Dwight Hector (Henry) Dodge (1891-1960)

WWI Draft Card - June 5, 1917

WWII Draft Card - April 27, 1942

SSN Application - May 5, 1945

Death Certificate for Dwight H. Dodge. He died 21 Feb 1960 in Midland, Oregon.

Obituary for Dwight H Dodge

Funeral Record for Dwight H. Dodge. His funeral was 27 Feb 1960.

Burial Record for Dwight H. Dodge. He is buried at Klamath Memorial Park in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Gravestone for Dwight H. Dodge (findagrave.com)

I have been looking for Dwight Hector Dodge, my great-grandfather's brother, who also moved to California, more specifically Woodlake, California. He moved there from Colorado around 1920. I have found him in Census records and local directories through 1950. I even found his Social Security Application Record from 1945. I was surprised to find out that he was married. He married Ruth Lucille Edgington around 1920. I've not been able to find a marriage certificate in Colorado nor in California. As far as I can tell, Dwight and Ruth didn't have any children. I was very surprised to find out the Dwight changed his middle name from Hector to Henry (according to his SSN application). This has been one of the truobles of looking for Dwight; not knowing that he had changed his middle name (The family records as well as his WWI draft card show he was born Dwight Hector Dodge). I also recently found his World War II draft card. He is also listed as Dwight Henry Dodge. According to this card, he was working on the ranch of CJ Wilson in Woodlake. Here is a picture of my great-grandfather, James R Dodge, at left, from 1920. The man on the right isn't identified but I believe it is his brother Dwight H Dodge as they look alike.

I recently found some additional information on Dwight H Dodge. He left Buena Vista, Colorado in 1920. He eventually made his way to California with his wife Ruth Edgington. (I have yet to find a marriage record for them). According to voter registration records I've come across, they first lived in the towns of Fellows and Edison in Kern County, California around 1922. They were living in Woodlake in Tulare County, California, by 1924, where they lived until 1950. They eventually divorced, according to his death certificate (which is very surprising; I was just as surprised when I found out he had been married). Dwight moved to Oregon, where he died in 1960. Dwight appears to have died alone, as he was divorced, had no children and had lost contact with his siblings over the years. Here is his obituary: 'Funeral services for Pat Dodge, 58 who died at Midland February 21, will be helo in O'Hairs Memorial Chapel Saturday, February 27, ay 10:30 a.m. Interment will be made in Klamath Memorial Park.'

The picture of his gravestone from findagrave.com indicates that this is him. His name matches (Dwight Henry Dodge) and shows he was born in 1891. His death certificate and burial record say he was born in 1901 (this is an error), yet his gravestone says he was born in 1891 (this is the correct date of birth). His death certificate does not show where he was born or who his parents were. In fact, the informant listed on his death certificate is his drivers license. His social security number, however, proves that this is Dwight Henry Dodge. His social security number that was issued to him back in 1945 is the same number that is on his death certificate. His SSN application lists his birthdate, place of birth and parents, completing this information that is lacking on his death record.

2014 Update: I just found Dwight in the Tulare County, California Directory in 1952. He is still living in Woodlake and listed as a Rancher. He is listed by himself. In 1955, he is listed in the Klamath County, Oregon Directory. He is living in Midland, Oregon and working as a Laborer for the Klamath Poultry Farm. I also found his wife Ruth living in Lemon Cove, California in the 1956-7 Tulare County, California Directory as Ruth L. Dodge. In the 1958 Directory, she is listed as Ruth L. Maxon (as wife of Donald A. Maxon). As of July 2014, I have yet to find either a marriage record or divorce record for Dwight & Ruth Dodge.