Winch Family - Myron Erwin Winch - Biography

I knew my father from my birth to 2012 when he died at the age of 89 years. I picked up on a few things about family relationships ect.

He was born in Mankato Minnesota February 27 1923. If you look at one of his birth certificates, you will see the words "father not known". I think that his mother entered this phrase as she was still married to her first husband. I think that she didn't want to say who my Dad's father was as her husband was in jail at the State Penitentiary in Minnesota. 

My grandmother Emily, was divorced from her husband in September of 1925. The story rapidly progressed to Emily and her 3 children by train to Fresno California, where she married my Dad's father, Cecil Erwin Winch.

I don't know how long they lived together, but they did have a second child named Lola Emily Winch in 1927.

At some point Cecil and Emily separated and divorced. I truly believe that the remaining family was dysfunctional. Emily had to go to work outside of the home which left the kids to their own devices.

Look at the 1930 Census and you will note that my Dad is listed as being 12 years old, when in reality he was 7. My Mom and I saw that census and immediately realized the kids had to have been at home alone as all their names are reversed. My Dad was 7 years old but in the census he was 12 years old. My Aunt Lola is listed as being 9 years old when in reality she was 3. So obviously my grandmother was out of the house at that time. I can see the kids laughing into their hands and trying to keep from laughing.

Dad and his siblings grew up working and cutting watermelons during the summer to earn more money for the family. I am sure he didn't get to keep the money.

This is a certificate Dad was given for helping with the "Bicycle Committee".

It reads:

WASHINGTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Special Commendation Card

Awarded to Myron Winch

In Recognition of

Excellent Work on the Bicycle Committee

Bill Ellsworth

President of the Student Body.

Semester ____________                                [?] Jones

                                                                      Sec'y of Comm.

Date ________________                            W. Haney  

                                                                    Sponsor     

Grade                                                           H.E. Leurlsen

     

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I found this in May 2022, from Newspapers.com. The Fresno Morning Republican, 13 Sep 1931, Sunday. Page 14. It wasn't all work.. This article about one of my Dad's lifelong friend, Robert "Bobby" Burkhard Birthday party. This article reads as:

Bobby Burkhard Birthday Celebration. 

    Bobby Burkhart celebrated his sixth birthday by entertaining a number of his young friends at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. G. Burkhart on Thomas avenue. Games were played in the yard and later refreshments were served at a long table laid. In the dining room, which had a centerpiece of marigolds and babys'-breath.

    Among the children present with the young host were Velda Wingare, Barbara Huff, Marion Joyce Huff, Nanna Wimer, Jessie Mae Safford, Alma Dell Nations, Lola Winch, Betty McMurchy, Virginia Ruth Brown, Hershel Winer, Clifford Grant, Myron Winch, Richard turner, Richard Brown, Gene McMurchy, John Burkhart, and Billy Burkhart.

    The mothers present were Mesdames W.H. Hooker, Marioon Brown, Omer Huff, and J.H. Wimer.

    Mrs. Burkhart was assisted in entertaining by Misses Helen .........

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   

Dad went to Fresno High School and graduated in 1941. I don't know if this was just a picture of him from school or not. But it is a good one of him.

Before there was cross dressing, Fresno High school had "Dress Up Day" where you came to school dressed as the opposite sex. [see below.]

At about this time he started to work as a "butcher boy" at a local meat market. Dad's draft card states that he was employed at Justessen's Food Stores, located at Fresno and Olive Aves, Fresno California.  We still have 3 of the knives that Dad was given upon his signing up for the Army Air Corp. They sharpen better that ones we have bought since.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

..

REGISTRATION CARD- (Men born on or after January 1, 1922 and on or before June  30, 1924)

SERIAL NUMBER    1. Name (PRINT)                ORDER NUMBER

N119                                Myron Erwin Winch              11721

2. PLACE OF RESIDENCE (PRINT)

    1435 N. First St.        Fresno                         Fresno                                  Calif

   (Number and street)           (Town, township, village, or city)            (County)                       (State) 

[THE PLACE OF RESIDENCE GIVEN ON THE LINE ABOVE WILL DETERMINE LOCAL BOARD

JURISDICTION; LINE 2 OF REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE WILL BE IDENTICAL.]

