Walter Jacob GREEN Eva Lee GREEN Walter Jack GREEN Doris Deanne MAHAFFEY Laurie Margaret LEE Mini tree diagram
Walter Jacob GREEN

Walter Jacob GREEN3,4,9,5,6,7,1,8,11,12,10,7

also known as 11,12,8,7

4th Nov 192510 - 17th Nov 19846,7,7

Life History

4th Nov 1925

Born in Fort Gibson, Muskogee County, Oklahoma, USA.10

(less likely)

4th Nov 1925

Born in Fort Gibson, Muskogee, Oklahoma.3,4,5,6,7,7

(most likely)

17th Mar 1945

Married Doris Deanne MAHAFFEY in Kerman, Fresno, California.3,1

7th Dec 1945

Military in Discharge from the US Navy.9

Dec 1948

Military in Philippine Sea, US Navy.1,2

Aug 1972

Divorced from Doris Deanne MAHAFFEY in Fresno, Fresno, California.3

California Divorce Index, 1966-1984; Jacob Green, age 25; Spouse Doris D Mahaffey, age 24; Married 1945, Divorced Aug 1972 Fresno

17th Nov 1984

Died in Fresno, Fresno, California.6,7,7

Cardiopulmonary failure and carcinoma of the prostate

20th Nov 1984

Buried in Fresno Memorial Gardens, Fresno, Fresno County, California.6,7,7,8

(most likely)

Other facts

 

Buried in Fresno, Fresno, California.10

Notes

  • 1930 Federal Census,  Fresno County, California, 18 April, Township 5, District 76, page 7A, Conejo Avenue, Hse #150, Fam #151
    Green, Pink Head M W 42 First married at 32 [but no wife in the household] OK TN TN Farm Laborer
    Green, Maggie Sister-in-law F W 35 First married at 34 [but no husband in the household] OK MO MO
    Green, Eva Lee Niece  F W 7 OK OK OK
    Green, Jack Nephew  M W 6 OK OK OK
    Green, Junior Nephew  M W 4yrs 4mos OK OK OK [b abt Dec 1925]

    A researcher reports that the last child was named Walter Jacob.  Here he is named Junior, so we may conclude that his father Walter's full name was also Walter Jacob.

    The 1930 census reports Walter's widow and children living in the household of Walter's brother Pink.  The Find-a-Grave memorial for Walter's brother Pink (below) reports that Walter died in Oklahoma about 1925.  From the age of Junior in 1930 as 4 years and 4 months, Walter must have died before the birth of Junior.  If the age of Junior is as exact as it looks, we can say he was born in November or December 1925.  This enables us to place Walter's death between March and December 1925.

    This also means that Maggie did not move to California with her children till at least 1926, after the birth of Jacob Jr.  Pink's obituary reported that he had lived in Fresno since 1925.  so either he went earlier and Maggie and her children moved later to join Pink and Lois, or they all moved together in 1926, and the obit date was a rounded number.  The latter seems most likely.

    In the 1940 census, Jack and his siblings are reported as children of Pink.  It appears to be an enumerator error.

    1940 Federal Census, Fresno County, California, 9 April, Judicial Township 11, District 132, page 2B, Belmont Ave, Hse #43, Rents $10, Live on a Farm
    Green, Pink Head M W 53 Widow First  Grade 3 b Oklahoma  Place under 2000 population in 1935 Farmer
    Glory, Maggie Wife F W 48  Grade 3 b OK lived in same house in 1935
    Green, Eva Dau F W 17 Single Grade 8 b OK lived in same house in 1935
    Green, Jack Son M W 16 Single HS-1 b OK lived in same house in 1935 Farm Laborer
    Green, Jacob Son M W 14 Single Grade 8 b OK lived in same house in 1935

    Jake was in the Navy for a while, though I have not found his enlistment records.  Bev Bell found his discharge certificate.  Note that the initials USNR seem to indicate he was in the Reserves during WWII.

    Honorable Discharge from the United States Navy
    This is to certify that Jacob Green, a Seaman First Class USNR is honorably discharged from the US Naval Separation Center, Shoemaker, California, and from the naval service of the United tates this 7th day of December 1945.  This certificate is awarded as a testimony of Fidelity and Obedience.

    Jake married Doris Deane Mahaffey on 17 March 1945 in Kerman, Fresno County, California.

    California Marriage Certificate
    County of Fresno
    Jacob Green, P O Box 39, Kerman (Fresno Co), Calif
    age 19, b Okla, Occupation US Navy
    Father Walter Green born Okla, Mother Maggie Lee born Missouri
    and Doris Deane Mahaffey, 230 No 1st, Fresno, Calif
    age 20, b Texas, Occupation Clerical
    Father Alton Mahaffey born Texas, Mother Josie Allen, born Texas
    Married 17 March 1945 in Kerman, Fresno, California
    By Harved D Byram, Minister Assemblies of God
    Filed 19 March 1945

    Jake was a professional wrestler for a while.  There is a newspaper announcement of a boxing bout featuring Jake in 1948 in Fresno.

