Home
Surname List
Name Index
Sources
Gedcom File
Email Us

Fourth Generation


69. Laura Victoria MELVIN was born on 1 Jan 1889 in Tazewell County, Virginia.11,36,83 She died on 27 Apr 1965 in Beckley, Raleigh County, West Virginia.74,83 O'BRYAN CEMETARY, Summers County, WV
Compiled by Vicki L. Mills-Wykle and daughter Valerie D. Wickline-July 1, 2001
http://files.usgwarchives.net/wv/summers/cemetery/obryan.txt

Laura V. Yopp
Jan. 1, 1890 - Apr. 27, 1965
IN MEMORY OF A LOVING MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER

Listed as "widowed" on death record. Died of Carcinoma of Uterus - Pulmonary Tuberculosis

---------------------------------------------
Laura Victoria Yopp <https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NM78-FTL>
West Virginia Deaths, 1804-1999
death: 27 April 1965 Raleigh, West Virginia
father: Andy Melvin
mother: Suzan Durham
Name: Laura Victoria Yopp
Event Date: 27 Apr 1965
Event Place: Raleigh, West Virginia
Gender
Age (Expanded)
Birth Date
Birthplace
Marital Status
Spouse's Name
Father's Name: Andy Melvin
Father's Birthplace
Mother's Name: Suzan Durham
Mother's Birthplace
Occupation
Address
Residence Place
Cemetery
Burial Place
Burial Date
GS Film number: 1992141
Digital Folder Number: 4032163
Affiliate Repository Type: County Records
Reference ID: 6020
General notes from Vicki Mills:
--Laura's birth year on her headstone is listed as 1890 but according to her family bible written in her hand she was actually born in 1889. she was hard working woman.
--She was small as far as height and weight go but seemed to weather any storm as if she was as big as a mountain.
--She worked for people in the community cleaning their homes and washing their clothes just to make a few dollars to feed and clothe her children.
--She lost two sons while they were still in infancy
--Medical Notes: She was admitted to Pinecrest Hospital I believe in 1964 with what doctors thought was TB. Shortly before her death it was found that in fact she had uterine cancer and that is what took her life, not TB.
--Marriage Notes: Wrong Age given on marriage license, March 12, 1903, Tazewell Co., VA courthouse. Laura's age was listed as being 19 on her marriage license when in fact she was 14 years, 2 months and 11 days old at the time of her first marriage.

Laura Victoria MELVIN and William Robert "Bob" DOWDY were married on 12 Mar 1903 in Tazewell County, Virginia.83 Divorced in 1916 William Robert "Bob" DOWDY (son of John Wesley DOWDY and Maggie SALTSER) was born on 2 Feb 1882. He died Self inflicted gunshot wound in Jul 1963 in Tazewell County, Virginia.83 Laura Victoria MELVIN and William Robert "Bob" DOWDY had the following children:

220

i.

Mary Elizabeth DOWDY was born on 18 Jan 1903 in Richlands, Tazewell County, Virginia.83 She died on 16 Sep 1987 in Princeton, Mercer County, West Virginia.84 Buried in Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Mercer County, West Virginia.

221

ii.

George Melvin DOWDY was born on 15 Dec 1905 in Richlands, Tazewell County, Virginia.36,83 He died on 18 Feb 1923 in Quantico, Virginia.84 Buried in Perdue Cemetery, Mullens, Wyoming County, WV.

222

iii.

William Walter DOWDY was born on 11 Jun 1907 in Richlands, Tazewell County, Virginia.83 He died on 22 Aug 1908 in Richlands, Tazewell County, Virginia.84 Buried in Tazewell County, Virginia.

223

iv.

Robert Franklin DOWDY was born on 30 Apr 1909 in Richlands, Tazewell County, Virginia.83 He died on 30 Aug 1910 in Richlands, Tazewell County, Virginia.84 Buried in Tazewell County, Virginia.

224

v.

Alice Lucille DOWDY was born on 2 Oct 1911 in Richlands, Tazewell County, Virginia.36,83 She died on 6 Feb 2004 in Home-Grace, Walker Mountain, Summers County, West Virginia.84 Buried in Upland Cemetery in Summers County, West Virginia.

+225

vi.

Ermel Phynoid (YOPP) DOWDY.

Laura Victoria MELVIN and Peter YOPP were married on 23 Sep 1920 in Tazewell County, Virginia.83 Peter YOPP (son of Samuel YOPP and Sarah UNDERWOOD) was born on 20 Mar 1874 in Floyd County, Virginia. He died Cardio-venal on 6 Oct 1942 in Princeton, Mercer County, West Virginia.74,83