Obituaries

In alphabetical order
(other obituaries can be found along with biographies of the given name)

Dewey N. Dale

Dewey Dale died on June 4, 2002, after a brief illness. Born December 1, 1920, he was 81.  Dale joined the U.S.M.C. in 1939, service # 275146 and retired as a Gunnery Sergeant (E-6) in 1959.
He was on Corregidor when it was surrendered May 6, 1942.
Dale was first sent to Bilibid Prison, Cabanatuan and then to Japan and Camp Fukuoka 17.

     Credit: Quan, Aug./Sept. 2002

Douglas Edwards

Douglas Edwards, 92, of Georgetown, died Thursday May 22, 2008 in Tuskegee, AL.

A native of Opp, AL, Mr. Edwards lived in Albany several years before moving to Georgetown in 1979 after retiring from Dougherty County Environmental Health, after a 27-year career. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and working in his garden and was of the Baptist faith.
Mr. Edwards served his country in the U. S. Army during WW II and was a survivor of the Bataan Death March and 42 months in a Japanese POW camp.
Survivors include his wife Daisy Sketo Edwards of Georgetown, a son, Arnold Edwards of Ft. Gaines, Two daughters, Gloria Jean Harrison and husband Jim of Kennesaw, GA, Glenda Strong and husband Bo of Suwanee , 3 grandchildren, Chalon Lea McCauley and husband Chuck of Powder Springs, Willis Walker III and wife Jennifer of Mt Pleasant, SC and Kristy Marie Edwards of Bascom, FL, 3 great-grandchildren, Jonathon Smith, Bascom, FL, Morgan Taylor McCauley of Powder Springs and Carson Walker of Mt Pleasant, sister-in-law Elizabeth Edwards of Columbus and a special family friend Linda Smith of Albany.
He was preceded in death by his parents Albert and Cora Edwards, brother Bishop Edwards and a sister Eleanor Edwards Granger.

Guy E. Jones

Guy Jones was admitted to Jerry L. Pettis Memorial VA Medical Center in Loma Linda, Ca. on Feb. 15, 2002 and passed away February 25, 2002 after a long battle with bone cancer.
Guy survived the Bataan Death March, 6 weeks in a Hell Ship and a year as a slave laborer in a coal mine in Fukuoka, Camp 17. He is survived by his wife Virginia, one son, 4 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one daughter.

     Credit: Quan, June/July 2002

Warren H. Mellies

Warren Harding Mellies, 80, of Cheyenne died January 20, 2002 at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Warren was born Oct. 28, 1921,in Adams City, Colorado and lived in Cheyenne since 1960 with a prior residence in Casper.
He retired as a purchasing agent for the Federal Government after 42 years as service.
He served in the U.S.M.C. during WWII in the Philippines and was a Japanese prisoner of war for 3 ½ years.
Warren was a member of the Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, the Military Order of Purple Heart, and Disabled American Veterans.
He is survived by his wife Christina, whom he married September 17, 1954 in Casper; a son Warren L. Mellies; daughters Linda Ann Connie and Kimberly Colling; a sister Betty Lou Matthews; and six grandchildren.
He was proceeded in death by a daughter, Bertha Marie McCartney; parents, August and Maude Mellies; sister Bertha A. Szymanski; and brothers, Everett B. Mellies, Ira Mellies, Woodrow W. Mellies, John W. Mellies and Howard L. Mellie.
The funeral was held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church and internment was in Cheyenne Memorial Gardens. 

     Credit: Quan June/July 2002

Harry L. Nytra

Harry was born in Ambridge, PA. October 15, 1915 and lived in Pittsburg, PA.
He enlisted in the US Army in 1935, serving at Fort Meade, Maryland and Fort Lewis, Washington. Then he was sent to the Philippines. Harry was a Staff Sergeant when the US entered WWII on Dec. 7, 1941. He was taken captive at Corregidor on May 6, 1942.
After being imprisoned at Cabanatuan and Bilibid Prison Camps, he was transported to Japan by Hell Ship to work in the coal mines (slave labor) at Fukuoka Camp 17. He was a prisoner of war for 40 months. Harry was released from the Army in 1946 and found work in a chemical company for 31 years as a millwright.
He always suffered post traumatic stress syndrome and never could forget his days as a prisoner of war.
Harry passed away May 30th, 2004 at the age of 88 in the Aspinwall Veterans Hospital. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on June 15, 2004.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Dolores; daughter Lorraine and two sons, Harry D. and Timothy. May he rest in peace.

     Credit: Quan, Oct./Nov. 2004

Agapito Silva

Bataan POW Fought for Veterans' Rights Source: AP

ALBUQUERQUE -- Agapito "Gap" Silva, a survivor of the infamous World War II Bataan Death March, is being remembered by his family and friends as an advocate for veterans rights.Silva's family said he died Sunday, possibly as a complication of pulmonary fibrosis. He was 87.Silva and about 1,800 other New Mexicans were captured by the Japanese after the fall of Bataan in the Philippines in 1942. He was a prisoner of war for three years and was made to work as a slave laborer in a coal plant.
Silva won several medals including the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and American Defense Medal.
After the war, his family said he returned to New Mexico and became an advocate for veterans.
Silva is survived by his wife, Socorro Silva; sons Jerome, Fred, Michael, Agapito Jr. and Maurice; daughters Patricia and Erlinda; 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Services are planned for Thursday at St. Therese Catholic Church in Albuquerque. Interment will follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery.

Paul A. Thacker

Paul Thacker was born in Leesville, VA. June 10, 1918. He served in the 31st Infantry Division and was sent to the Philippines. He was a survivor of the Death March and was held prisoner of war by the Japanese for three and a half years. Paul was interned in Camp O’Donnell and Cabanatuan before being shipped In July 1943 to Fukuoka Camp 17 in Japan. There he stayed until the end of the war.
Paul was a member of The Tabernacle, a life time member of the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, American Legion Post 325, V.F.W. Post 647, life member of Archer T. Gannon Post 19 Disabled American Veterans and a member of Poquoson Tribe No. 124 Improved Order of Redmen.
Paul passed away at the age of 83 at Danville, Va. June 19, 2001. The funeral was held at Wrenn-Watts North Main Chapel and internment followed at Danville Memorial Gardens with Military Honors by the American Legion.
He is survived by his wife Ruby; two sons and three daughters, 13 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Donald James Watson

Donald James Watson died August 27, 2003, in Angels Camp, CA. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Betty; one daughter,
three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Mr. Watson was a Prisoner of War and survived the Bataan Death March as well as the bombing of the hellship the Enoura Maru. He was sent to Camp No. 17, Fukuoka, on the Island of Kyushu, Japan.

      Credit: Quan, March 2008

     

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