Thurman Edgar Edens was born in St. Paul, Arkansas (Madison County) on Tuesday, October 27, 1908 as the oldest child of Reuben Elijah Edens and Hassie Melvina Vandeventer Edens. Eleven siblings would follow Thurman:
Bertha Jewel (1909-1910)
Maynard Henderson (1911-2001)
Ruby Opal (1912-2005)
Kline Henry (1914-2005)
Cathleen Berta (1916-2012)
Simeon Corneilus ("Neil") (1918-2013)
Samuel Enoch (1920-2011)
Martha Jane (1922-2016)
Birdie Pearl (1924-2018)
Dovie Lois (1926-1929)
Amos Leman (1928-)
Thurman married Gertie Mae Bridges on October 30, 1926 in Cleveland, Arkansas, just after Thurman's 18th birthday. On the marriage record, they were both listed as residents of Jerusalem, Arkansas (Conway County) at the time of their marriage. They were just two weeks shy their 36th wedding anniversary when he passed away in 1962. Between 1927 and 1947, Thurman and Gertie produced nine children:
Coy Lee Allen (1927-2005)
Hassie Ruby Wilma (1929-)
Herman Joe Edgar (1931-2021)
Menda Marie Lorene (1933-2008)
James Reuben Harold (1934-2006)
Edward Charles Robinson (1939-2006)
Sammy Leon (1942-)
Loweda Sue (1945-)
Leah Jean (1947-)
Gertie also miscarried with twins in 1953 at age 44. Thurman's father Reuben was a twin. Thurman and Gertie's surviving nine children produced 27 biological grandchildren, nearly half of which he did not survive to meet.
By profession, Thurman was a carpenter but gave real meaning to the term "jack-of-all-trades." He worked in the fields and took whatever work he could find to support his growing family during the Great Depression. He was also a Reverend for many years and served his country as a Private during World War II (although never deployed overseas). Public records show that his military service began on March 12, 1945 at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Little Rock, Arkansas. His civilian occupation is listed as "clergymen."
Thurman, his wife, and much of the immediate family relocated from Arkansas to Sacramento, California in the early 1950s, where many of his descendants remain.
A decade after moving there, Thurman passed away in Sacramento on October 15, 1962, just twelve days before his 54th birthday. His cause of death was ruled as asphyxiation while trapped unconscious in his vehicle in a flash flood. Thurman had undergone surgery earlier in the year to remove stomach ulcers and afterwards sometimes had "blackout" spells after meals. He could sense a blackout coming, and it's believed that this is what happened the morning of October 15th. He had pulled his vehicle over until the "spell" passed, and a flash flood ensued, pushing carbon monoxide into his parked car.
Thurman's funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 20, 1962 with Reverend Robert D. Clark officiating. His interment followed in Sunset Lawn Memorial Park in Sacramento. His widow Gertie, heartbroken by the loss, never remarried and would be laid to rest at his side after her passing in 1986.
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U.S. Census listings (spellings kept intact):
1910 - Lincoln twnshp, Madison Co., Arkansas
Reuben Edens, Head, M, 22, b. VA
Hassie Edens, Wife, 18, b. VA
* Thurman Edens, Son, 1, b. AR
1920 - Hasty, Newton Co., Arkansas
R. E. Edens, Head, M, 31, b. VA
Hassie Edens, Wife, 21, b. VA
* Thomas Edens, Son, 11, b. AR
Manard Edens, Son, 8, b. AR
Ruby Edens, Daughter, 7, b. AR
Cline Edens, Son, 5, b. AR
Catholine Edens, Daughter, 3, b. AR
Corneford Edens, Son, 1, b. AR
1930 - White Oak twnshp, Van Buren Co., Arkansas
* Thurman E. Edens, Head, M, 21, b. AR
Gertie M. Edens, Wife, 21, b. AR
Coy L. Edens, Son, 2, b. AR
Wilma R. Edens, Daughter, 4 mo., b. AR
1940 - Liberty twnshp, Marion Co., Arkansas
* Thurman Edens, Head, M, 31, b. AR
Gertrude Edens, Wife, 31, b. AR
Coy Edens, Son, 12, b. AR
Wilma Edens, Daughter, 10, b. AR
