Chosen Families Project# 14: Air Force Veteran: Eugene David Converse ‘s Story
Hello all!,
Welcome to another episode of the Chosen Families Project. This photograph I recovered from a photograph lot off Ebay. This photograph especially drew me to buying the photograph lot in the first place. The photograph is off a handsome gentlemen in his military uniform. Attached to the frame in tape is also a childhood photograph of him; this gives me not one but TWO photographs to compare to relatives. Also upon first glance however, the frame didn’t have any information on it. However, I took the gamble and purchased the lot anyways in order to give it a closer look. In person, I was able to move the photograph out of the frame, and I hit the jackpot: it has his full name and military service date listed.
The back of the photograph says: Eugene Converse, Went in the Air Force in 1952 April 19.
Back of Photograph
Now the goal was to identify who Eugene was, his military career, and who his relatives are. Luckily I found a photograph, and it had even more photographs of Eugene. Here is Eugene’s story:
Eugene David Converse was born 26 Nov 1932 in Dearborn, Michigan to parents Eugene David Converse Sr. & Ella Leona Titsworth. His father Eugene was born 10 May 1876 in Bridgewater, Michigan, his wife Ella was born in New York in April 1887. The couple married in Britton, Michigan on 19 Apr 1904. The family had a total of 14 children, with Eugene Jr. being the baby of the family. His father was a farm laborer. During his childhood, tragedy struck soon on. His father died at the age of 58 in Detroit Michigan from Acute Lobar Pneumonia on March 26, 1934. His mother would soon remarry to Edward Little on Feb 15, 1936. The couple would divorce the next year on 9 Aug 1937 for reasons of “extreme and repeated cruelty” according to the Michigan divorce records from that time period.
In 1951 Eugene D. Converse graduated from Adrian High School in Adrian Michigan. The quote of his yearbook writes “A Man of Muscles,” with the nickname “Torzan.” He enlisted in the Air Force according to the photograph on April 19, 1952.
On April 4, 1954, Eugene Converse married Patsy Marie Croft. The full wedding account was found in the Austin American .
The Austin American, April 8, 1954, Page 7
Eugene lived and worked in Texas. I found a October 20, 1967 article working for E & I Printing Co., which features his signature, amongst 20+ other employee signatures. The couple also filed a suit in for damages in March 1961.
Eugene would pass on Feb 20, 2014, at the age of 81. His obituary reads:
Gene David Converse, 81, of Round Rock passed away on February 20, 2014. Gene was born in Dearborn, Michigan on November 26, 1932 to the late Eugene and Ella Converse. Gene is survived by his loving wife for almost 60 years, Pat Converse; Daughter: Debbie Sanders and her husband Warren; Grandchildren: Robin Bigham and her husband Slade, Chad Sanders and his wife Sarah; Great-Grandchildren: Kylie, Tristan, Anastasia, Catherine, Chase; and beloved Nephew: Charles Wayne Davis and his wife Chris. Gene proudly served his country in the Air Force for 4 years. He then went on to retire from The Texas Rehab Commission. Visitation will be held in Beck Funeral Home, Austin, Texas, on Saturday February 22, 2014, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Graveside services will be held in Austin Memorial Park Cemetery on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. Arrangements under the care of Beck Funeral Home, Round Rock/Austin. 512-244-3772
I am currently looking for any close relatives of his. If you are related to the family please reach out to me at thechosenfamiliesproject@gmail.com. Take care and remember you are loved and always welcome here.
