Leone Virginia (Mosher) Westover (1913 - 1997)

Born 31 Aug 1913 in Coopersville, Ottawa, Michigan, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Bert Leon Westover — married about 1934 in Michigan, United States

Died 20 Jun 1997 at age 83 in Canyon, Contra Costa, California, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Luke Permoda [send private message] and Jane Permoda [send private message]

Biography

Leone Virginia Mosher was born in 1913 at Coopersville, Ottawa County, Michigan. She died in 1997 (aged 83) at Canyon, Contra Costa County, California.^[1] Leone was buried at Nunica Cemetery, Nunica, Ottawa County, Michigan.^[2]

Leone married Bert Leon Westover in about 1934.

Children of Leone Mosher and Bert Westover

Leone and Bert had three children.^[3]

1. Charles Weedon “Del Shannon”, b. 30 Dec 1934 in Michigan; d. Feb 1990 in Santa Clarita, Los Angeles, California
2. Blanche, b. abt 1937; m. Roger Dykehouse
3. Ruth Ann, b. abt 1938; m. Stanley McCuaig

Leone is the mother of singer Charles Weedon Westover, “Del Shannon,” who grew up in Coopersville, a small farming town. Taught to play the ukulele by his mother as a child, young Charles soon flowered into guitar picking at 14 years of age. Del Shannon would, during his successful music career, create Berlee (his own record label) to honor his parents, Bert and Leone Westover.

Leone was married briefly to second husband, Millard E. Forman, who predeceased her in 1974.^[4]

Leone’s son, Charles (Del Shannon), bought her a house in California, close to his, after his father died.^[5]

Research Notes

I have not been able to locate a obituary yet for Leone, nor a photo. I would love to see a photo of both Leone and Bert. ~Luke Permoda

Sources

1. ↑ "California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VP3J-VV9 : 26 November 2014), Leone Virginia Forman, 20 Jun 1997; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.
2. ↑ Leone Virginia Mosher Westover Find A Grave: Memorial #44832759
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4P6-MQF : 22 January 2020), Leona Westover in household of Bert Westover, Coopersville, Polkton Township, Ottawa, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 70-36, sheet 7B, line 45, family 151, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1809.
4. ↑ "Michigan Obituaries, 1820-2006," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVPB-3QJ3 : 1 April 2020), Leone in entry for Millard E Forman, 1974; citing , Obituary, Grand Rapids Public Library, Michigan; FHL microfilm 7,593,975.A
5. ↑ Hour Detroit. Richard Bak, June 30,2011 Del Shannon’s ‘Runaway’ Success Led to His Downfall

• "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ7S-ZMH : accessed 9 May 2020), Leone Mosher in household of Weeden Mosher, Polkton, Ottawa, Michigan, United States; citing ED 145, sheet 7B, line 37, family 142, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 792; FHL microfilm 1,820,792.
• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7MW-628 : accessed 9 May 2020), Leone V Mosher in household of Weeden H Mosher, Coopersville, Ottawa, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 28, sheet 4B, line 67, family 112, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1024; FHL microfilm 2,340,759.
• Reynolds, Robert. The Music of Del Shannon. ReynoldsInk. October 2019.

Acknowledgments

• Sara V Mosher, 8 May 2020