3.    MAILING ADDRESS

        Same                                                                                                

(Mailing address if other than place indicated on line2. If same insert word same)

===============================================================

4. TELEPHONE                        5.    AGE IN YEARS            6. PLACE OF BIRTH

                      Yes                                                   19                                   St. Paul          

                     29245                                        Feb 27  1923                            Minn.           

7. NAME AND ADDRESS OF PERSON WHO WILL ALWAYS KNOW YOUR ADDRESS

    Mrs E.V. Winch, 1438 N. First St, Fresno 

====================================================

8.    EMPLOEER'S NAME AND ADDRESS

        Justessen's Food Stores, Fresno

9.     PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT OR BUSINESS

        Justessen's - Fresno & Olive Aves. Fresno            Calif.

            (Number and street or R.F.D. number)

            I AFFIRM THAT I HAVE VERIFIEDABOVE ANSWERS AND THAT THEY ARE TRUE.

D.S.S. FORM 1                            c16-21630-3            Myron Winch                

(Revised 6-1-42)        (over)   

Image 165 of 2117

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AVIATION CADET EXAMINING BOARD

AAF PILOT SCHOOL (SPECIALIZED 2-ENGINE)

LAULGHLIN FIELD

   

Del Rio, Texas

24 December 1943

SUBJECT:    Aviation Cadet Application.

TO            :    Cpl. Winch, Myron W.

                       877th PTTS, AAFPS (STE), LAAF, Del Rio, Texas.

                        

                   1.    Your application for appointment to Aviation Cadet Training has been approved.

                    2.    Retuned herewith are allied papers for your files.

                                For the President of the Board:

Harold R. Garman, [signature]

HAROLD R. GARMAN,

Major, Air Corps,

XXXXXXXX, ACEB

President,

4 Incls.

                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ARMY AIR FORCES

AIR CREW MEMBER

PHYSICAL RECORD CARD

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WD AAF Form No. 1x8

    Approved 1 March 1945

AAFP PERSONAL AFFIRS STATEMENT

(See *Instructions)

NAME Myron E. Winch  RANK F/O [Flight Officer] ASN T-147471

Date entered active duty (this tour) 23 July 1945; 2 years' service completed on 13 June 1945; date of birth 27 Feb. 1923

Permanent address 1430 N. 1st St. Fresno, California

The status of my personal affairs reviewed with the assistance of the Personal Affairs Officer at HAAF, Hondo, Texas

on 25 July 1945 is indicated below. VWLOQ.

NOTE-Boxes checked x indicate items accomplished or disposed of as of last date shown on                this form.

            Boxes not checked indicate items that may require further attention.

        1. GOVERNMENT LIFE INSURANCE

X(a)    I have now in force or applied for) $   10,000.00 on the 5 yr level prem plan, effective Nov. 1942

   (b)    [empty]

X(c)     And am paying a total premium of $ 5.50 Mo/payable by allotment, effective July `945

X(d)    The beneficiaries designated on my Government Life Insurance are:    

Principal  Emily V. Winch  Relationship    Mother  Portion    10,000.00

Contingent Lola M. Winch   Relationship    Sister  Portion 10,000.00   

[I skipped the commercial Life Insurance portion, and skipped to:

PUBLIC RECORDS. My beneficiaries now possess certified copies under seal of the applicable records listed below.

[Purposely skipped a,b.c.]

X(d) Birth certificate for each of the following: My wife, children, father, mother, sisters, brothers, myself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After enlisting, Dad was sent to Texas for basic training, and ended up being a Flight officer in a B21. This picture to the left is of him during his training.

The picture below is when he was being trained to use a parachute. It was still in Texas.

It wasn't all marching and learning in Texas this is him throwing snowballs.

Dad's older sister Doris also joined the service. At one point Dad and Doris linked up in Washington DC, during a snow storm. They spent a few days there. [According to Fold3, this picture of Doris was taken in Jackson, Tennessee. She married Donald Arthur Olson and had 2 children, Donnie and Patty [deceased circa 1990's]. Doris died 22 Jan 2006. Her remains are buried in San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery.] 

My dad told me that he got his orders to go to the South Pacific theatre 2 days before the atomic bombs were dropped. I truly believe that if he had been sent over without the atomic weapons being used, that neither I nor my children would be alive today. The atomic weapons being dropped meant that the Americans wouldn't have had to fight hand to hand combat while hopping up the island chains. If the Americans had to fight up the island chain, it would be with high casualties. He would have flown in B21s where ever his orders told him to fly - up the island chain.

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I believe that my Dad enjoyed being with his sister in Washington DC, as he would mention the trip off and on. 

