|
a.
|
Note: George David Stokely was the oldest son of Hugh Lawson and Nellie Roberta (Runnion) Stokely. He was born at home in Edwina, TN. on September 3, 1913, Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
1913 - Edwina, Cocke Co., Tennessee - Birth Record on file.
1920 Census - Cocke Co., Tennessee - lists a Hugh L. Stokely age 33 yrs old living with his wife, Robie N. age 29 yrs old and a son, George D. age 6 yrs old (this writers father). All listed as being born in Tennessee.
1930 - Cocke Co., Tennessee - High School picture of George David as a junior in high school age 17 yrs old.
The family moved to Newport and George went to school there for a short time until they moved to Knoxville only after Hugh L. had built a new home for Robbie on the hill near Cliff Heights, Knoxville, Tn.
War Records: George David entered the Navy in March 1937 and continued his Naval career for 13 years. George was in the Pacific during WWII. He flew as the rear "gunnerman" on various planes off of the "USS Hornet CV8" ship that was in the big "Midway Battle" in the Pacific. George was decorated many times with the DFC (Distinghues Flying Cross), Navy Cross, and Purple Heart and was considered a war hero for saving his Commander, Widhelm during a vicious battle in the skies over the Pacific. His son, George David Jr. has all of his metals.
George retired from the Navy in 1952, and with his brother-in-law, Robert T. Hull (Buddy), they bought a tuna boat and crew and moved both families down to Costa Rica in 1952 and engaged in the fishing business for about 5 years. They did very well and then brought the families back to La Jolla, CA where George and Buddy decided to sell their boats and try their hands in the aircraft business.
George went into communications with RCA and Buddy went to Conair - San Diego. George's career then brought him to Los Angeles area, moving his family to Manhattan Beach, (El Porto). All the children went to El Segundo High school and grade schools. We lived their for about 7 years. George's career with RCA was going well and as usual he was transferred up to the Point Reyes, CA area. His wife, (mother) did not want to move again, (they did not divorce) so she waited for David to graduate from El Segundo High school and then she and Chita moved back to La Jolla. George moved to Inverness, CA and continued with RCA.
George lived in Inverness for about 18 years until he retired. Kathyrn died in La Jolla in 1967 from cancer. George brought Chita to Inverness to live with him and later on married Helen O'Banion. George was considered a "work-a-holic" and did so that unfortunately, he had a severe stroke in the early 80's. George was never the same. He moved very slow, and was not able to do much after the stroke. George and Helen moved to Apache Junction, Arizona after Chita had enrolled in college.
Helen died in 1985 in Apache Junction from severe lung distress. Dad's health was failing as well and George's children brought him to Torrance, CA and entered him into a rest home where he stayed for about 8 months before he had another stroke and he died in May 19, 1986 at the age of 72.
George David Stokely comes from a long history of Stokely's. The famous Stokely canned food chain located in Newport, Tenn. (See Stokely family history) documented by M.V. McKillop.
|
