Bio-Bedillion, GolieC

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Golie Cephas Bedillion
(1891-1964)

Golie Cephas Bedillion was born on Oct. 17, 1891 in Amwell Township, Washington County, PA, the son of John M. and Catherine (Miner) Bedillion.

Golie married Mary Myrtle Donley (1893-1942), daughter of Felix and Sarah Jane "Jennie" (Durbin) Donley. They had four children – Helen Naomi Day, Donald Bedillion, Charles Keith Bedillion and Clifford "Wayne" Bedillion.

Early in their marriage, Golie and Myrtle and their two eldest children lived with Myrtle's widowed mother on Broad Street in West Washington. Myrtle's 38-year-old cousin, Thurman Durbin, also resided in the home that year. Just a few doors away lived Golie's aged uncle and aunt, Andrew J. and Mary Louise (Johnston) Miner. The census taker listed Golie as a sorter in a glass factory, likely the Hazel-Atlas plant where several of his Miner cousins also labored.

When the federal census was enumerated in 1930, the family made its home on East Beau Street in East Washington. That year, the 37-year-old Golie was listed as "salesman - insurance." Myrtle's widowed mother in law, age 76, also lived under their roof that year.

Chestnut Street in downtown Washington

Golie and Mary later resided at 133 Penn Street in Washington and were active members of the West Washington Methodist Church.

The Washington Reporter said that Golie "spent his entire life in Washington. He worked for the Prudential Insurance Company for 25 years and then for William J. Warrick, Florist, until [1958]."

On March 2, 1942, Mary passed away at home at 133 Penn Street. She was just 49 years of age. She was laid to rest at Washington Cemetery.

Golie outlived her by 22 years, and died on Dec. 5, 1964 "following a lingering illness."

~ Son Donald Bedillion ~

Son Donald Bedillion (1917-2002) was born on April 2, 1917. He was married twice, first in 1940 to Jane Dediker. They had one sno, Charles "Chuck" Bedillion.

During World War II, he served with the U.S. Navy as a seabee in Okinawa, Saipan, Guam and Hawaii. Later, he was employed by Ward Printing and Jessop Steel in Washington, followed by work at Cooper Industries in Canonsburg, where he retired in 1984. Active in the community, he sang in the choir of the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Eighty Four, Washington County, and was on the pastor nominating committee of the West Alexander Presbyterian Church. He also was a commander of the Washington Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and the Edwin Scott Linton American Legion Post in Washington.

Said the Washington Observer-Reporter, he "enjoyed traveling, singing and music."

Sadly, Jane died in June 1985. Donald then married his second wife, Winnie King Hodgens, on Aug. 7, 1986.

In his final years, Donald lived in Claysville, Washington County. He died at home at the age of 85 on Dec. 9, 2002.

~ Daughter Helen Naomi (Bedillion) Day ~

Daughter Helen Naomi Bedillion (1919-2011) was born on Aug. 4, 1919 in Washington. On Aug. 4, 1939, Helen married James Hiram Day in Dunbar, Fayette County, PA by the hand of Rev. O.G. Cook.

They had six children -- Stephen Day, David Day, Duane Day, Dr. Dennis Day, Linda Schmoyer and Barbara Day, and raised two nephews, William Bedillion and Clifford Bedillion. They resided for many years on Day Road in Amwell Township, near Washington.

Said the Washington (PA) Observer-Reporter, Helen "worked as a cashier and in the office at Sears for 20 years... [She] was a longtime member of Liberty United Methodist Church, where she was a Sunday school teacher, youth leader and organist. She also was a member of Chestnut Ridge Grange and AARP. She enjoyed shopping, her children and grandchildren and being a homemaker."

James owned and operated a dairy farm in cooperation with William Bedillion.

In their later years, Helen and James were members of the Grace Brethren Church. They celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary in 2010.

Helen passed away at the age of 91 on Jan. 8, 2011 in Presbyterian SeniorCare in Washington. She was laid to rest in North Ten Mile Baptist Church Cemetery in Amity. At the time of her death, said the Observer-Reporter, she was survived by 18 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

~ Son Charles Keith "Tuffy" Bedillion ~

Son Charles Keith "Tuffy" Bedillion (1923-1997) was born on July 7, 1922. At East Washington High School, in the late 1930s and 1940, he made a name for himself playing football and basketball.

He served in the South Pacific Theatre during World War II, and later in the US Air Force, retiring as a sergeant.

Circa 1968, he was stationed at the Stewart Air Force Base in Newburg, NY.

He moved to central Florida later in 1968 and married Angelina (?). They had one son, Carlos Bedillion.

Charles died in Orlando on Dec. 2, 1997, at the age of 75. He was laid to rest in the National Cemetery in Bushell, FL.

~ Son Clifford "Wayne" Bedillion ~

Son Clifford "Wayne" Bedillion (1924-1968) was born on May 23, 1924. He served in the US Navy during World War II. Said the Observer-Reporter, he was "employed by the Engineer Drafting Branch of the Defense Electronic Supply Center and previously worked for the government in Monmouth, N.J., following his retirement from the Navy after 10 years of service."

He married Vera Brady ( ? -1960), a native of Long Branch, NJ. They had three children -- Clifford James Bedillion, Charles Paul Bedillion and William Joseph Bedillion. They were members of the South Park Methodist Church of Dayton, OH.

Clifford died in Dayton on Jan. 29, 1968, at the age of 44, following an illness of two weeks. Circa 1968, son Clifford lived in Dayton, son Charles in Eighty Four, Washington County, and son William in Washington.