52 Ancestors,
in 52 Weeks
Week 21:
At The Cemetery
Family Finds Charter Oak

At The Cemetery

Whenever I want to visit my deceased ancestors at the cemetery, they are just a click away. This week I highlight the online memorials and virtual cemeteries found on the website Find A Grave, at FindAGrave.com. [1] Find A Grave began as a community contribution site of grave site photos, mostly contributed by so-called “Gravers.” Gravers are people who enjoy visiting cemeteries and taking photos of headstones in order to document the deceased. Genealogists soon joined in and began contributing vital details and family connections for the shared grave images. Now, Find A Grave has nearly 200 million online memorials.

Find A Grave

Anyone can contribute to Find A Grave, membership is free. Members can create memorials or contribute to existing ones. Genealogists often add to the memorials with obituaries, family connections, photos, service records, and other details to add to the deceased persons life story. One of my favorite features on Find A Grave is the “Virtual Cemetery.” This feature allows me to group together memorials in ways that are meaningful to me. For example, I have virtual cemeteries based on surnames and lineage. [2] I also have grouped together military veterans. [3] Any sort of group could be created, one comprised of favorite celebrities of the past, or friends who have passed.

Kodak Brownie 3A

Find A Grave is now a fully owned subsidiary of Ancestry.com. But it’s content remains contributor driven.

819th Bombardment Squadron

In honor of Memorial Day, I am highlighting the virtual cemetery I created for my father’s World War II, Army Air Corps, B-24 Bomber Squadron. [4] Sadly, all the men in the squadron are deceased, but the virtual cemetery is my way to reunite them. Another feature of Find A Grave is the ability to leave a virtual flower or comment. Please click the button below to visit the 819th’s virtual cemetery and leave a flower or note on the memorials.

819th Squadron with autographs
Bat Out Of Hell Patch

B24 Crew Members of the 819th Bomb Squadron

Norris W. Fulfer, 1925-2011
Col. Julian O. Hodges, 1918-2007
Robert LaFara, 1925-2004
William H. Marsh, 1923-1983
James B. Moss, 1922-1998
John B. Paine, 1920-1991
Robert Parmigiani, 1925-1976
Vader R. Pennington Jr., 1921-1987
James C. Rimmer Sr., 1920-1995
Donald L. Thomas, 1922-1991

Conclusion

Although I cannot be at the cemetery to visit the grave sites of my ancestors, I can visit them virtually. Find A Grave has the added benefit of documenting the deceased’s life with biographical data and family connections. Information that goes well beyond what is typically included on a tombstone.

Below is a slide show of many of my ancestors’ tombstones. Enjoy a visit at the cemetery, virtually.

Headstones of My Ancestors

Here are more tombstones of my ancestors. Note that most are rather plain, and of modest proportion.

