Luther Roland Elwonger was born in Beloit, Mahoning County, Ohio, on December 15, 1921 to Claudia Marie Reynolds Elwonger (the young widow of Ralph Elwonger), and Allen Baker. His parents never married. He had one older half brother, John Elwonger, who was born to Claudia & her first husband Ralph Elwonger.
A "Certified Copy of Birth Record" was issued by court of Columbiana County, Ohio, on January 30, 1942. This most likely was connected with his enlistment into the Army for service during WWII.
Luther first married JEAN ALICE BARNES. They had one daughter, Lou Alice Elwonger, born November 19, 1944. Military records indicate he was married at the time of his enlistment.
He served during WWII in the US Army, 12th Armored Infantry Division, out of Fort Campbell KY. (Service ID# = 35 336 196). Honorable Discharge by US Army as Private First Class on 21 October 1945 Tarcento Italy. Reinlisted by default due to POW status on October 22 1945. After he was released from POW camp and returned to US, he received Honorable Discharge as Private at Camp Hood TX on December 19, 1946, at the age of 25.
Sometime after his return from his military service and POW time in Europe, he and Jean Alice were divorced. Lou Alice was raised mostly by her maternal grandparents.
Lou often told of his "drinking days" in Stubenville, Ohio, where he claimed he was drinking buddies with Dean Martin and Sal Mineo, but I have not found any suppoirting documentation of his whereabouts or employment from 1947-1953. By 1953 he was living and traveling with the James E. Strait Shows, where he met his second wife, ETHEL LOUISE JONES Sutter (a daughter of Harold Dewey Jones and Sarah Ethel Morris Jones).
Lou and Louise had two children during the time they were living, working and traveling with the Strait Shows: Lorraine, and Claudia. When Louise became pregnant again in 1956, they decided to quit travelling, and settled in Salem Ohio near Lou's mother. While living in Salem they had two more children, Lou and Karen, and Louise enjoyed being a stay at home mother while Lou worked at the pottery nearby.
In 1960, Lou & Louise moved back to her hometown of Elmira, NY, and had 3 more children: Barbara, Carol, and Sarah, the last of their 7 children.
Lou worked several job types, including china/pottery making in Ohio in mid to late 1950's, driving for Trailways Bus Lines in the early 1960's, followed by a period of employment as a baker for Light's Bakery in Elmira in the mid 1960's. He then fell off of a roof, and sustained a disabling spinal fracture. While he was still able to walk after this injury, he was no longer able to work full time.
Lou was a recycler before it was the social thing to do. From his children's earliest memories in Elmira, he was always disassembling televisions, radios and other various household appliances, sorting the copper, aluminum, and tin for sale back to the metal yards. This is something that he continued to do even after his injury.
Unfortunately, Lou had begun using alcohol as a very young man. His dependence on it worsened due to his imprisonment during WWII, and was even more greatly exaggerated after his back injury. He had many hospitalizations due to problems caused by the alcohol, and more than once was told to quit or it would kill him.
In 1968, the family bought a home in Erin NY. By this time Luther had become an abusive alcoholic, and he & Louise subsequently divorced. Lou spent some time in Florida with Louise's nephews Wesley & Chuck, then returned to Elmira around 1970. (Louise & the children remained in Erin for 5 years before moving back to Elmira.)
He died suddenly on December 23, 1976, just after his 55th birthday, in Elmira, NY. Cause of death was listed as probable acute coronary occlusion, due to atherosclerotic heart disease.
He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Elmira, NY.
A "Certified Copy of Birth Record" was issued by court of Columbiana County, Ohio, on January 30, 1942. This most likely was connected with his enlistment into the Army for service during WWII.
Luther first married JEAN ALICE BARNES. They had one daughter, Lou Alice Elwonger, born November 19, 1944. Military records indicate he was married at the time of his enlistment.
He served during WWII in the US Army, 12th Armored Infantry Division, out of Fort Campbell KY. (Service ID# = 35 336 196). Honorable Discharge by US Army as Private First Class on 21 October 1945 Tarcento Italy. Reinlisted by default due to POW status on October 22 1945. After he was released from POW camp and returned to US, he received Honorable Discharge as Private at Camp Hood TX on December 19, 1946, at the age of 25.
Sometime after his return from his military service and POW time in Europe, he and Jean Alice were divorced. Lou Alice was raised mostly by her maternal grandparents.
