilm at the Family History Library.] (2nd marriage record to Irma)

• Florida, Divorce Index, 1927-2001, Palm Beach, Divorce Certificate Number: 031326. [Repository: Source Information: Ancestry.com. Florida, Divorce Index, 1927-2001 (database on-line). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: Florida Department of Health. Florida Divorce Index, 1927-2001. Jacksonville, FL, USA: Florida Department of Health.] (divorce re: Irma)

• Florida, Marriage Indexes, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001, Volume # 4428, Certificate #018470. [Repository: Source Information: Ancestry.com. Florida, Marriage Indexes, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001 (database on-line). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com, Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Florida Department of Health. Florida Marriage Index, 1927-2001. Florida Department of Health, Jacksonville, Florida. Marriages records from various counties located in county courthouses and/or on microfilm at the Family History Library.] (3rd marriage to Ilsa)

• Web: U.S. Marine Corps Casualty Indexes, 1940-1958: https://www.mcu.usmc.mil/historydivision/cc_kw/Lists/Casualty%20Cards%20MinserRosen/Casualty%20Cards.aspx?Paged=TRUE&p_ID=3800

• Florida Death Index, 1877-1998, Florida: Florida Department of Public Health, Office of Vital Records, 1988. [Repository: Ancestry.com. Florida Death Index, 1877-1998 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: State of Florida. Florida Death Index, 1877-1998. Florida: Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, 1998. [Ancestry.com. Florida Death Index, 1877-1998 (database on-line). Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: State of Florida. Florida Death Index, 1877-1998. Florida: Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, 1998.] (death record)

• U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current, Memorial ID #53636604, Maintained by Paula J., contributor # 46489742: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53636604