Life History

Notes

• 1940 Federal Census, Stephens County, Oklahoma, 2 April, Richland Township, District 69-25, page 1A, Hse #8 Rented, Value $4, Farm
  Welch, Thomas J Head M W 25  Grade 8 b Texas lived in Same Place in 1935 Laborer
  Welch, Josephine M Wife F W 23  Grade H8 [sic] b OK lived in Same Place in 1935 Housewife
  Welch, Dorthey J Dau F W 5 Single 0 b OK lived in Same Place in 1935
  Welch, Mary J Dau F W 2 Single Grade 0 b OK lived in Same Place in 1935
  
  Among her papers in 2018 Lou Ila Jenkins found a newspaper story about Dorothy's disappearance from August to November 1964.  The events related to Lawton, Oklahoma.  The Jenkinses lived in Quanah, Texas, a few miles across the river and to the west from Lawton.  The newspaper is the news organ for Baptists in Texas.
  
  "A Secretary is missing.  Mrs Dorothy Jene Willis, 30, Church secretary at Calvary Church, Lawton, Okla., has been missing since Aug. 14.  Her physical description is:  height, five feet, one inch; weight 98 ponds; brown hair; brown eyes' wears glasses; partal amputation of middle finger on right hand; and burn scars on left forearm,  Anyone with information of her whereabouts is requested to contact her mother, Mrs. Josephine Welch at Alpine 5-4871, Duncan (Oklahoma), or the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigatoin, 4363 NW 10th, Oklahoma City."
  --  Baptist Standard, 4 November 1964;  hand transcription courtesy of Lou Ila Gregory Jenkins, Josephine's cousin;  from Lou's files, digitized 27 August 2018 by Orville Boyd Jenkins
  
  No followup information on this story was found.  But it is known she did live until 1987.
  
  Note that her middle name in the story above was spelled Jene.  This is also the spelling on her Social security record.  Her full Social Security name is Dorthey Jene Welch.
  
  U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
  Dorthey Jene Welch
  Birth 29 Sep 1934 Marlow, Stephens County, Oklahoma
  Death Date Jan 1987
  Father Thomas J Welch
  Mother Mary J Dobkins
  SSN 446340670
  Aug 1950 Name listed as DORTHEY JENE WELCH; Nov 1953 Name listed as DORTHEY JENE WILLIS; 01 Jul 1983 Name listed as DOROTHY J RIDDLE; 31 Dec 1987 Name listed as DOROTHY RIDDLE
  
  In her mother's obituary, Dorthey was named as a survivor, with her name spelled Dorothy Jean Welch.  Her grave has her name as Dorthey Jean Welch Riddle.  Thus it seems even family members did not spell her name consistently.
  
  Nevada, Marriage Index, 1956-2005
  Dorthey J Willis, Residence Oklahoma
  Spouse James Thomas Riddle, Residence Oklahoma
  Marriage 26 Oct 1982 Clark County
  Civil celebrant
  Recorded 28 Oct 1982 Clark County, Book 664, Page B409428, Instrument number 194662
  
  U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
  Dorothy Riddle
  Born 29 Sep 1934
  Died Jan 1987
  Last Benefit Adress Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Oklahoma 73130
  SSN 446-34-0670  issued Oklahoma - 1951-1953
  
  Dorthey Jean Welch Riddle
  Birth Sep 29, 1934
  Death Jan 5, 1987
  Parents:
  Thomas Joseph Welch 1914-1956
  Josephine Mary Dobkins Tugmon 1916-2005
  Spouse Robert E Willis 1934-2000
  Sibling Mary Jo Welch Forga 1937-2006
  Burial Marlow Cemetery, Marlow, Stephens County, Oklahoma
  Created by Jean Jan 11, 2008
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #23911650, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23911650/welch

Sources

• 1. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 2. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
• 3. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
• 4. 1940 Federal Census, Stephens County, Oklahoma
  • 2 April, Richland Township, District 69-25, page 1A, Hse #8 Rented, Value $4, Farm
• 5. Nevada, Marriage Index, 1956-2005