Herman Edens, Son, 8, b. AR
Lorena Edens, Daughter, 7, b. AR
Harold Edens, Son, 5, b. AR
Charles Edens, Son, 8 mo., b. AR
Bertha Jewel (1909-1910)
Maynard Henderson (1911-2001)
Ruby Opal (1912-2005)
Kline Henry (1914-2005)
Cathleen Berta (1916-2012)
Simeon Corneilus ("Neil") (1918-2013)
Samuel Enoch (1920-2011)
Martha Jane (1922-2016)
Birdie Pearl (1924-2018)
Dovie Lois (1926-1929)
Amos Leman (1928-)
Thurman married Gertie Mae Bridges on October 30, 1926 in Cleveland, Arkansas, just after Thurman's 18th birthday. On the marriage record, they were both listed as residents of Jerusalem, Arkansas (Conway County) at the time of their marriage. They were just two weeks shy their 36th wedding anniversary when he passed away in 1962. Between 1927 and 1947, Thurman and Gertie produced nine children:
Coy Lee Allen (1927-2005)
Hassie Ruby Wilma (1929-)
Herman Joe Edgar (1931-2021)
Menda Marie Lorene (1933-2008)
James Reuben Harold (1934-2006)
Edward Charles Robinson (1939-2006)
Sammy Leon (1942-)
Loweda Sue (1945-)
Leah Jean (1947-)
Gertie also miscarried with twins in 1953 at age 44. Thurman's father Reuben was a twin. Thurman and Gertie's surviving nine children produced 27 biological grandchildren, nearly half of which he did not survive to meet.
By profession, Thurman was a carpenter but gave real meaning to the term "jack-of-all-trades." He worked in the fields and took whatever work he could find to support his growing family during the Great Depression. He was also a Reverend for many years and served his country as a Private during World War II (although never deployed overseas). Public records show that his military service began on March 12, 1945 at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Little Rock, Arkansas. His civilian occupation is listed as "clergymen."
Thurman, his wife, and much of the immediate family relocated from Arkansas to Sacramento, California in the early 1950s, where many of his descendants remain.
A decade after moving there, Thurman passed away in Sacramento on October 15, 1962, just twelve days before his 54th birthday. His cause of death was ruled as asphyxiation while trapped unconscious in his vehicle in a flash flood. Thurman had undergone surgery earlier in the year to remove stomach ulcers and afterwards sometimes had "blackout" spells after meals. He could sense a blackout coming, and it's believed that this is what happened the morning of October 15th. He had pulled his vehicle over until the "spell" passed, and a flash flood ensued, pushing carbon monoxide into his parked car.
Thurman's funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 20, 1962 with Reverend Robert D. Clark officiating. His interment followed in Sunset Lawn Memorial Park in Sacramento. His widow Gertie, heartbroken by the loss, never remarried and would be laid to rest at his side after her passing in 1986.
+ + +
U.S. Census listings (spellings kept intact):
1910 - Lincoln twnshp, Madison Co., Arkansas
Reuben Edens, Head, M, 22, b. VA
Hassie Edens, Wife, 18, b. VA
* Thurman Edens, Son, 1, b. AR
1920 - Hasty, Newton Co., Arkansas
R. E. Edens, Head, M, 31, b. VA
Hassie Edens, Wife, 21, b. VA
* Thomas Edens, Son, 11, b. AR
Manard Edens, Son, 8, b. AR
Ruby Edens, Daughter, 7, b. AR
Cline Edens, Son, 5, b. AR
Catholine Edens, Daughter, 3, b. AR
Corneford Edens, Son, 1, b. AR
1930 - White Oak twnshp, Van Buren Co., Arkansas
* Thurman E. Edens, Head, M, 21, b. AR
Gertie M. Edens, Wife, 21, b. AR
Coy L. Edens, Son, 2, b. AR
Wilma R. Edens, Daughter, 4 mo., b. AR
1940 - Liberty twnshp, Marion Co., Arkansas
* Thurman Edens, Head, M, 31, b. AR
Gertrude Edens, Wife, 31, b. AR
Coy Edens, Son, 12, b. AR
Wilma Edens, Daughter, 10, b. AR
Herman Edens, Son, 8, b. AR
Lorena Edens, Daughter, 7, b. AR
Harold Edens, Son, 5, b. AR
Charles Edens, Son, 8 mo., b. AR
