IN IN - Opal Beatrice Fulks, 22, Monticello, 4 March 1931

[strangerthanfiction1200]

If Opal suffered from depression after giving birth, it is possible someone could have sent her to a hospital (IMO). Mental illness at this time was not spoken about and everything was hushed up. Even in 2021 there is stigma. (IMO).

 

[Laughing]

Opal is my grandfathers sister and the correct spelling is Raider

Thanks so much for joining us! Looking forward to more work on your aunt's Missing case.

jmho ymmv lrr

 

[Loralee]

In 1953 when her mother died her address was noted as "unknown" ( Journal and Courier - 25 Jun 1953, Thu Obituary). But, in 1957 in her father's obituary she was mentioned living in Yeoman, Indiana where her father lived. Is it possible she returned home to living with her father after her mother died?

Obituary for Charles Alvia Raider (Aged 76) - Newspapers.com

 

[Sillybilly]

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[Quoththeraven]

In 1953 when her mother died her address was noted as "unknown" ( Journal and Courier - 25 Jun 1953, Thu Obituary). But, in 1957 in her father's obituary she was mentioned living in Yeoman, Indiana where her father lived. Is it possible she returned home to living with her father after her mother died?

I saw that that, too. Address unknown in 1953 but known in Oct 1957? Wouldn't the date of last contact be October 1957, instead of "Date of Last Contact: March 4, 1931"? Since Charles Raider died in Phoenix, AZ, at Charles A. Raider, Jr's house, I'd assume they would be the ones to talk to about Opal, since they knew where she lived and that she was still alive in 1957. Of course, his other daughter listed in the obit, Mrs. Mildred Mullendou of Phoenix, could also have been the one who gave the information for the obit. Those two would be the ones to talk to. He was buried at Yeoman Cemetery, Yeoman, Carroll County, IN, according to his obit, so, I'm sure Opal was at the funeral.

Charles Alvia Raider Sr. (1881-1957) - Find a...

 

[Quoththeraven]

Since Charles Raider died in Phoenix, AZ, at Charles A. Raider, Jr's house, I'd assume they would be the ones to talk to about Opal, since they knew where she lived and that she was still alive in 1957. Of course, his other daughter listed in the obit, Mrs. Mildred Mullendou of Phoenix, could also have been the one who gave the information for the obit. Those two would be the ones to talk to. He was buried at Yeoman Cemetery, Yeoman, Carroll County, IN, according to his obit, so, I'm sure Opal was at the funeral.

I added a Phoenix obit for Opal's brother, Charles Raider, Jr. In it is listed two surviving sisters, out of state. It doesn't name them. Checking on Ancestry. com, his sister, Mildred E. Mullendore (mispelled Mullendou in his father's obit), died in 1968. Burial at Yeoman Cemetery, Yeoman, Carroll County, Indiana. The other sister, Janie M. Dickman, died in 2002. Burial at Shrine of Remembrace, Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado

Opal Fulks wasn't mentioned in either Mildred's or Janie's obituaries as a survivor. One would conclude, then, that Opal was no longer living at the time of her brother Charles' death on 21 Oct 1966. So we can assume she died before Oct 1966, which would narrow down her time of death. This all the more reinforces the possibility that her immediate family knew she was alive after her alleged disappearance in 1931. Since they knew where she lived and that she was still alive in 1957, we can place her death between Oct 1957 (her father's death) and Oct 1966 (her brother's death), a window of 9 years.

 

[Sillybilly]

Hey everyone,

Opalsgreatgranddau has been verified as a family member. As a VI, they are not required to provide links to what they state as fact about their knowledge of Opal's case.

Please treat our VI with respect at all times. If there is something you disagree with, please do not argue with them or challenge them in any way.

Thank you to everyone for being here to discuss this case. It's been a very long time, and hopefully members can be helpful in bringing about some resolution for Opal's loved ones and justice in this very old case.

 

[Opalsgreatgranddau]

There are two newspaper clippings on Ancestry, both of which state that Emery and Opal separated in 1932. This may just be misreporting her disappearance as separation, but is interesting as it could also be presenting her leaving as a separation. Who knows?

He never reported her as missing. Don't you find it strange that he waited so long to divorce her, if she actually abandoned him and the children?

 

[Opalsgreatgranddau]

I added a Phoenix obit for Opal's brother, Charles Raider, Jr. In it is listed two surviving sisters, out of state. It doesn't name them. Checking on Ancestry. com, his sister, Mildred E. Mullendore (mispelled Mullendou in his father's obit), died in 1968. Burial at Yeoman Cemetery, Yeoman, Carroll County, Indiana. The other sister, Janie M. Dickman, died in 2002. Burial at Shrine of Remembrace, Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado

Opal Fulks wasn't mentioned in either Mildred's or Janie's obituaries as a survivor. One would conclude, then, that Opal was no longer living at the time of her brother Charles' death on 21 Oct 1966. So we can assume she died before Oct 1966, which would narrow down her time of death. This all the more reinforces the possibility that her immediate family knew she was alive after her alleged disappearance in 1931. Since they knew where she lived and that she was still alive in 1957, we can place her death between Oct 1957 (her father's death) and Oct 1966 (her brother's death), a window of 9 years.