Dad did manage to make it home once that I know of in 1944. He is  pictured here helping with Deborah's front yard.

This is my Dad's: 

ARMY of the UNITED STATES

Separation Qualification Record

SAVE THIS FORM.  IT WILL NOT BE REPLACED IF LOST

        This record of job assignments and special training received in the Army is furnished to the soldier when he leaves the service. In its preparation, information is taken from available Army records and supplemented by personal interview. The information about civilian education and representatives of schools or colleges, or use it in any other way that may prove beneficial to him.

1. LAST NAME-FIRST NAME-MIDDLE INITIAL

        Winch, Myron E.

MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS

10. MONTHS        11. GRADE        12. MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY

      7                        F/O                    (1028)    Flight Engineer

2. ARMY SERIAL NO,.        3.    GRADE        4 SOCIAL SECURITY NO.

            T 147 471                              F/O                552-24-5037

5. PERMANENT MAILING ADDRESS (Street, City, County, State) 

        1438 N. First Street

         Fresno, Calif. 

6. DATE OF ENTRY INTO     7. DATE OF SEPARATION        8. DATE OF BIRTH

    *ACTIVE SERVICE            

        22 July 1945                          22 Feb. 1946                                27 Feb. 1923

9.  PLACE OF SEPARATION

      Maxwell Field, Alabama

MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS

10. MONTHS        11. GRADE        12. MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY

         7                        F/O                            (1028)        Flight Engineer

SUMMARY OF MILITARY OCCUPATIONS

13. TITLE-DESCRRIPTION-RELATED CIVILIAN OCCUPATION

       Engineer (1028):        Operated control panel of large, multi-engine aircraft. During flight was responsible for weight and balance and cruise control of aircraft. Adjusted engine controls at pilots direction. Performed such maintenance and adjustments as were possible during flight to correct malfunctions in engines and landing gear. Supervised inspections and maintenance of aircraft between flights.

WD AGO FORM    This form supersedes WD AGO Form 100, 15 July 1944, which will not be used.

1 JUL 1945        100

MILITARY EDUCATIOIN

14.    NAME OR TYPE OF SCHOOL-COURSE OR CURRICULUM-DURATION-DESCRIPTION

Cedar Rapids, Iowa    -     CTD     -     2 Mos.    -     College Training

ASSSB,    Santa Ana, Calif.    -    Engineering    -    2 1/2 Mos.    -    Preflight

Amarillo, Texas    -    Engineering    -    1 1/4 Mos.`-`8-29`Maint. and Insp.

Amarillo, Texas    -    Engineering    -    2 1/2 Mos.    -    B-29 Preflight Engineer

Hondo, Texas    -    Engineer    -    1 1/4 Mos.    -    Flight Engineer

Maxwell Field, Alabama    -    Engineer    -    4 Mos.    -    B29 Flight Engineer Tran.

CIVILIAN EDUCATION

15. HIGHEST GRADE         16. DEGREES OR DIPLOMAS        17. YEAR LEFT                    COMPLETED                                                                  SCHOOL

        COMPLETED                        Diploma                                           1942

             4 Yrs. H.S.

18.   NAME ABD ADDRESS IF KAST SCGIIK ATTEBDED

        Fresno High School

        Fresno, Calif.

19.   MAJOR COURSES OF STUDY

        Academic

20.    OTHER TRAINING OR SCHOOLING [Empty Cells]

21.     DURATION     [Empty cell]

CIVILIAN OCCUPATIONS

22.    TITLE-NAME AND ADDRESS OF EMPLOYER-INCLUSIVE DATES-DESCRIPTION

          Meat Cutter    -    05.581    -    Fresno, Calif. Justeneus Food Stores

         Cut meat to prescribed weight and size using cleaver, knives and saw

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~                 

This picture to the left was taken of Dad in uniform after the war. He didn't own the car - it was a friends'.

I don't think he owned this car either. This is him at the end of the day skiing at Badger Pass. Badger was north east of Fresno in the Sierras, on the way to Yosemite.

So after the war was over - what is a guy supposed to do to have fun. Well, you grab your best bud and a bottle of alcohol - didn't ask what - and before you leave the driveway you each have a drink, and then flip a coin to see if you were going to turn left of right out of the driveway. This is my Dad and his best friend Don Stewart with the car as they were going to start their trip around Fresno. At each intersection they would flip a coin to decide if they were going to go straight through the intersection or turn left or right. After the decision was made, they each took a drink of alcohol.....This weekend was discussed frequently throughout his life time......by those who were there.....

