Laverne Lee Willett
Last updated 27 Sep 2023 in Spear–Johnson Family.
Individual
Born: 16 Apr 1946 in , , South Dakota, United States
Died: 29 Aug 1964 in Jamul, San Diego County, California, United States
Father: Leonard Ross Willett (1922 – 2009)
Mother: Lavilla M. Carlile (1923 – 2017)
marker-laverne-willett-1964: Gravestone of Lavern L Willett (1964); Find A Grave (https://www.findagrave.com: accessed 27 Sep 2023), memorial ID 3439389, photograph uploaded 18 Oct 2009 by Roy and Robyn ADAIR; citing “Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery (San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA), A-C, 736”
Comment Detail: Source includes name (Laverne L. [Willett]).
obituary-laverne-willett-1964: Obituary for Laverne Lee Willett (1964); “Private Rites for Youth Killed in Glider Crash,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 27 Sep 2023), “⟩ United States ⟩ California ⟩ Chula Vista ⟩ Chula Vista Star-News ⟩ 1964 ⟩ September ⟩ Sep 03 1964, Thu ⟩ Page 5”, column 1; citing “Chula Vista Star-News (Chula Vista, California), September 3, 1964 (Thursday), page A-5, column 1”
Comment Detail: Source includes name (Laverne Lee Willett).
obituary-leonard-willett-2009: Obituary for Leonard R. Willett (2009); “Leonard R. Willett,” Rapid City Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 11 Feb 2009 (Wednesday), page A4, column 1
Comment Detail: Source includes name (Laverne Willett).
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census-us-1950-p1-sd-brown-27-20: 1950 U.S. Census, population schedule, South Dakota, Brown County, Aberdeen, enumeration district 7-27, sheet 20; 1950 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 27 Sep 2023), “⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Brown ⟩ Aberdeen ⟩ 7-27”, image 21; citing “Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950, NARA microfilm publication T628, roll 990 (of 6373), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.”
Reference Detail: Line 22
Comment Detail: Source includes age (⟨conflict⟩) and location (So. Dak.). See research notes for conflict details.
marker-laverne-willett-1964: Gravestone of Lavern L Willett (1964); Find A Grave (https://www.findagrave.com: accessed 27 Sep 2023), memorial ID 3439389, photograph uploaded 18 Oct 2009 by Roy and Robyn ADAIR; citing “Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery (San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA), A-C, 736”
Comment Detail: Source includes date (April 16 1946).
obituary-laverne-willett-1964: Obituary for Laverne Lee Willett (1964); “Private Rites for Youth Killed in Glider Crash,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 27 Sep 2023), “⟩ United States ⟩ California ⟩ Chula Vista ⟩ Chula Vista Star-News ⟩ 1964 ⟩ September ⟩ Sep 03 1964, Thu ⟩ Page 5”, column 1; citing “Chula Vista Star-News (Chula Vista, California), September 3, 1964 (Thursday), page A-5, column 1”
Comment Detail: Source includes age (18) and date range ("earlier this week") for a story printed on Thursday, 3 Sep 1964. This gives a range of about 30 Aug 1945 to about 2 Sep 1946.
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marker-laverne-willett-1964: Gravestone of Lavern L Willett (1964); Find A Grave (https://www.findagrave.com: accessed 27 Sep 2023), memorial ID 3439389, photograph uploaded 18 Oct 2009 by Roy and Robyn ADAIR; citing “Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery (San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA), A-C, 736”
Comment Detail: Source includes date (August 29 1964).
obituary-laverne-willett-1964: Obituary for Laverne Lee Willett (1964); “Private Rites for Youth Killed in Glider Crash,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 27 Sep 2023), “⟩ United States ⟩ California ⟩ Chula Vista ⟩ Chula Vista Star-News ⟩ 1964 ⟩ September ⟩ Sep 03 1964, Thu ⟩ Page 5”, column 1; citing “Chula Vista Star-News (Chula Vista, California), September 3, 1964 (Thursday), page A-5, column 1”
Comment Detail: Source includes location (near Jamul [, California]) and date range (⟨conflict⟩). See research notes for conflict details.
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census-us-1950-p1-sd-brown-27-20: 1950 U.S. Census, population schedule, South Dakota, Brown County, Aberdeen, enumeration district 7-27, sheet 20; 1950 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 27 Sep 2023), “⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Brown ⟩ Aberdeen ⟩ 7-27”, image 21; citing “Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950, NARA microfilm publication T628, roll 990 (of 6373), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.”
Reference Detail: Lines 19,22
Comment Detail: Source identifies Laverne L. Willet as a son of Leonard R. Willett.
obituary-laverne-willett-1964: Obituary for Laverne Lee Willett (1964); “Private Rites for Youth Killed in Glider Crash,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 27 Sep 2023), “⟩ United States ⟩ California ⟩ Chula Vista ⟩ Chula Vista Star-News ⟩ 1964 ⟩ September ⟩ Sep 03 1964, Thu ⟩ Page 5”, column 1; citing “Chula Vista Star-News (Chula Vista, California), September 3, 1964 (Thursday), page A-5, column 1”
Comment Detail: Source identifies Laverne as the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard R. Willet.
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obituary-laverne-willett-1964: Obituary for Laverne Lee Willett (1964); “Private Rites for Youth Killed in Glider Crash,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 27 Sep 2023), “⟩ United States ⟩ California ⟩ Chula Vista ⟩ Chula Vista Star-News ⟩ 1964 ⟩ September ⟩ Sep 03 1964, Thu ⟩ Page 5”, column 1; citing “Chula Vista Star-News (Chula Vista, California), September 3, 1964 (Thursday), page A-5, column 1”
Comment Detail: Source identifies Laverne as the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard R. Willet.
