We were contacted by a gentleman, Warren, who purchased a military locker on ebay in hopes of getting it back to the veteran it belongs to. We are happy to report we were able to locate the next of kin - unfortunately the veteran this belongs to passed away in 1994. Contact info of next of kin is being passed on so that Warren may contact them.
Julia Virginia Welch was born on January 18, 1928, in Old Town, Maine. Her father, Nathaniel Welch, was 39, and her mother, Mary Welch, was 40.
She married Elisha Ralph Smith on February 21, 1945, in Tisbury, Massachusetts.
They had four children during their marriage – Rosemary (born 1946), Carol (born 1948 ), Jody (born approx. 1949) and Elisha Ralph Jr (born 1950).
In 1961, she joined the WAC’s and soon after her and Elisha were divorced. (Quote from article about her ex reads," Over the years, Elisha has married four times. He and his first wife, Julia V. Welch Smith, were married when she was nineteen and he twenty-two, and they had four children, the late Rosemary, Ralph, Jody, and Carol. But farming had little appeal for her and she left the Vineyard – and Elisha – to join the Women’s Army Corps.- click here to read full article) Elisha remarried in 1964 and died in 2013).
Master Sgt Julia Smith retired after serving 22 years in the Army, and passed away at the age of 66 on December 25, 1994 in Greencastle, PA. At the time she was residing with Ethel Williford at 341 Williamson Rd, Greencastle, PA. Julia and Ethel purchased the property in 1985 and lived in Long Branch, NJ prior to that.
Surviving relatives are children;
Elisha Ralph Smith – Born Nov 14, 1950 (married to Tammy)
Carol Jean Smith Pearson - April 23, 1948 (married to Ray)
Jody Smith Battistini - Born May 18 (married to Paul)
...and many great grandchildren
Daughter Rosemary Smith Donnelly, born Feb 13, 1946, died in 2001