Thurman Edgar Edens was born in St. Paul, Arkansas (Madison County) on Tuesday, October 27, 1908 as the oldest child of Reuben Elijah Edens and Hassie Melvina Vandeventer Edens. Eleven siblings would follow Thurman:
Bertha Jewel (1909-1910)
Maynard Henderson (1911-2001)
Ruby Opal (1912-2005)
Kline Henry (1914-2005)
Cathleen Berta (1916-2012)
Simeon Corneilus ("Neil") (1918-2013)
Samuel Enoch (1920-2011)
Martha Jane (1922-2016)
Birdie Pearl (1924-2018)
Dovie Lois (1926-1929)
Amos Leman (1928-)
Thurman married Gertie Mae Bridges on October 30, 1926 in Cleveland, Arkansas, just after Thurman's 18th birthday. On the marriage record, they were both listed as residents of Jerusalem, Arkansas (Conway County) at the time of their marriage. They were just two weeks shy their 36th wedding anniversary when he passed away in 1962. Between 1927 and 1947, Thurman and Gertie produced nine children:
Coy Lee Allen (1927-2005)
Hassie Ruby Wilma (1929-)
Herman Joe Edgar (1931-2021)
Menda Marie Lorene (1933-2008)
James Reuben Harold (1934-2006)
Edward Charles Robinson (1939-2006)
Sammy Leon (1942-)
Loweda Sue (1945-)
Leah Jean (1947-)
Gertie also miscarried with twins in 1953 at age 44. Thurman's father Reuben was a twin. Thurman and Gertie's surviving nine children produced 27 biological grandchildren, nearly half of which he did not survive to meet.
By profession, Thurman was a carpenter but gave real meaning to the term "jack-of-all-trades." He worked in the fields and took whatever work he could find to support his growing family during the Great Depression. He was also a Reverend for many years and served his country as a Private during World War II (although never deployed overseas). Public records show that his military service began on March 12, 1945 at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Little Rock, Arkansas. His civilian occupation is listed as "clergymen."
Thurman, his wife, and much of the immediate family relocated from Arkansas to Sacramento, California in the early 1950s, where many of his descendants remain.
A decade after moving there, Thurman passed away in Sacramento on October 15, 1962, just twelve days before his 54th birthday. His cause of death was ruled as asphyxiation while trapped unconscious in his vehicle in a flash flood. Thurman had undergone surgery earlier in the year to remove stomach ulcers and afterwards sometimes had "blackout" spells after meals. He could sense a blackout coming, and it's believed that this is what happened the morning of October 15th. He had pulled his vehicle over until the "spell" passed, and a flash flood ensued, pushing carbon monoxide into his parked car.
Thurman's funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 20, 1962 with Reverend Robert D. Clark officiating. His interment followed in Sunset Lawn Memorial Park in Sacramento. His widow Gertie, heartbroken by the loss, never remarried and would be laid to rest at his side after her passing in 1986.
+ + +
U.S. Census listings (spellings kept intact):
1910 - Lincoln twnshp, Madison Co., Arkansas
Reuben Edens, Head, M, 22, b. VA
Hassie Edens, Wife, 18, b. VA
* Thurman Edens, Son, 1, b. AR
1920 - Hasty, Newton Co., Arkansas
R. E. Edens, Head, M, 31, b. VA
Hassie Edens, Wife, 21, b. VA
* Thomas Edens, Son, 11, b. AR
Manard Edens, Son, 8, b. AR
Ruby Edens, Daughter, 7, b. AR
Cline Edens, Son, 5, b. AR
Catholine Edens, Daughter, 3, b. AR
Corneford Edens, Son, 1, b. AR
1930 - White Oak twnshp, Van Buren Co., Arkansas
* Thurman E. Edens, Head, M, 21, b. AR
Gertie M. Edens, Wife, 21, b. AR
Coy L. Edens, Son, 2, b. AR
Wilma R. Edens, Daughter, 4 mo., b. AR
1940 - Liberty twnshp, Marion Co., Arkansas
* Thurman Edens, Head, M, 31, b. AR
Gertrude Edens, Wife, 31, b. AR
Coy Edens, Son, 12, b. AR
Wilma Edens, Daughter, 10, b. AR
Herman Edens, Son, 8, b. AR
