The sad thing about this week’s prompt “Bachelor Uncle”
is the realization that most of mine were NOT bachelors by choice. Rather most
were bachelors because they did not live long enough to be otherwise. One bachelor
in particular that I have often wondered about is my maternal grandmother’s
brother William Randolph “Willie” Rucker. Unlike their older brother Ray, also
a bachelor uncle, Willie did not leave behind a box of photos and memorabilia
to tell his story. Two census records, a death certificate, a tombstone, and a
couple photos are all there is to show that Willie Rucker lived.
Willie was the third son and third child of seven born to
Joseph Calhoun Rucker and Sudie Eppard Rucker of Shenandoah, Page County, Virginia, where
his father was a conductor for the railroad. Willie’s death certificate says he
was born in February 1903, but it is more likely he was born in 1901. The 1910
census shows him as being 9 years old and his sister Rosalind as 7 having been
born in April of 1903.
In the 1920 census, Willie was 18 and without occupation.
His oldest brother Everett had joined their father at the railroad; brother Ray
was in the Navy and therefore not enumerated with the family. Likely Joseph and Sudie did not approve of Willie being idle. So probably it was about that
time that he joined the Navy.
Willie was assigned to the USS Chaumont, a cargo and
transport ship, commissioned by the Navy in 1921. Likely he was on one of
several voyages between San Francisco and Manila in 1923 when he took ill.
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| The USS Chaumont Typical Hog-Islander style ship remembered as being UGLY but expert at eluding enemy subs that could not tell which way the ship was heading |
Willie was treated by Navy doctors at the Naval Hospital
in Norfolk, Virginia from June 27, 1923 until his death on December 17. Cause
of death was chronic endocarditis which is an infection of the inner lining of
the heart valves and chambers. It is caused by bacteria entering the blood
stream and attaching to damaged areas in the heart. Symptoms resemble the flu -
fever and chills, night sweats, aching muscles and joints, and fatigue. More uncommon
symptoms include swelling of the legs and feet, unexplained weight loss and red
spots on the body.
Endocarditis is treated with antibiotics and sometimes
surgery. Surely naval ships stocked antibiotics. Perhaps Willie had a severe
case that required surgery, otherwise there seems no good reason for him to
die. My grandmother said that Willie could have survived had he gotten to a
hospital earlier.
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| Willie's tombstone in the Methodist Church Cemetery Shenandoah, Page Co, VA |
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| Rucker family plot Methodist Church Cemetery, Shenandoah, VA |
Willie is buried in the Rucker family plot in the Methodist Church Cemetery in Shenandoah, Virginia.
Amy Johnson Crow continues to challenge genealogy
bloggers and non-bloggers alike to think about our ancestors and share a story
or photo about them. The challenge is “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.”
Wendy
© 2019, Wendy Mathias. All rights reserved.