On or about December 1949, while Myron was working at PG&E, he met a lady by the name of  Lorna Lee Triplett. He said: "there was just something about her as she walked away - there was something about her walk....."

This is the notice in the Fresno Bee, that on 12 December 1950, my parents applied for their marriage license:

By 16 December 1950, he and my mother were married. They married on my mom's father's birthday. Dad would joke that his gift to his new father in law, was marrying his daughter, and having her move out of my Grandpa's house.

They had agreed to buy a house, but it wasn't ready by the time they were married, so they lived in her apartment. They finally moved into 4610 N. Vagedes, in Fresno California. My Mom said that the movers wore mud boots as it had been raining.

Left to right: Lola Emily Winch [Page]; Lorna Lee Triplett Winch; Myron Erwin Winch; Dad's best friend in the world, Don Stewart. Don was the one who was with Dad during the flip a coin to figure out if they would turn Right or left in the car escapade. 

The reception was held off site from the Church. This is my parents cutting the wedding cake. I think those are my mom's silver candelabras.

After divorcing her first husband, she worked at PG&E. Since she was living at home, to take care of her mom, and then to be with her dad, she bought her mother and herself separate place settings of silver ringed, bone china dishes. She also bought silver place settings, from Gorham. The place settings were named "George and Martha Washington".  

For more Wedding and reception pictures on this blog go to: "Winch Family - Myron Erwin Winch - Winch Triplett Wedding and Reception pictures - page 3".

Throughout my Dad's life, he apparently had an "affinity" for duck hunting. I believe that this picture was taken at the Vagedes house, prior to my birth.

Before I was born, Myron helped to coach Little League. That would be in the early 1950's. My Dad ended up working for PG&E for 46 or so years.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is the obituary that I wrote for my Dad:

Myron E. Winch

    Myron E. Winch, loving husband and father, age 89, passed away peacefully at Life Care Center of Casper, WY on Monday October 29, 2012.

    Myron was born in St. Paul Minnesota on February 27, 1923 to Cecil and Emily (Jarl) Winch. At the age of two he and his family moved to Fresno, California where he graduate from Fresno High School in 1942. While growing up in Fresno, he would help supplement the family's income by harvesting fruits and vegetables that grew in the are during the Great Depression. During that time period the family survived on oatmeal.

    He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942. In 1945 he was discharge from the Air Corps as a Flight Engineer. He returned to Fresno and worked for San Joaquin Power, the precursor of pacific Gas and Electric. While working at the "Power Company", he met Lorna Triplett. They married on December 16, 1950, his future father-in-laws birthday. He worked as an electrical engineer estimator for PG&E in Fresno, Clovis and Oakhurst, and retired after 42 years of employment. He loved Fresno State Football and had season tickets to the home games. He took up skiing at the age of 45, and skied "The Face" at Sierra Summit ski are. On occasion he would call his daughter's high school saying she was ill, and they would then go skiing. He played golf enthusiastically and frequently. He would play 36  holes of golf during the summer or Saturdays, stating as early as 6:00AM. He and Lorna built a cabin in the Sierras, which they owned and enjoyed for more than two decades. During retirement they cruised to Alaska, the Caribbean, up the eastern coast to the St. Lawrence Seaway, and through the Panama Canal. He enjoyed their trip to China - they viewed the terra cotta soldiers, walked the great wall, and explored the Forbidden Cit. Golfing vacations included destinations such as Mexica, Canada, and Hawaii. In 1990 Myron joined the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Tehran Temple of Fresno. He was active in setting up screenings for handicapped children who  would be referred to Shriner hospital for care.

    He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lorna Winch, daughter, Myra (Brian) Lindgren and grandsons, Andrew and Robert. He thoroughly enjoyed listening to his grandsons' goings on as they grew into fine young men. He is also survived by his younger sister, Lola Page of Fresno, numerous nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews who life in California, Oklahoma, Kentucky and Arkansas.

    The family request that donations be made in Myron's name to Josepha' Storehouse, and the Casper Human Society.

    A Celebration of Myron's life will be held on Thursday, November 1 2012, at 2:00 PM at the Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery Chapel, Casper Wyoming. A Masonic Service will precead Military rites which will be accorded by Natrona County United Veterans and Wyoming Arm National Guard.

    Condolences for the family may be left at bustardsfuneralhome.com.

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