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Note: N1727 Given name (Thomas), middle name (William) and surname (Porter) from obituary of Anna E. Porter - unknown newspaper, September 6, 1979, from Margaret Moss of the Gilmer County Historical Society, Glenville, West Virginia
Given name (Thomas), surname (Porter), suffix title (Sr) and status (killed in flight) in July, 2015, from the obituary of Thomas Porter, Jr. - "Elyria Chronicle Telegram" newspaper, Elyria, Lorain County, Ohio, Friday, July 10, 2015, page 2, section B
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1930 (April 29) census data from the census images for Franklin Township (West), Greene County, Pennsylvania (Enumeration District 10 - sheet 19B -image 38 - line 64) on Ancestry.com. The census indicates that he was 7 years old and had attended school at some time since September 1, 1929. He was single and living with his parents, 3 brothers and maternal grandmother in a house, which was owned and valued at $3500, on Rural Route 2. He is listed as having been born in Pennsylvania, as were his father and mother. His given name and middle initial are listed as "Thomas W" in this census.
1940 (April 9) census data from the census images for Glenville District, Gilmer County, West Virginia (ED 11-8 - sheet 4B - image 8 - line 42) on Ancestry.com. The census indicates that he was 16 years old and had attended school at some time since March 1, 1940. He had worked 0 weeks in 1939, earning $0. He did not receive income of $50 or more from other sources. He was in school and had completed 1 year of high school. He was single and living with his parents and 3 brothers in a house, which was rented for $10 per month, in Hays City. On April 1, 1935, he lived in Waynesburg, Greene County, Pennsylvania. He is listed as having been born in Pennsylvania. His given name and middle initial are listed as "Thomas W" in this record.
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The Gilmer County Death Record, Gilmer County Court House, Glenville, West Virginia - Volume II 1903-1952 contains the following information: Thomas William Porter died on July 16, 1950. The cause of death is listed as "killed in plane crash", and his age at death was 27 years, 3 months and 6 days. His place of birth was Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. He was married, and his occupation was crane operator. The information was supplied by Charles Porter.
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TWO KILLED IN PLANE CRASH HERE SUNDAY
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BILL PORTER RALPH TURNER ACCIDENT VICTIMS
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Crash Occurs Shortly After Take-Off Reed Airport
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Two Gilmer County young men, Thomas William Porter, 27, and Floyd Ralph Turner, 26, met almost instantaneous death about 5 p. m. Sunday in a single engine plane crash shortly after taking off from Reed Airport on Cedar Creek, two miles south of Glenville.
Carl Peter, regional CAA aviation safet (sic) agent, of Clarksburg, and others who investigated the accident said the pilot, Porter, who recently had been granted license to fly after completing a GI training course in Ohio, had attempted to gain altitude too rapidly and that the Aeronca plane stalled ands went into a spin. Instruments on the plane indicated the machine struck the ground at a 100 miles per hour speed. The plane landed nose down and was completely demolished.
See picture of wrecked plane.
Two eyewitnesses were interviewed by Peter and others. Everett Stoneking, flying Porter's Piper Cub plane, saw the accident from the air and John Stalnaker, local pilot, saw it from the ground.
Young Porter and his wife, the former Miss Mabel Sullivan of Normantown, flew to Glenville over the week-end from Elyria. Porter on Sunday took his father, Charles Porter, service station operator and Pittsburgh and W. Va. Gas Co. employe (sic), for a ride and Sunday afternoon had gone to Reed Airport. He got permission to fly the Aeronca plane owned by Gaylord (Red) Stalnaker and had lent his plane to Mr. Stoneking. Turner was riding with Porter.
Eyewitnesses said Porter took off from the field and traveled several hundred yards before his plane went into the spin and crashed on the Harvey Beall place.
The two injured men were pulled from the wreckage by J. M. (Red) Gerstner, C. C. Whitesel and others who rushed to the scene a few minutes following the crash. The plane did not burn.
Local ambulances rushed the two men to Weston. Porter died en route and Turner succumbed about two hours after reaching Weston City Hospital.
Both young men are World War II veterans. Porter served with the U. S. Air Forces as a gunner with the 8th Air Force on a B-17 overseas. Turner served about two years in the Army and the past year was a student at Glenville State College. Recently he had been working as a tool dresser.
Young Porter was married about five years ago. Surviving him are his wife, two sons, Ronnie and Thomas, his parents, and three brothers Ed of Rosedale, Jack of Detroit and Pfc. Donald of Tokyo. Funeral service for him were held Tuesday afternoon at the Charles Porter home, with the Rev. E. M. Comp officiating and burial was in Stalnaker Cemetery. The Glenville Masonic Lodge conducted brief rites at the graveside.
Turner was married April 15, 1948, to Miss Thelma Miller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Miller and was the father of one child, Zetta Ann. Besides his wife and daughter, he is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Everet Turner, two brothers, Roy and Robert at home, two sisters, Mrs. Pearl Gaston of Normantown and Pauline at home. Turner was born July 5, 1924 and recently had been living on Little Bull Run.
His body was taken to the Marshall Miller home and Tuesday afternoon was removed to the Pisgah Church for final rites conducted by the Rev. Olin Morrison. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Source - "The Glenville Democrat" newspaper, Glenville, Gilmer County, West Virginia, Thursday, July 20, 1950 (pages 1 and 4)
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Monuments in Stalnaker Cemetery, Glenville, Gilmer County, West Virginia. These monuments were observed by me and photographed.
THOMAS W PORTER
WEST VIRGINIA
S SGT 487 AAF BOMB GP
WORLD WAR II AM & 3 OLC
APRIL 10 1923 JULY 16 1950
There is second newer monument with the following inscription:
THOMAS W PORTER
WEST VIRGINIA
S SGT 847 BOMB GP AAF
WORLD WAR II
APRIL 10 1923 JULY 15 1950
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