George Graham Keys Jr.1

b. 15 November 1916, d. 4 May 2002
George and Gladys (James) Keys
photo courtesy Martha Keys
FatherGeorge Graham Keys1 b. 5 Feb 1888, d. 19 Jan 1966
MotherMae Taylor Allison1 b. 13 Jan 1890, d. 14 Dec 1972
Birth15 Nov 1916 George Graham Keys Jr. was born on 15 Nov 1916.2 
  George was the oldest of four sons; his younger brothers were Robert, Jack, and Billy.3 
Childhood As a young child George (and his parents) lived with his maternal grandmother, Mattie Allison in Glade Spring, Washington County, Virginia.4 
Biog Leaving home during the Depression, George traveled around the country by hitch-hiking and "riding the rails". He served a stint in the Army, cut short by contracting malaria in the Panama Canal Zone, then returned to Abingdon where he worked as a motion picture projectionist.3 
Marriage10 May 1937 He married Gladys Estellene James, daughter of Harvey L. James and Martha McKinley McVey, on 10 May 1937 in Bristol, Tennessee.1 
Biog George worked as an electrician for the Navy, then returned to Abingdon, and began a career with the United States Post Office. For most of this career, he worked on the old Railway Postal Service, once again riding the trains between Bristol, Virginia and Washington, DC. He also took flying lessons and acquired his private pilot's license, serving in the Civil Air Patrol. Towards the end of his postal service career, he began work on a college degree, and eventually earned a Master's of Science from East Tennessee State University. After retirement from the Post Office, he taught at ETSU for several years before retiring again.3 
  George seemed to have inherited the Allison gene for wanderlust and for mathematical abilities (see George's great great uncle Robert Clark Allison). George and his brother Robert were both "natural" math whizzes. He also had a deep love of family history and research, which he passed on to his only child, Martha. George outlived all his brothers, dying at 85, from complications of Alzheimer's. 
Death4 May 2002 George died on 4 May 2002.2 
Burial He was buried at Greenfield Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.2 

Related Links and Images:

George with his cousins, Sam Keys and "Hampton" Allison circa 1927 (click on the camera icon, then move cursor over faces in middle of front row to see names)5
George (front row, center) with parents and other family members, circa 1918. (click on the camera icon, then run cursor over faces to see names).5
George and Gladys Keys stone in Greenfield Cemetery

Family

Gladys Estellene James b. 27 May 1919, d. 13 Feb 2008
Child
  • Martha Mae Keys6
Last Edited9 Dec 2010

Citations

  1. [S622] Martha Keys, "Ramblingroots p5416," e-mail to Diana Powell, 28 Sept. 2005. Martha is the daughter of George Graham Keys Jr. and Gladys James.
  2. [S1298] George Keys tombstone, Greenfield Cemetery, Washington County, Virginia, photographed August 2005 by Martha Keys.
  3. [S622] Martha Keys, "Bio for George Keys," e-mail to Diana Powell, Dec. 19, 2005. Martha is George's daughter.
  4. [S238] Mattie Allison household, 1920 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring, ED 147, sheet 2A (p. 69 stamped), dwelling 26, family 26, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2005. Enumeration includes: Mattie Allison, 49, wid, b. TN; Geo G. Keys, 32, son in law, seed and grain merchant, b. VA; May T., dau, 29, b. VA; George G., grandson, 3, b. VA; Robert, grandson, 2/12, b. VA.
  5. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Martha Keys.
  6. [S622] Martha Keys, "Ryburns and Allisons," e-mail to Diana Powell, 4 March 2003.