    Pro Boxing Tonight
    Double Main Event
    [Several fights listed]
    4 rounds - 170 pounds
    Jake Green  Fresno
    vs
    Percy Butler  San Francisco
    --  Fresno Bee Republican newspaper, Fresno, Fresno, California, 17 Mar 1948

    In an accompanying story on scheduled boxing matches, Jake is mentioned:
    "The Lou Montoya-Jimmy Anderson four round fight is off the card as Montoya hurt his hand winning a fight in San Francisco Monday night.  Instead, Jake Green, Fresno heavyweight, has been matched with Percy Butler, 175 pound San Franciscan."
    --  Fresno Bee Republican newspaper, Fresno, Fresno, California, 17 Mar 1948

    There is another naval record for a Walter J Green Jr, that appeared to be this same person.  But my cousin and coresearcher Marion Mixon, with his military background, noted that the service number was different, indicating this was a different person.  Some genealogies may have the following record attached to our Walter Jacob Green Jr, but it appears to be a different person, who just entered service in 1948.

    U.S. World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949
    Walter J Green Junior
    Ship, Station or Activity: Philippine Sea
    Ship Number or Designation: CV 47
    Muster Date 6 Dec 1948

    His name here indicates he is named the same as his father, who is a Junior as reported in the 1930 census, where he is enumerated simply as Junior Green.  In this 1957 city directory, Jake is reported working for Dallas Wilson as a heavy equipment operator running a trencher.  His death certificate indicates he worked for 35 years in Pipelne Construction.  His wife is Doris Deane Mahaffey.

    U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
    Polk's Fresno (Fresno County, Calif.) City Directory, 1957, p 269
    Green Jake (Doris D) trencher opr Dallas Wilson  h 3842 E Austin way

    U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
    Fresno, California, City Directory, 1960, p 305
    Green Jakes (Doris D) opr eng Frank Hudson Inc h 3842 E Austin way

    I found a divorce records for Jake and Doris, which gives their marriage date, but have not found the original marriage records.

    California Divorce Index, 1966-1984
    Jacob Green, age 25
    Spouse Doris D Mahaffey, age 24
    Married 1945
    Aug 1972 Fresno

    Jake has a joint gravestone, but there is no death date on Doris' side.  It seems odd they would have included Doris' name on the gravestone since they had been divorced 12 years before his death.  I have not found where she was finally buried.  I found she did marry again, to John Lowe Ripley 28 April 1989 in Carson City, Nevada.

    Funeral Remembrance Card
    Mr Jake Green
    Birth November 4, 1925
    Death November 17, 1984
    Stephens and Bean Chapel, Tuesday, November 20 (Fresno)
    Officiating Rev Paul Burch, Brother of Mr Green and Dr Orville Winters
    Interment Fresno Memorial Gardens
    Pallbearers Tom Green, Jack Green, Jim Green, John Butler, J T Scott, Tunney Starks

    Pallbearers Tom and Jack were Jake's brothers.  I have not identified Jim Green.

    --------------------------------
    Walter Jacob "Jake" Green
    Birth  Nov. 4, 1925, Fort Gibson, Muskogee County, Oklahoma, USA
    Death  Nov. 17, 1984 Fresno County, California, USA

    Jake Green was the son of Walter Jacob Green (1889-1925) and Maggie Lee Green (1897-1952).

    He was one of three children: Eva Lee, Jack, and Jake. They were just babes when their father died in OK, and their mother moved to central Calif. before 1930, where she was in HH of her brother-in-law, Pink Green, in 1930 Fresno census--and Jake was listed as "Junior."

    Family Tree says his mother, Maggie, married Earl Burch, in MO., and there is a MO Marriage record to that effect. On Jake's funeral card, it says "Officiating: Rev. Paul Burch, brother of Mr. Green" and Dr. Orville Winters.  Several Green family were pallbearers.  His two siblings, Eva Lee and Jack are buried here.  His double tombstone is with Doris Green. [Doris' side has no date of death, and her date of birth is unreadable on the photo]

    Burial Fresno Memorial Gardens, Fresno, Fresno County, California, USA

    Created by wvy Jul 25, 2011
    --  Find A Grave Memorial #73922002, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Green&GSiman=1&GScid=7983&GRid=73922002&
    --------------------------------

    California Certificate of Death #T-35-114827-1
    Jacob N.M.N. Green
    White Male, Married, Spouse's name Doris Mahaffey
    Born 25 November 1925 Oklahoma
    Death 17 November 1984 St Agnes Hospital, Fresno, Fresno County
    Cause of Death Cardiopulmonary failure and carcinoma of the prostate
    Occupation Heavy Equipment Operator, Pipe Line Construction, for 35 years
    Father Walter Jacob Green, born Oklahoma; Mother Laurie M Lee, born Missouri
    Informant Doris Green (Wife), P O Box 9425 Fresno CA 93392
    Place of burial Fresno Memorial Gardens 20 November 1984
    By Stephens and Bean Funeral Service
    Filed 19 November 1984

    Note that his name is entered on the certificate as Jacob NMN Green.  The initials NMN mean "No Middle Name."  This is curious, since Jacob IS his middle name.  Other records and family information indicate his name was Walter Jacob Green.  He was always referred to as Jacob or Jake.  Did his surviving family members not know his full name was Walter Jacob?  The certificate indicates the informant was his wife Doris Mahaffey, which also seems curious, since we have the record of their divorce.

    I see Jake's occupation is reported as Heavy Equipment Operater, and he has worked for a Pipline Construction Company for 35 years.  We know, however, that during that period he was a professional boxer and he was in the Navy, at least once on an assignment at sea, shipping out to the Philippine Sea in December 1948.

Sources

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