Vollie Lee Howell
Vollie Lee Howell was born on Jan. 10, 1892, in Crystal, Lee County, KY, USA to William Epperson and Nancie Lee Howell. He was one of 12 children. Some have said his full first name was Volentine or Valentine, but I can find no substantiating record to verify that. I am going to speculate his full name was Valentine, named after his great-grandfather (whose nickname was Vol) and his great-great-great-grandfather on his mother's side. But I do remember my dad saying his nickname was "Tine". Not much is known about his childhood. He married Ethel Catherine Durbin on Jun. 23, 1915, in Richmond, Madison, KY, USA. They had eleven children while living in KY, one died at birth - the twin of Laverne.
Vollie was listed as a farmer in the census reports in the early 1900's.
The following was told to my wife during a conversation with grandma: They moved to Hamilton, Butler County, OH, USA in January 1943. They moved in with Ethel's sister, Dahlia Chaney and her family. Since Ethel and Vollie's family was so large, several children stayed with different family members (Ethel's brothers and sisters) who also lived in Hamilton. They were able to get a loan and purchased a house at 881 Forest Ave, Hamilton, OH, for $50/month and eventually paid it off.
In 1945 he was a textile worker at S&B Textiles in Hamilton, OH. The old textile building still stands at 2350 Pleasant Ave, it takes up a full block bounded by Benninghofen Ave. to the east, Symmes Ave. to the south, and Williams Ave to the North. I remember my grandparents referring to this building as the "Woolen Mill".
In 1951 their phone number was listed as 4-8183 in the Hamilton City Directory.
It appears he did not serve in the military; copies of his draft cards follow; it appears he was probably too old (25) for WWI and (50) for WWII.
Vollie Lee passed away on Oct. 11, 1952, in Hamilton, Butler, OH, USA at the age of 60.
Other events in the life of Vollie Lee Howell
Burial: Saint Mary Cemetery, Hamilton, Butler County, OH, USA
Father: William Epperson Howell.
Mother: Nancie Lee Crawford
Ethel Catherine (Durbin) Howell
Ethel Catherine Durbin was born on Jun. 30, 1895, in Old Landing, KY, USA to Abraham Liehew and Mary Delina Howell. She was one of eleven children. She married Vollie Lee Howell on Jun. 23, 1915, in Richmond, Madison, KY, USA. They had ten children while living in KY.
Ethel was a home maker, a quilt maker, and a fantastic cook. During the late 1960's she moved to an upstairs apartment at 1814 Edison Ave., near Hamilton Garfield High School. Her phone number there was 895-9628. Sometime in 1973 she moved to 978 Nilles Rd., Fairfield, Ohio into a ground level apartment in a two-unit building owned by her daughter and son-in-law Faye and Carl Morris.
Ethel passed away on Jan. 31, 1977, in Fairfield, Butler, OH, USA at the age of 81.
Other events in the life of Ethel Catherine Durbin
Burial: Saint Mary Cemetery, Hamilton, Butler County, OH, USA
Father: Abraham Leihew Durbin
Mother: Mary Delina Estes
Memories of Vollie Lee and Ethel Catherine
Norb Howell
During my high school years, I remember walking to grandma’s apartment during basketball season after school and before practice started. I always enjoyed visiting, she would always make me dinner - a hamburger fried in BBQ sauce, I always felt bad because I knew she was on a limit income and did not get to the grocery very often, but she insisted. But I also felt privileged and honored that she did this for me. She was special!
I remember her quilting; she had a big quilting frame set up in that tiny apartment. And I am fortunate to have one of those quilts on my bed now.
And she liked her brandy, blackberry was her favorite.
I remember her birthday parties; the whole family would come. Early on they were held at Aunt Shirley and Uncle Woody’s farm in Oxford, then in later years they were in the front yard of her apartment on Nilles Rd. Many times, family from out of state would make the trip.
I do not remember the year, but I think it may have been between 1967 and 1969, Grandma and I flew to New Jersey to visit Aunt Pat, Aunt Chris, and Aunt Verne and their families. She would have been between 72 and 74 at the time. I believe we flew on American Airlines, and we were near the front of the plane, this was when there were four seats to a row (two on each side of the plane), so it was a comfortable flight for her. That was the first-time grandma had flown on a plane (mine too I think), she was a little nervous, but I think she enjoyed the flight. And I know she enjoyed visiting with the New Jersey clad.
Unfortunately, I did not know my grandfather as he died when I was about 11 months old.
Marriage Certificate
This is the original certificate that was in Ethel Howell's Bible.
Obituaries
The obituaries were published in the Hamilton Journal. Copies of the Hamilton Journal pages can be found in the sources section of this web site.
Saint Mary Cemetery
Pleasant Ave
Hamilton, Butler County, OH, USA
Howell Cemetery #2
Pleasant Ave
Crystal, Estill, KY, USA
Ruth was the twin of Mary Laverne, Ruth died at childbirth.
Draft Cards – Vollie Lee
WW I - Front
WW I - back
WW II - Front
WW II - back
Birthday Celebrations