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Miscellaneous Facts
Events
Moved To Residence: 1951 at , , California, United States
Graduation: Sweetwater High School, Jun 1964 at National City, San Diego County, California, United States
obituary-lavilla-willett-2017: Obituary for Lavilla M. (Carlile) Willett (2017); “Lavilla M. Willett,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 9 May 2020), image “United States of America ⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Rapid City ⟩ Rapid City Journal ⟩ 2017 ⟩ 06 ⟩ 21 ⟩ main-edition" page A4; citing “Rapid City Journal (Rapid City, South Dakota), 21 Jun 2017 (Wednesday), page A4, column 3”
Comment Detail: Source iincludes state (California) and year (1951) when they, including "their three little boys," moved. The three boys would have been Leonard, Laverne, and Laurence.
obituary-laverne-willett-1964: Obituary for Laverne Lee Willett (1964); “Private Rites for Youth Killed in Glider Crash,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 27 Sep 2023), “⟩ United States ⟩ California ⟩ Chula Vista ⟩ Chula Vista Star-News ⟩ 1964 ⟩ September ⟩ Sep 03 1964, Thu ⟩ Page 5”, column 1; citing “Chula Vista Star-News (Chula Vista, California), September 3, 1964 (Thursday), page A-5, column 1”
Comment Detail: Source includes date (June [1964]) and school name (Sweetwater High School [, National City, California]).
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Attributes
Residence: at Aberdeen, Brown County, South Dakota, United States
Residence: at National City, San Diego County, California, United States
census-us-1950-p1-sd-brown-27-20: 1950 U.S. Census, population schedule, South Dakota, Brown County, Aberdeen, enumeration district 7-27, sheet 20; 1950 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 27 Sep 2023), “⟩ South Dakota ⟩ Brown ⟩ Aberdeen ⟩ 7-27”, image 21; citing “Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950, NARA microfilm publication T628, roll 990 (of 6373), National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.”
Reference Detail: Line 20
Comment Detail: Source includes 1950 Census date (1 Apr 1950) and location (Aberdeen, Brown County, South Dakota).
obituary-laverne-willett-1964: Obituary for Laverne Lee Willett (1964); “Private Rites for Youth Killed in Glider Crash,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 27 Sep 2023), “⟩ United States ⟩ California ⟩ Chula Vista ⟩ Chula Vista Star-News ⟩ 1964 ⟩ September ⟩ Sep 03 1964, Thu ⟩ Page 5”, column 1; citing “Chula Vista Star-News (Chula Vista, California), September 3, 1964 (Thursday), page A-5, column 1”
Comment Detail: Source includes implied location (National City [, California]).and date range (⟨conflict⟩). See research notes for conflict details.
marker-laverne-willett-1964: Gravestone of Lavern L Willett (1964); Find A Grave (https://www.findagrave.com: accessed 27 Sep 2023), memorial ID 3439389, photograph uploaded 18 Oct 2009 by Roy and Robyn ADAIR; citing “Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery (San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA), A-C, 736”
Comment Detail: Source includes date (August 29 1964).
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General Notes and Anecdotes
Laverne was an accomplished student. He was a life member of the California Scholarship Federation (an organization for students with high standards in academics). He completed two summer classes at San Diego State College while he was in high school, and planned to enroll in 1964. [obituary-laverne-willett-1964]
In 1964 he won the National City Municpal Youth Recognition Award, presented by the mayor in recognition of scholarship and achievement and he won first place in a Bank of America Achievement Award contest. He also won his school's annual music award for the top student with musical ability. [obituary-laverne-willett-1964]
Laverne rose to be company commander of the California Cadet Corps for his last two years in high school, and won expert marksmanship medals. He held a senior Red Cross lifeguard badge. [obituary-laverne-willett-1964]
Laverne died in a home-made glider he had built, and which had made several successful flights before the fatal accident. In this accident, the tow rope snapped, and the glider went into a dive from about 40 feet. [obituary-laverne-willett-1964]
obituary-laverne-willett-1964: Obituary for Laverne Lee Willett (1964); “Private Rites for Youth Killed in Glider Crash,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 27 Sep 2023), “⟩ United States ⟩ California ⟩ Chula Vista ⟩ Chula Vista Star-News ⟩ 1964 ⟩ September ⟩ Sep 03 1964, Thu ⟩ Page 5”, column 1; citing “Chula Vista Star-News (Chula Vista, California), September 3, 1964 (Thursday), page A-5, column 1”
(no additional information)
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Research Notes (Conflicts/Spelling/Followup)
CONFLICTS
Birth Date: This database uses 16 Apr 1946. The 1950 US Census gives an age of (4), which, when applied to the official Census date of 1 Apr 1950, gives a birth date range from 2 Apr 1945 to 1 Apr 1946. (This conflict goes away if this page's enumeration date of 25 Apr 1950 was incorrectly used instead of the official census date.)
Death Date: This database uses 29 Aug 1964. His obituary notes his death was ("earlier this week") for a story printed on Thursday, 3 Sep 1964, giving a date range of 30 Aug 1964 to 2 Sep 1964. [obituary-laverne-willett-1964]
obituary-laverne-willett-1964: Obituary for Laverne Lee Willett (1964); “Private Rites for Youth Killed in Glider Crash,” Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com: accessed 27 Sep 2023), “⟩ United States ⟩ California ⟩ Chula Vista ⟩ Chula Vista Star-News ⟩ 1964 ⟩ September ⟩ Sep 03 1964, Thu ⟩ Page 5”, column 1; citing “Chula Vista Star-News (Chula Vista, California), September 3, 1964 (Thursday), page A-5, column 1”
(no additional information)
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Sources
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