Osborn

God’s AcreScotch Plains Baptist ChurchUnion Co, NJ

Jonathan Osborn 1722 – 1799

Osborn

Connecticut Farms Presbyterian ChurchyardUnion Co, NJ

Martha Baldwin Osborn 1724 – 1754

Osborn

God’s AcreScotch Plains Baptist ChurchUnion Co, NJ

John B. Osborn 1754 – 1848

Osborn

God’s AcreScotch Plains Baptist ChurchUnion Co, NJ

Mary Darby Osborn 1756 – 1848

McCash

Gard Burying Ground (defunct)
Hamilton Co, OH

Richard Hankins 1749 – 1823

McCash

Mount Pleasant CemeteryHamilton Co, OH

James McCash 1788 – 1871

Osborn

Highland CemeterySedgwick Co, KS

Harriet McCash Osborn Hoel 1817 – 1885

Osborn

Old Rossburg ChurchDecatur Co, IN

William Darby Osborn 1810 – 1895

Warbington

Glen Cemetery, Shelby Co, OH

Samuel Warbington 1828 – 1893
Martha Fuson Warbington 1832 – 1898

Osborne

Crown Hill Cemetery,
Marion Co, IN

Marzella ‘Jennie’ Warbington Osborne
1857 – 1918

Osborne

Crown Hill Cemetery, Marion Co, IN

David L Osborne 1847 – 1942

Osborne

Crown Hill Cemetery,
Marion Co, IN

Sadie Osborne 1888 – 1940

Osborne

Center Ridge Cemetery
Sullivan Co, IN

Rollin Osborne 1880 – 1964

Flucawa

South Mound Cemetery,
Henry Co, IN

Grace Osborne Flucawa 1887 – 1954

Flucawa

South Mound Cemetery,
Henry Co, IN

Frank Takeo Flucawa 1883 – 1974

Flucawa

South Mound Cemetery,
Henry Co, IN

Kisaburo Shibusawa 1881 – 1964

LaFara

Anderson Cemetery,
Marion Co, IN

Pearl Osborne LaFara 1893 – 1972

LaFara

Crown Hill Cemetery,
Marion Co, IN

Earl Lincoln LaFara 1888 – 1928

LaFara

Washington Park Cemetery,
Marion Co, IN

John LaFara 1864 – 1945
Minnie Illges LaFara 1867 – 1947

LaFara

Vinson Memorial Park,
Madison Co, IN

Kate Landon Lafary Sanders
1844 – 1920

LaFara

Unity Cemetery,
Brown Co, OH

George W Landon 1790 – 1863

LaFara

Vinson Memorial Park,
Madison Co, IN

Jesse E Lafara 1888 – 1969

LaFara

Vinson Memorial Park,
Madison Co, IN

William H Lafara 1911 – 1918
Sarah M Lafara 1918 – 1918

LaFara

Vinson Memorial Park,
Madison Co, IN

Uva Lafara Ratchford 1913 – 1991

LaFara

Arcadia Cemetery,
Hamilton Co, IN

Francis Marion Lafara 1840 – 1909

LaFara

Mud Pike Church Cemetery
RipleyCo, IN

Peter Lafary 1826 – 1901

King

Cramer-King Cemetery
Somerset Co, PA

Philip King 1748 – 1818

King

Ridge Slater Cemetery
Van Wert Co, OH

Mary Wright King 1782 – 1852

King

King Family Cemetery
Mercer Co, OH

Jesse King 1805 – 1868

King

King Family Cemetery
Mercer Co, OH

Henry Harrison King 1842 – 1904

King

Meridian Cemetery
Ada Co, ID

Soloman King 1834 – 1908

King

King Family Cemetery
Mercer Co, OH

Catherine Sivey King 1816 – 1878

King

Prairie Grove Cemetery
Allen Co, IN

Eliza Hammond King Springer Kuhns 1844 – 1928

Rumple

Wright Cemetery
Van Wert Co, OH

Mary E McBride Rumple 1803 – 1893

Rumple

Wright Cemetery
Van Wert Co, OH

Hannah Gilbert Rumple 1844 – 1874

Rumple

Wright Cemetery
Van Wert Co, OH

Ida Rumple 1879 – 1879

King

King Family Cemetery
Mercer Co, OH

Philip King 1840 – 1864

Rumple

Forest Hill Cemetery
Henry Co, OH

Samuel Gilbert 1812 – 1894

Rumple

Willshire Cemetery
Van Wert Co, OH

Sarah Rumple Stetler 1867 – 1938

Rumple

Pleasant Grove Cemetery
Van Wert Co, OH

Edward T Rumple 1872 – 1947

Rumple

Riverside Cemetery
Mercer Co, OH

William T Rumple 1839 – 1912
Mary Ann Shock Rumple 1845 – 1922

Rumple

Riverside Cemetery
Mercer Co, OH

Alma Rumple Brunstetter 1879 – 1968

Rumple

Riverside Cemetery
Mercer Co, OH

Lester Rumple 1881 – 1933

Rumple

Pineview Memorial Park
Trumbull Co, OH

Emma Rumple Butler 1874 – 1938

Rumple

Riverside Cemetery
Mercer Co, OH

Burel Rumple 1885 – 1975

Rumple

Riverside Cemetery
Mercer Co, OH

Vada Rumple Brunstetter 1883 – 1966

Rumple

Riverside Cemetery
Mercer Co, OH

Maggie Rumple Morrow 1890 – 1965

King

Riverside Cemetery
Mercer Co, OH

Ella Rumple King 1869 – 1962
Homer King 1864 – 1932

King

Riverside Cemetery
Mercer Co, OH

Roxie King 1895 – 1911

King

Riverside Cemetery
Mercer Co, OH

LeeRoy King 1902 – 1922

King

White Chapel Memorial Park
Oakland Co, MI

Warren King 1908 – 1968

King

Leo Memorial Cemetery
Allen Co, IN

Ray King 1899 – 1989

King

Oakwood Cemetery
Kosciusko Co, IN

Elsie King Boroff Olmstead 1890 – 1984

King

Oakwood Cemetery
Kosciusko Co, IN

Zue Boroff Rhodes Schubert 1911 – 1995

King

Plainview Cemetery
Miam Co, IN

Edith King Enyart 1903 – 1991
LeRoy Enyart 1907 – 1974

Dyer

Estates of Serenity
Grant Co, IN

Major Graves Dyer 1901 – 1973

Dyer

Clear Branch Baptist Church Cemetery Cemetery
Union Co, TN

Rev John A Dyer 1867 – 1923
Pauline Elizabeth Koontz Dyer 1874 – 1952

Koontz

Milan Cemetery
Union Co, TN

James E Koontz 1840 – 1919

Dyer

Kelly Cemetery
Union Co, TN

Mary Shaver Dyer 1849 – 1911

Dyer

Clear Branch Baptist Church Cemetery
Union Co, TN

James Andrew Dyer 1845 – 1915

Dyer

Dyer Cemetery
Union Co, TN

Anderson T Dyer 1814 – 1844

Dyer

Damewood-Fergerson Cemetery
Union Co, TN

Rachel Hubbs Dyer Damewood 1821 – 1900

Dyer

Dyer Cemetery
Union Co, TN

William Hubbs 1793 – 1879
Phoebe Woolsey Hubbs 1797 – 1891

Major

Milan Cemetery
Union Co, TN

Parnick George 1797 – 1866

Major

Milan Cemetery
Union Co, TN

MaryAnn McPheron George 1799 – 1877

Major

Milan Cemetery
Union Co, TN

Eliza Jane George Major 1823 – 1897

Major

Milan Cemetery
Union Co, TN

Calvin M Major 1819 – 1898

SOURCES:

  1. Webpage: Find A Grave; https://www.findagrave.com/
  2. Webpage: Find A Grave – My Virtual Cemeteries; https://www.findagrave.com/virtual-cemetery/search/47196761
  3. Webpage: Find A Grave – Veteran Virtual Cemetery; https://www.findagrave.com/virtual-cemetery/251872
  4. Webpage: Find A Grave – 819th Bombardment Squadron Virtual Cemeteryhttps://www.findagrave.com/virtual-cemetery/387300

4 Comments

  1. Auriette

    As much as I’ve used FindAGrave to see images of headstones and discover family trees and obituaries, I never knew about the virtual cemetery feature. Thank you for drawing attention to it with your post.

    Reply
    • Barb LaFara

      Thank you for reading!

      Reply
  2. Susan Laney Spector

    Your slide show of headstones is a beautiful touch to your terrific post!

    Reply
    • Barb LaFara

      Thank you, Susan!

      Reply

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