Lou often told of his "drinking days" in Stubenville, Ohio, where he claimed he was drinking buddies with Dean Martin and Sal Mineo, but I have not found any suppoirting documentation of his whereabouts or employment from 1947-1953. By 1953 he was living and traveling with the James E. Strait Shows, where he met his second wife, ETHEL LOUISE JONES Sutter (a daughter of Harold Dewey Jones and Sarah Ethel Morris Jones).
Lou and Louise had two children during the time they were living, working and traveling with the Strait Shows: Lorraine, and Claudia. When Louise became pregnant again in 1956, they decided to quit travelling, and settled in Salem Ohio near Lou's mother. While living in Salem they had two more children, Lou and Karen, and Louise enjoyed being a stay at home mother while Lou worked at the pottery nearby.
In 1960, Lou & Louise moved back to her hometown of Elmira, NY, and had 3 more children: Barbara, Carol, and Sarah, the last of their 7 children.
Lou worked several job types, including china/pottery making in Ohio in mid to late 1950's, driving for Trailways Bus Lines in the early 1960's, followed by a period of employment as a baker for Light's Bakery in Elmira in the mid 1960's. He then fell off of a roof, and sustained a disabling spinal fracture. While he was still able to walk after this injury, he was no longer able to work full time.
Lou was a recycler before it was the social thing to do. From his children's earliest memories in Elmira, he was always disassembling televisions, radios and other various household appliances, sorting the copper, aluminum, and tin for sale back to the metal yards. This is something that he continued to do even after his injury.
Unfortunately, Lou had begun using alcohol as a very young man. His dependence on it worsened due to his imprisonment during WWII, and was even more greatly exaggerated after his back injury. He had many hospitalizations due to problems caused by the alcohol, and more than once was told to quit or it would kill him.
In 1968, the family bought a home in Erin NY. By this time Luther had become an abusive alcoholic, and he & Louise subsequently divorced. Lou spent some time in Florida with Louise's nephews Wesley & Chuck, then returned to Elmira around 1970. (Louise & the children remained in Erin for 5 years before moving back to Elmira.)
He died suddenly on December 23, 1976, just after his 55th birthday, in Elmira, NY. Cause of death was listed as probable acute coronary occlusion, due to atherosclerotic heart disease.
He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Elmira, NY.
Luther Roland Elwonger was born in Beloit, Mahoning County, Ohio, on December 15, 1921 to Claudia Marie Reynolds Elwonger (the young widow of Ralph Elwonger), and Allen Baker. His parents never married. He had one older half brother, John Elwonger, who was born to Claudia & her first husband Ralph Elwonger.
A "Certified Copy of Birth Record" was issued by court of Columbiana County, Ohio, on January 30, 1942. This most likely was connected with his enlistment into the Army for service during WWII.
Luther first married JEAN ALICE BARNES. They had one daughter, Lou Alice Elwonger, born November 19, 1944. Military records indicate he was married at the time of his enlistment.
He served during WWII in the US Army, 12th Armored Infantry Division, out of Fort Campbell KY. (Service ID# = 35 336 196). Honorable Discharge by US Army as Private First Class on 21 October 1945 Tarcento Italy. Reinlisted by default due to POW status on October 22 1945. After he was released from POW camp and returned to US, he received Honorable Discharge as Private at Camp Hood TX on December 19, 1946, at the age of 25.
Sometime after his return from his military service and POW time in Europe, he and Jean Alice were divorced. Lou Alice was raised mostly by her maternal grandparents.
Lou often told of his "drinking days" in Stubenville, Ohio, where he claimed he was drinking buddies with Dean Martin and Sal Mineo, but I have not found any suppoirting documentation of his whereabouts or employment from 1947-1953. By 1953 he was living and traveling with the James E. Strait Shows, where he met his second wife, ETHEL LOUISE JONES Sutter (a daughter of Harold Dewey Jones and Sarah Ethel Morris Jones).
Lou and Louise had two children during the time they were living, working and traveling with the Strait Shows: Lorraine, and Claudia. When Louise became pregnant again in 1956, they decided to quit travelling, and settled in Salem Ohio near Lou's mother. While living in Salem they had two more children, Lou and Karen, and Louise enjoyed being a stay at home mother while Lou worked at the pottery nearby.
In 1960, Lou & Louise moved back to her hometown of Elmira, NY, and had 3 more children: Barbara, Carol, and Sarah, the last of their 7 children.
Lou worked several job types, including china/pottery making in Ohio in mid to late 1950's, driving for Trailways Bus Lines in the early 1960's, followed by a period of employment as a baker for Light's Bakery in Elmira in the mid 1960's. He then fell off of a roof, and sustained a disabling spinal fracture. While he was still able to walk after this injury, he was no longer able to work full time.
