Betty J and Charles Peter Willy

Charles Peter Willy was born 09 Aug 1909 in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, probably in Pittsburgh. He was the youngest child of Ida Bell Lego and Frederick Willy. He's referred to as Charles in the 1910 and 1920 US Censuses, in his father's obituary published 1951 and in the US Social Security Death Index. He's referred to as Pete in his brother Fred's obituary in 1978 and in his sister Sadie's obituary in 1983. The headstone for his own grave refers to him as "C. Pete."

At some time between 1920 and 1924, the Willy family moved from Pittsburgh to McKees Rocks, 8 km WNW of Pittsburgh, by May 1924. When Ida died on 27 May 1924, the Pittsburgh Daily Post advised friends and family that services would be held at the family home at 518 Chartiers Avenue, McKees Rocks.

I lost track of Charles Peter after this except for the references to him in family obituaries. I couldn't find him in the 1930 or 1940 US Censuses. At some point, presumably after 1940, he married Betty J. All I know about her is that she was born in 1923 (per her headstone) or on 04 Jan 1924 (per the US Social Security Death Index). The US SSDI gives her place of birth as "railroad board," suggesting that she was a railroad employee whose social security number was issued by the Railroad Retirement Board.

Charles Peter Willy died in Pittsburgh in March 1983. Betty died in Pittsburgh on 07 Jan 1995. Both are buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery in McKees Rocks. Their headstone describes them as "father" and "mother," suggesting that they had at least one child. There are some links in public records between Betty J Willy born 1924 and Charles Preston Willy born 1961.

Oddly, Charles Peter and Betty share their headstone with Charles Peter's brother Fred, whose name and dates (1905-1978) are engraved below theirs.