Webb Telegraph

Western Union Telegraph my grandmother (Mrs. Wm. [Verna Rogers] Henry) in St. Louis, Mo., sent my mom (Mrs. McKinley [Betty Henry] Webb), in Tampa, Florida, informing her of Ricky's death. Dee was my mother's favorite cousin and they were close. Ricky and I had been born a month and a day apart, so mom and Dee had kept up with each other during their pregnancies, deliveries and early child-rearing. We got the telegram Christmas day and although I was three years old, I can still remember her sobbing when it arrived. My siblings, cousins and I, and none of our generation were allowed to play with balloons from that day on.

1948 Dec 25 Am 4 04

AA33 SA 120
S.LLB130 NL PD=StLoouis Mo 24=
Mrs. McKinlley Webb=
601 Wilson RD Martime Homes Tampa FLO=

Little Ricky Miller choked to death eight oclock Christmas Eve on a small toy ballon funeral arrangements incomplete possibly Sunday or Monday not sure I will be able to go so Sorry Love=
Mother=

Jerry Richard "Ricky" Miller, b. 4 Apr 1945, Indianapolis, Indiana; died 24 Dec 1948, Bloomfield, Greene Co, Indiana. Ricky was the third child and only son of Jerry L. Miller (b.14 Jul 1914 Swiss City, Indiana; died Pinellas Co, Florida) and Mary Dee Duke (b. 7 Jan 1921 Bloomfield, Greene Co, Indiana; Dee died of pneumonia in July 1948 at Indianapolis).

Submitted by: Sue Bodishbaugh [suebod@tampabay.rr.com]

Last updated 22.10.2009