Lou was a recycler before it was the social thing to do. From his children's earliest memories in Elmira, he was always disassembling televisions, radios and other various household appliances, sorting the copper, aluminum, and tin for sale back to the metal yards. This is something that he continued to do even after his injury.
Unfortunately, Lou had begun using alcohol as a very young man. His dependence on it worsened due to his imprisonment during WWII, and was even more greatly exaggerated after his back injury. He had many hospitalizations due to problems caused by the alcohol, and more than once was told to quit or it would kill him.
In 1968, the family bought a home in Erin NY. By this time Luther had become an abusive alcoholic, and he & Louise subsequently divorced. Lou spent some time in Florida with Louise's nephews Wesley & Chuck, then returned to Elmira around 1970. (Louise & the children remained in Erin for 5 years before moving back to Elmira.)
He died suddenly on December 23, 1976, just after his 55th birthday, in Elmira, NY. Cause of death was listed as probable acute coronary occlusion, due to atherosclerotic heart disease.
He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Elmira, NY.
A "Certified Copy of Birth Record" was issued by court of Columbiana County, Ohio, on January 30, 1942. This most likely was connected with his enlistment into the Army for service during WWII.
Luther first married JEAN ALICE BARNES. They had one daughter, Lou Alice Elwonger, born November 19, 1944. Military records indicate he was married at the time of his enlistment.
He served during WWII in the US Army, 12th Armored Infantry Division, out of Fort Campbell KY. (Service ID# = 35 336 196). Honorable Discharge by US Army as Private First Class on 21 October 1945 Tarcento Italy. Reinlisted by default due to POW status on October 22 1945. After he was released from POW camp and returned to US, he received Honorable Discharge as Private at Camp Hood TX on December 19, 1946, at the age of 25.
Sometime after his return from his military service and POW time in Europe, he and Jean Alice were divorced. Lou Alice was raised mostly by her maternal grandparents.
Lou often told of his "drinking days" in Stubenville, Ohio, where he claimed he was drinking buddies with Dean Martin and Sal Mineo, but I have not found any suppoirting documentation of his whereabouts or employment from 1947-1953. By 1953 he was living and traveling with the James E. Strait Shows, where he met his second wife, ETHEL LOUISE JONES Sutter (a daughter of Harold Dewey Jones and Sarah Ethel Morris Jones).
Lou and Louise had two children during the time they were living, working and traveling with the Strait Shows: Lorraine, and Claudia. When Louise became pregnant again in 1956, they decided to quit travelling, and settled in Salem Ohio near Lou's mother. While living in Salem they had two more children, Lou and Karen, and Louise enjoyed being a stay at home mother while Lou worked at the pottery nearby.
In 1960, Lou & Louise moved back to her hometown of Elmira, NY, and had 3 more children: Barbara, Carol, and Sarah, the last of their 7 children.
Lou worked several job types, including china/pottery making in Ohio in mid to late 1950's, driving for Trailways Bus Lines in the early 1960's, followed by a period of employment as a baker for Light's Bakery in Elmira in the mid 1960's. He then fell off of a roof, and sustained a disabling spinal fracture. While he was still able to walk after this injury, he was no longer able to work full time.
Lou was a recycler before it was the social thing to do. From his children's earliest memories in Elmira, he was always disassembling televisions, radios and other various household appliances, sorting the copper, aluminum, and tin for sale back to the metal yards. This is something that he continued to do even after his injury.
Unfortunately, Lou had begun using alcohol as a very young man. His dependence on it worsened due to his imprisonment during WWII, and was even more greatly exaggerated after his back injury. He had many hospitalizations due to problems caused by the alcohol, and more than once was told to quit or it would kill him.
In 1968, the family bought a home in Erin NY. By this time Luther had become an abusive alcoholic, and he & Louise subsequently divorced. Lou spent some time in Florida with Louise's nephews Wesley & Chuck, then returned to Elmira around 1970. (Louise & the children remained in Erin for 5 years before moving back to Elmira.)
He died suddenly on December 23, 1976, just after his 55th birthday, in Elmira, NY. Cause of death was listed as probable acute coronary occlusion, due to atherosclerotic heart disease.
He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Elmira, NY.
Inscription
LUTHER R ELWONGER
PVT US ARMY
WORLD WAR II
DEC 15 1921 DEC 23 1976
Family Members
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