Lorena Edens, Daughter, 7, b. AR
Harold Edens, Son, 5, b. AR
Charles Edens, Son, 8 mo., b. AR
Bertha Jewel (1909-1910)
Maynard Henderson (1911-2001)
Ruby Opal (1912-2005)
Kline Henry (1914-2005)
Cathleen Berta (1916-2012)
Simeon Corneilus ("Neil") (1918-2013)
Samuel Enoch (1920-2011)
Martha Jane (1922-2016)
Birdie Pearl (1924-2018)
Dovie Lois (1926-1929)
Amos Leman (1928-)
Thurman married Gertie Mae Bridges on October 30, 1926 in Cleveland, Arkansas, just after Thurman's 18th birthday. On the marriage record, they were both listed as residents of Jerusalem, Arkansas (Conway County) at the time of their marriage. They were just two weeks shy their 36th wedding anniversary when he passed away in 1962. Between 1927 and 1947, Thurman and Gertie produced nine children:
Coy Lee Allen (1927-2005)
Hassie Ruby Wilma (1929-)
Herman Joe Edgar (1931-2021)
Menda Marie Lorene (1933-2008)
James Reuben Harold (1934-2006)
Edward Charles Robinson (1939-2006)
Sammy Leon (1942-)
Loweda Sue (1945-)
Leah Jean (1947-)
Gertie also miscarried with twins in 1953 at age 44. Thurman's father Reuben was a twin. Thurman and Gertie's surviving nine children produced 27 biological grandchildren, nearly half of which he did not survive to meet.
By profession, Thurman was a carpenter but gave real meaning to the term "jack-of-all-trades." He worked in the fields and took whatever work he could find to support his growing family during the Great Depression. He was also a Reverend for many years and served his country as a Private during World War II (although never deployed overseas). Public records show that his military service began on March 12, 1945 at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Little Rock, Arkansas. His civilian occupation is listed as "clergymen."
Thurman, his wife, and much of the immediate family relocated from Arkansas to Sacramento, California in the early 1950s, where many of his descendants remain.
A decade after moving there, Thurman passed away in Sacramento on October 15, 1962, just twelve days before his 54th birthday. His cause of death was ruled as asphyxiation while trapped unconscious in his vehicle in a flash flood. Thurman had undergone surgery earlier in the year to remove stomach ulcers and afterwards sometimes had "blackout" spells after meals. He could sense a blackout coming, and it's believed that this is what happened the morning of October 15th. He had pulled his vehicle over until the "spell" passed, and a flash flood ensued, pushing carbon monoxide into his parked car.
Thurman's funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 20, 1962 with Reverend Robert D. Clark officiating. His interment followed in Sunset Lawn Memorial Park in Sacramento. His widow Gertie, heartbroken by the loss, never remarried and would be laid to rest at his side after her passing in 1986.
+ + +
U.S. Census listings (spellings kept intact):
1910 - Lincoln twnshp, Madison Co., Arkansas
Reuben Edens, Head, M, 22, b. VA
Hassie Edens, Wife, 18, b. VA
* Thurman Edens, Son, 1, b. AR
1920 - Hasty, Newton Co., Arkansas
R. E. Edens, Head, M, 31, b. VA
Hassie Edens, Wife, 21, b. VA
* Thomas Edens, Son, 11, b. AR
Manard Edens, Son, 8, b. AR
Ruby Edens, Daughter, 7, b. AR
Cline Edens, Son, 5, b. AR
Catholine Edens, Daughter, 3, b. AR
Corneford Edens, Son, 1, b. AR
1930 - White Oak twnshp, Van Buren Co., Arkansas
* Thurman E. Edens, Head, M, 21, b. AR
Gertie M. Edens, Wife, 21, b. AR
Coy L. Edens, Son, 2, b. AR
Wilma R. Edens, Daughter, 4 mo., b. AR
1940 - Liberty twnshp, Marion Co., Arkansas
* Thurman Edens, Head, M, 31, b. AR
Gertrude Edens, Wife, 31, b. AR
Coy Edens, Son, 12, b. AR
Wilma Edens, Daughter, 10, b. AR
Herman Edens, Son, 8, b. AR
Lorena Edens, Daughter, 7, b. AR
Harold Edens, Son, 5, b. AR
Charles Edens, Son, 8 mo., b. AR
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