William Edwin Latimer

Notes:

When he registered for the draft during World War I, he was shown as a ships carpenter for Dierks Blodgett AB in Pascagoula, Mississippi. His nearest relative was his wife, Mrs. William Edwin Latimer, and their address was Rt. 3, Bell, Gulfport, Mississippi. His physical description was Tall, of medium build, with grey eyes and light brown hair.

His obituary, said to have been printed in the Daily Herald, Biloxi, on July 24, 1922, a transcription of which was posted on his FindAGrave memorial page created by Carmella Seymour, follows:

W. M. LATIMER DIES"

"At 1 o'clock this morning Wm. Edwin Latimer, aged 47 years, 8 months and 17 days, died at his home in the northeastern part of Gulfport. Mr. Latimer had been ailing for some time, the disease being of such a nature that it would not yield to medical treatment. He was born at Handsboro and had been a resident of Gulfport almost since the establishment of the city. For a number of years he was connected with the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad with the construction department. He was well known and liked by a large circle of friends and relatives. A number of years ago he united with the Methodist church in Gulfport and had been a consistent member since. He was especially interested in Sunday School work. A wife and four children beside three sisters and five brothers remain to mourn his death. The funeral services will be conducted by the Rev. W. L. Linfield at the family residence tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock. The relatives who are present from out of the city are Mr. and Mrs. C. A. White and children from laures, and the daughter, Mrs. J. C. Pearce from Birmingham."

A photo of his headstone, erected by the Woodsment of the World, is also shown on his FindAGrave memorial page.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1900 Census
Mississippi, Harrison County, Beat No. 2
Enumerated 18 and 19 Jun 1900
SD 140 ED 32 Sgweet 17B
551-555
Latimer, Edwin V Head W M Nov 1874 25 M 2 Miss Miss Miss Laborer Saw Mill
Latimer, ALice Wf W F Apr 1876 24 M 2 1/1 Miss Miss Miss
Latimer, Nora I Dtr W F Oct 1899 7/12 S Miss Miss Miss

1910 Census
Mississippi, Harrison County, Beat 2, City of Gulfport
Enumerated 26 Apr 1910
SD 6 ED 42 Ward 4 Sheet 23B
Magnolia Street
None-392-404
Latimer, Wm E Head M W 33 M1 12 Carpenter D&GI (??) Shops
Latimer, Alice Wf F W 32 M1 12 5/4
Latimer, Nora Dtr F W 10 S
Latimer, Robt E Son M W 5 S
Latimer, Edna Dtr F W 2 S
Latimer, Victor Son M W 1/12 S

1920 Census
Mississippi, Harrison County, Gulfport, Beat 2, Ward 4
Enumerated 22 Jan 1920
SD 6 ED 50 Sheet 26A
Central Fork
HH 553
Robert and Ella Latimer
HH 557
EJ and Ellen Latimer
HH 559
Latimer William E Head M W 44 M
Latimer, Mrs. Alice Wf F W 43 M
Latimer, Nora Iduma Dtr F W 20 S
Latimer, Robert E Son M W 15 S
Latimer, Edna Winona tDtr F W 12 S
Latimer, Victor Son M W 9 S
HH 561
Pearce, J F and Mrs D E

William married Mary Alice West about 1898. Mary was born on 21 Apr 1876 in Mississippi; died on 18 Oct 1963; was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Gulfport, Harrison County, Mississippi. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Patty Falk posted on a Latimer Genealogy board that she was trying to find a link to her mother's side of the family: Her grandmother was "Iduma Latimer (b. 20 Oct 1899), married Jefferson Pearce. They lived in Biloxi, MS. Jefferson was from Alabama. Iduma was one of four children, Iduma, Edna, Edwin and Victor. Their mother was Mary Latimer who died in Miss. about 1964. Edna married Stanley CAMPBELL and Edwin married Rose. They lived in Gulfport. Victor married Lucy, they lived in New Orleans. Victor and Lucy has one daughter, Martha Louise, born about 1944. Edwin and Rose had 3 daughters, but I don't know their names."

Sheryl Falk later obtained a copy of Iduma Latimer Pearce's death certificate from the State of Mississippi. Her date of birth per the certificate was instead shown as 24 October 1899, in Mississippi. Parents were listed as William Latimer and Mary A. West. The birth certificate of Iduma's daughter, Josephine Anne Glennon Pearce listed Iduma's full name as Nora Iduma Latimer, born in Handsboro, Mississippi. Anne was shown as her first child.

(Research):
Census Listings:

1920 Census
Mississippi, Harrison County, Gulfport, Beat 2
Enumerated 22 Jan 1920
SD 6 ED 50 Sheet 26A Ward 4
HH 523-542
Robert and Ella Latimer (ages 37 and 30) and children Laborer City Streets
HH 524-543
E.J. and Ellen Latimer (ages 72 and 66) Laborer City Streets
HH 528-547
Latimer, William E Head M W 44 M Miss Miss Miss Carpenter House
Latimer, Mrs. Allice Wf F W 43 M Miss Miss Miss
Latimer, Nora Iduma Dtr F W 20 S Miss Miss Miss
Latimer, Robert E(dwin) Son M W 15 S Miss Miss Miss
Latimer, Edna Urumia? Dtr F W 13 S Miss Miss Miss
Latimer, Victor Son M W 9 S Miss Miss Miss

Nora married Jefferson Clayton Pearce about 1922. Jefferson (son of Oscar T. Pearce and Addie Pearl Springfield) was born on 19 May 1896 in Guin, Marion County, Alabama; died on 13 Sep 1962 in Biloxi, Harrison County, Mississippi; was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Gulfport, Harrison County, Mississippi. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Rose Brown. Rose was born on 1 Apr 1906 in Mississippi; died on 13 Nov 1990 in Gulfport, Harrison County, Mississippi; was buried in Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, Gulfport, Harrison County, Mississippi. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

When she applied for a social security account, she was living at 2103 Chesnut Street in New Orleans, LA. She 18 years old, and her first job was at Realty Operators in the 500 Marine Building in New Orleans.