I don't know that leaving her out of the obit actually means that she was dead. They hadn't seen her since 1931, so the children of her siblings are not going to remember to add Opal to their mother's obituary as surviving. None had ever met her.

 

[Opalsgreatgranddau]

It was also at the height of the Great Depression. Very bad times for most Americans.

It was, but I was thinking that what if they decided to have an illegal abortion to limit the number of children that they were having and then she died? What if she died and it was covered up by the person doing the abortion and my great-grandfather?

 

[alb1on]

He never reported her as missing. Don't you find it strange that he waited so long to divorce her, if she actually abandoned him and the children?

It is common for divorce only to be moved forward when there is a reason or after some time. I would be more inclined to wonder if a spouse acts very quickly after their partner is missing. I am still interested in the different terminology in the reports. some reports, already posted, refer to her abandoning him and the children. The NAMUS file (and others) just note her disappearance from the record. And i am now posting the two newspaper clippings, from the time of the divorce, which refer to them having separated in 1932. These different descriptions may be no more than choices of words by different authors, but they do have somewhat different meanings. A separation, for example, is usually mutual as opposed to an abandonment which would be the action of one partner. I do not know whether you can shed any light on which of these is the accurate description or whether she simply disappeared without anyone knowing why?

 

[Quoththeraven]

I don't know that leaving her out of the obit actually means that she was dead. They hadn't seen her since 1931, so the children of her siblings are not going to remember to add Opal to their mother's obituary as surviving. None had ever met her.

Opal was mentioned in Charles A Raider, Sr's obit as still living in Yeoman, Indiana 9 Oct 1957. The obit states that Charles, Sr was also a resident of Yeoman, Indiana at the time. I'm sure he maintained some sort of relationship with Opal in Yeoman, after all, Opal was mentioned in the obit.

Opal was also mentioned in Charles A Raider, Jr's obit, "Survivors include his wife and two daughters, all of Phoenix, and a brother William A Raider (died 1990 in North Dakota) of Lengby, MN, and two sisters, all out of state. Steven W Raider died in 1999. There could only be two sisters living out of state; Janice (Dickman) and her sister, Opal, since Mildred (Mullendou) was living in Phoenix.

So, we can say, with some certainty, based solely on these two obits, that Opal was alive until at least between 09 Oct 1957 and 22 Oct 1966. And that was with the knowledge of family members and most certainly the family members who submitted the obits to the newspapers.

 

[alb1on]

So, we can say, with some certainty, based solely on these two obits, that Opal was alive until at least between 09 Oct 1957 and 22 Oct 1966. And that was with the knowledge of family members and most certainly the family members who submitted the obits to the newspapers.

I would not be prepared to be certain that she was alive during the period cited. I have seen many obituaries where missing persons are cited as still living when subsequently they are found to have died previously. It is a natural wish of relatives to believe, and assume, that a missing relative is still alive in the absence of evidence otherwise and this sometimes makes its way into obituaries. However, when this happens there is usually no information given on the location of the missing relative (for obvious reasons) and the one thing which makes me wonder is that the father's obituary does give a location. It could be misleading or may mean something.

 

[Quoththeraven]

I would not be prepared to be certain that she was alive during the period cited. "the one thing which makes me wonder is that the father's obituary does give a location. It could be misleading or may mean something."

Right. My assumption is based on the two obits. The father's obit does state she was living in Yeoman at the time of his death, the same place he lived. I did a newspaper marriage search on the three daughters. Only two got married. Maureen Fulks didn't. Two articles stated Maureen Fulks was living with a family named Biddle in La Porte, IN and that family was "taking care of her for many years" until the caretaker died. I assume she was physically or mentally handicapped.

Of the two daughters that did get married, Barbara Fulks aunt, Mrs. Richard Dickman, was matron of honor at her wedding, 18 Aug 1949, the mother wasn't mentioned in the writeup. The Journal and Courier, Lafayette, IN 1 Aug 1949: A marriage license was issued to donald L. Sprunger, a sheet metal worker...and Barbara Fulks, daughter of Emory Fulks of Monticello, (IN). Opal was excluded. Barbara's obit did not mention her mother, Opal, preceding her in death.

The Journal and Carrier, Lafayette, IN, 6 April 1944, stated that Beverly Fulks, the other daughter of Emory Fulks, had a marriage license issued to her and listed her as the daughter of Emory Fulks. No mention of Opal.

The below article stated that Barbara Fulks was the daughter of Mr and Mrs Emery Fulks when, in fact, she was the daughter of Emery and Opal Fulks. Emery remarried in 1942 to a lady with the first name Hanna.. So, I guess we have to take the news articles on birth, death and marriage with a grain of salt.