Family History - Vyrle Knapp

1. Vyrle Knapp,¹ born 1897 in Michigan, the son of Jacob Elsworth Knapp and Addie Adella Taylor;^{1, 2} died 13 November 1962 in Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan.¹ Vyrle married, 21 May 1917, Luella Brouse¹ (born ca. 1902 in Indiana, parents not determined²). Vyrle is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Coldwater, Branch Water, Michigan.¹

+	2	i.	Paul F. Knapp, born 12 May 1918 in Fremont, Steuben County, Indiana; died 5 October 1981 in Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan. Married Cora H. Miner.
	3	ii.	Donald C. Knapp, born 16 July 1924 in Indiana;2, 3 died 8 June 1975.3 Donald is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Coldwater, Branch Water, Michigan.3
	4	iii.	Beverly L. Knapp, born ca. 1936 in Michigan.2

1. Find a Grave (website). Oak Grove Cemetery, Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan, Vyrle Knapp, born: 1897; died: 13 November 1962 (from record, which includes a copy of his obituary; and provides the names and links for his parents and one sibling).
2. U.S. Federal Census, 1950, Michigan, Branch County, Coldwater, E.D. 12-16, Sheet No. 13, Vyrle [indexed as Cyrle] W. Knapp, 52, Michigan, carpenter, building contracting; wife Luella Knapp, 48, Indiana, sewing machine op[erator], garment factory; son Donald C. Knapp, 25, Indiana, riveter, sled factory; daughter Beverly L. Knapp, 14, Michigan; granddaughter Diana L. Knapp, 6, Michigan.
3. Find a Grave (website). Oak Grove Cemetery, Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan, Donald C. Knapp, born: 16 July 1924; died: 8 June 1975 (from record).

2. Paul F. Knapp² (Vyrle¹), born 12 May 1918 in Fremont, Steuben County, Indiana;^{1, 2, 3} died 5 October 1981 in Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan.^{2, 4} Paul married, 12 August 1939 in Steuben County, Indiana, Cora H. Miner¹ (born 18 April 1922 in Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan, the daughter of William Edgar Miner and Florence Belle Crippen;^{1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9} Cora died 16 August 1979 in Quincy, Branch County, Michigan^{5, 9}). Their marriage ended in divorce on 4 December 1946 in Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan.⁶ Paul is buried in Bronson Cemetery, Bronson, Branch County, Michigan.⁴ Cora is buried in Lake View Cemetery, Quincy, Branch County, Michigan.⁵

+	5	i.	Paula Jean Knapp, born 17 August 1942 in Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan; died 6 September 2008. Married Willis David Phair.
+	6	ii.	Diana Lee Knapp, born 15 June 1943 in Michigan. Married (1) _____ Risch Married (2) Homer Ray Draper Married (3) James John ‘Radar’ Bolitho.

1. Indiana Marriages, 1811-2018/2019, Application for Marriage License and Certificate of Marriage, Paul Knapp, born: 12 May 1918 in Fremont, Indiana; laborer; father: Merle Knapp, laborer, born in Angola, Indiana; mother: Luella Brouse, born in Ray [?], Indiana, occupation: factory; first marriage; Cora Miner, born: 18 April 1920 in Coldwater, Michigan; father: Wm. Miner, born in Bethel, Michigan, city employee; mother: Florence Crippen, born in Lawrence, Michigan; first marriage; married on 12 August 1939 in Steuben County, Indiana.
2. Michigan Deaths, 1971-1996; Paul F. Knapp, died: 5 October 1981 in Coldwater, Branch [County], Michigan; born: 12 May 1918.
3. U.S. Federal Census, 1950, Michigan, Branch County, Quincy, E.D. 12-31, Sheet No. 7, Paul Knapp, 32, Indiana, divorced; Paula Knapp, 7, Michigan [they are lodgers in the household of Anna Springstead and family].
4. Find a Grave (website). Bronson Cemetery, Bronson, Branch County, Michigan, Paul F. Knapp, born: unknown; died: 5 October 1981 (from record).
5. Find a Grave (website). Lake View Cemetery, Quincy, Branch County, Michigan, Cora H. Miner Halferty, born: 18 April 1922; died: 16 August 1979 (from record, which provides the names and links for her parents and two husbands).
6. Indiana Marriages, 1811-2018/2019, Application for Marriage License and Certificate of Marriage, Leon Baird, born: 6 May 1912 in La Grange County, Indiana; laborer; father: Walter Baird, born in Illinois, laborer, deceased; mother: Dora Olive Burkheart, born in DeKalb, Indiana; first marriage; Cora H. Knapp, born: 18 April 1922 in Branch County, Michigan; father: William Miner, born in Bethel, Michigan, farmer; mother: Florence Crippen, born in Bangor, Michigan; married once, divorced on 4 December 1946 in Coldwater, Michigan; married on 9 May 1947 in Steuben County, Indiana.
7. U.S. Federal Census, 1930, Michigan, Branch County, Coldwater, E.D. 12-8, Sheet No. 8B, William E. Miner, 34, Michigan, first married age 21, laborer, feed and coal co.; wife Florence B. Miner, 32, Michigan, first married age 17; daughter Marjorie B. Miner, 14, Michigan; daughter Ruth E. Miner, 11, Michigan; daughter Cora H. Miner, 8, Michigan; daughter Liliun [sic, indexed as Libium] A. Miner, 6, Michigan; daughter Florence A. Miner, 5, Michigan; daughter Lemoyne E. Miner, 10/12, Michigan.
8. U.S. Federal Census, 1950, Michigan, Branch County, Quincy, E.D. 12-31, Sheet No. 74, Leon Baird, 37, Indiana, truck driver; wife Cora Baird, 27, Michigan.
9. Obituary, Battle Creek Enquirer, Battle Creek, Michigan (available at newspapers.com), Friday, 17 August 1979, Mrs. Max Halferty, Mrs. Cora H. (Miner) Halferty, died: Thursday [16 August 1979] in Quincy [Michigan]; born in Branch County [Michigan]. The article provides vital and biographical details and the names of her two husbands, two daughters, one son, one step-daughter, and three sisters.