Josephine married Walter Samuel Falk, Jr. on 2 Jun 1944 in Biloxi, Harrison County, Mississippi. Walter (son of Walter Samuel Falk and Anna Thompson Sneden) was born on 22 Mar 1914 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; died on 27 May 2001 in Austin, Travis County, Texas; was buried in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Bexar County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Legendary Texas artist, Walter S. Falk III died unexpectedly on Tues., July 10, while painting in his home studio in Rockport. The son of the late Anne and Lt. Col. Walter S. Falk, Jr., he is survived by wife Rhonda Stout Falk, Rockport; daughter Sheryl Falk, Houston; sons Nathan and Benjamin Falk, Rockport, sister Patricia Falk, Bridgeport, CT; and devoted friends and collectors around the world.

Born Sept. 20, 1945, in Philadelphia, Walter graduated from The University of Texas at Austin. He attended graduate school in philosophy, but when his advisor lost his Ph.D. dissertation, Falk crossed Guadalupe St. and began painting and selling watercolors on the sidewalk. Falk pushed to establish a dedicated marketplace for artists and craftspeople, which led to the creation of the People's Renaissance Market.

Falk was an exquisite artist with a distinctive artistic style-lyrical, whimsical and captivating. He combined dreamlike color in watercolor, acrylic, or oil backgrounds, with human figures inked with unerring gesture and movement, with brief, poetic titles. He had gallery shows, but he felt art belonged to the people, not to the upper crust alone. So he sold his paintings on the street and in festivals, which made him a keen human observer, contributing to his artistic reach even as it challenged him materially. Walter loved beauty, and made many sacrifices for his art. He sold nearly 40,000 original works in his life time, an achievement friends believe is unequalled, and he sold them on every continent on the globe.

Falk traveled extensively throughout Mexico, Canada, Europe, and South America. He had great adventures, climbing pyramids, mountains, and waterfalls, swimming with alligators and fighting bandidos. He shared his adventurous spirit in his paintings and through his captivating stories. He was a larger than life character who has been compared to Hemingway and Steinbeck. He relished life, and stayed true to himself throughout his.

A funeral service will be held this Sunday, 2:30 pm, at the First United Methodist Church, Rockport. A celebration of his life will be held soon in Austin. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made toward any charity supporting the arts or the environment or the American Heart Society.

(Courtesy of Sheryl Falk)

Walter married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Walter married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Benjamin Andrew Falk of Austin, Texas passed away unexpectedly on July 15, 2023, in Austin, Texas at the young age of 34. His family is heartbroken by his untimely passing but finds comfort in knowing Ben had a noble end, dying while helping friends with an Eagle Scout Project in the Texas heat.

Ben was born in Austin, Texas on January 12, 1989, to the late legendary Texas artist, Walter S. Falk, III and Rhonda Stout Falk, who survives him. Ben is also survived by the love of his life, Alyssa Ferguson, their precious daughter, Frannie Anne and their son, Walter S. Falk, IV expected to arrive this winter. He is also survived by his devoted sister, Sheryl Falk and her husband, Richard Retz, Houston, and his loving brother, Nathan Falk and his wife, Amanda Yzaguirre and nephew, Jackson Pearce, Houston. He is also survived by a host of beloved cousins, aunts, and uncles and a large circle of faithful friends, whose outpouring of love and support has been extraordinary.

From an early age, Ben loved his Country inspired by his grandfather, Walter Falk, Jr., who served as the Mayor of Rockport. Ben was active in the Boy Scouts and graduated from Rockport-Fulton High School. At 17 years old, Ben volunteered to serve our Country by joining the Army where he was proud to earn his wings as a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot. He was honorably discharged as a Chief Warrant Officer (CW2). While serving, Ben studied Electrical Engineering Technologies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and obtained a B.S. in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He achieved his dream of becoming a lawyer, graduating from Texas Tech Law School where he won national recognition for his advocacy skills. He was a well-respected lawyer at Anderson Roberts PLLC and an owner of Championship Title.

Ben was incredibly intelligent, loquacious, and kind. His love for others really shined in the world around him, and his generous nature caused him to have many loyal friends. All agree, Ben was larger than life, with a heart to match. He inherited the fun gene from his dad, Terry and was the life of every party. He delighted his family and friends with his zest for life, his razor-sharp wit, and his entertaining stories. Ben always had adventures to share, including his climb of Kilimanjaro, trek through the Himalayas to Everest Base camp, and dance with Massai warriors in Africa.

Ben's life was tragically too short. His deepest sorrow would have been leaving his young children, which were his proudest achievement in life. He would want them to know how much joy they brought him and that wherever he is, he will watch over them and help in any way possible.

Ben was one of a kind. He was much loved, and he left a deep mark on the world in his short time. He will live on through his beautiful children, through his stories, and in the hearts of all who knew him.

There will be a Celebration of Life on Saturday, July 22, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. to honor him at Key Allegro Yacht Club, 1796 Bayshore Drive, Rockport, Texas. As Ben loved celebrations, there will be another celebration held in Austin in August, 2023.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Benjamin A. Falk Memorial Trust for the benefit of his young family at https://gofund.me/bd89debd

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com for the Falk family.