Raymond – Tracy and Family

Raymond Walter Wegley
June 1, 1901 – March 29, 1958

Raymond Walter Wegley was born on June 1, 1901, in Kane, Pennsylvania. While some records list his birth year as 1900, his official World War II draft registration card confirms the year as 1901. Standing 5’6″ tall and weighing 135 pounds, Raymond was described as having a light complexion, brown hair, and blue eyes.

Raymond married Minnie Ida Westcott, and together, they had one son, Thomas Galven Wegley, born in 1929. The choice of their son’s name appears to honor Minnie’s brother, Thomas Galvin Westcott. This connection underscores the close ties within the Westcott family.

Family and Early Life
In 1930, census records show Raymond living in Salina, New York, at the age of 21. He shared a home with his wife Minnie, their young son Thomas, and Cordelia Westcott, Minnie’s 91-year-old grandmother. This multigenerational household reflects the close family bonds and shared responsibilities of the time.

The family’s faith is documented through baptismal records from the New York Episcopal Diocese of Central New York. On April 1, 1934, their son Thomas was baptized, with the record confirming Raymond’s full name.

Military Service
Raymond enlisted in the U.S. Marines in January 1931. He was stationed at the Marine Barracks, Naval Air Station in Lakehurst, New Jersey. His service in the Marines highlights his dedication and willingness to serve during a tumultuous period in American history.

Later Life and Career
By 1940, Raymond had moved to Syracuse, New York, where he lived in an apartment on Seeley Avenue with his family. At 38 years old, he worked as a machinist, earning $1,820 annually—a salary equivalent to $39,877 today when adjusted for inflation. The census also indicates that he had completed high school, a notable achievement for the era.

By 1950, Raymond’s circumstances had shifted. Minnie had passed away, and Raymond was living at 144 N. Salina Street in Syracuse, in apartment #1304. He was employed as an inspector at a gear factory, demonstrating his ability to adapt and maintain stability despite personal loss.

Passing
Raymond passed away on March 29, 1958, in Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York, at the age of 56. His life spanned significant historical periods, from the turn of the century to the post-war era. Through his service, work, and family, Raymond left a lasting legacy that continues to be remembered by his descendants.

My grandfather, Raymond Edward Wegley, was born on December 15, 1925, in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He died on December 4, 1992, in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, just before his 67th birthday.

My grandfather fought in World War II in the US Navy. He served on the USS Earl K. Olsen.

He joined the war on November 29, 1943, at the age of 17 and was officially discharged on April 28, 1946.

His brother John W. Wegley entered service the month before on February 19, 1943. But he went into the army. Why my grandfather chose the Navy instead of the army like his brother, I don’t know.

He was a Sergeant First Class and was awarded several medals for his service to his country.

Two years after he got out of the military he married my grandmother, Elsie Jane Hoag on June 5, 1948, in Pennsylvania. Together they would have 4 children, three boys and only one girl (my mother).

Thomas Eugene (June 13, 1949)
Karen Marie (January 26, 1951)
Raymond Junior (December 11, 1952)
Robert Thomas (September 27, 1954)

My grandfather Raymond retired from Bartlett Collins glass factory in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, and this photo was taken on his last day of work in April of 1989.

Just 3 years later he would die in his sleep of a heart attack on December 4, 1992.

He was buried in Sapulpa, Oklahoma at the Green Hill Memorial Gardens Cemetery.