5. Paula Jean Knapp³ (Paul,² Vyrle¹), born 17 August 1942 in Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan;^{1, 2, 3} died 6 September 2008.² Paula married, 8 October 1958 in Angola, Steuben County, Indiana, Willis David Phair¹ (born 4 April 1936 in Quincy, Branch County, Michigan, the son of Willis R. Phair and Catheryn Clugg;^{1, 4} Willis died 20 June 2015⁴). Willis is buried in Woodlawn Memorial Park, Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas.⁴

6. Diana Lee Knapp³ (Paul,² Vyrle¹), born 15 June 1943 in Michigan.^{5, 6} Diana married, first, _____ Risch (born ____, parents not determined). Diana married, second, 1990 in LaGrange County, Indiana, Homer Ray Draper⁸ (born 13 November 1941, parents not determined;⁷ Homer died 14 February 2011⁷). Diana married, third, 15 February 2004 in Clarkston, Oakland County, Michigan, James John ‘Radar’ Bolitho⁹ (born 19 May 1951 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, parents not determined;⁹ Radar died 7 December 2022⁹). Homer is buried in Oak Lawn Cemetery, Sturgis, St. Joseph County, Michigan.⁷

7

i.

James Ray Risch, born 14 September 1968.6

1. Indiana Marriages, 1811-2018/2019, Application for Marriage License and Marriage Certificate, Willis David Phair, born: 4 April 1936 in Quency [sic, Quincy], Michigan; occupation: factory; never married; father: Willis R. Phair, farmer, born in unknown; mother: Catheryn Clugg, school teacher, born in Michigan; Paula Jean Knapp, born: 17 August 1942 in Coldwater, Michigan; never married; father: Paul F. Knapp, laborer, born in Indiana; mother; Cora H. Miner, born in Michigan; married on 8 October 1958 in Angola, Steuben County, Indiana.
2. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Family Search (website), Paula J. Fee, died: 6 September 2008; born: 17 August 1942; state: Michigan; last place of residence: Muldrow, Sequoyah, Oklahoma.
3. U.S. Federal Census, 1950, Michigan, Branch County, Quincy, E.D. 12-31, Sheet No. 7, Paul Knapp, 32, Indiana, divorced; Paula Knapp, 7, Michigan [they are lodgers in the household of Anna Springstead and family].
4. Find a Grave (website). Woodlawn Memorial Park, Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas, Willis David Phair, born: 4 April 1936; died: 20 June 2015 (from record, which provides the names and links for his parents).
5. U.S. Federal Census, 1950, Michigan, Branch County, Coldwater, E.D. 12-16, Sheet No. 13, Vyrle [indexed as Cyrle] W. Knapp, 52, Michigan, carpenter, building contracting; wife Luella Knapp, 48, Indiana, sewing machine op[erator], garment factory; son Donald C. Knapp, 25, Indiana, riveter, sled factory; daughter Beverly L. Knapp, 14, Michigan; granddaughter Diana L. Knapp, 6, Michigan.
6. This is publicly viewable information found in various public information repositories, people finding websites, and/or social media.
7. Find a Grave (website). Oak Lawn Cemetery, Sturgis, St. Joseph County, Michigan, Homer R. Draper, born: 13 November 1941; died: 14 February 2011 (from record, which includes a note: Married to Joy E. Draper, Son, Homar Tay Fox Draper).
8. Indiana, U.S., Marriage Certificates, 1960-2012 (available at ancestry.com), Homer Ray Draper, born in 1941; father: Lloyd Draper; and Diana Lee Risch [Diana Lee Knapp], born in 1943; father: Paul Knapp; mother: Cora Knapp; married in 1990 in LaGrange County, Indiana.
9. Obituary, Muir Brothers Funeral Home Lapeer (website: muirbrotherslapeer.com), James “Radar” Bolitho, Sr., died: 7 December 2022; born; 19 May 1951 in Detroit. The article provides vital and biographical details and the names of his parents, wife, and children.