Resolved OH - Mary Jane Croft VanGilder, 43, Plymouth, 1945

[onceuponadecember]

I did a timeline last night, here y'all go:
Cold Case Timelines - Mary Jane VanGilder

I also found info on Mary Jane's missing sister, Rosie. Her husband is buried in Maryland and died in 1965.
Harold Leeson (1911-1965) - Find A Grave Memorial

 

[onceuponadecember]

Sorry to be a burden on y'all's inboxes again, but here's some info I found out regarding her finances and other work-related information:

• Mary Jane received a pay raise on May 31 (when promoted to Jr. Warehouseman and took effect June 1) and a $60 raise on September 1, which took effect September 16.
• Mary Jane made about $105 monthly from March - May, about $127.5 monthly from June to August, and then about $132.5 from September - March.
• She was AWOL from June 26 - 29 and July 6 - August 2.

Regarding the checkup:

• 20/30 vision
• 20 ft hearing
• 120/60 blood pressure
• 5'5 and 165
• Address at beginning of work was 311 Woodland Ave, Willard, OH

Again, sorry if this is a repeat of information, but I just wanted to note some good info on Mary Jane.

 

[MadMcGoo]

I did a timeline last night, here y'all go:
Cold Case Timelines - Mary Jane VanGilder

I also found info on Mary Jane's missing sister, Rosie. Her husband is buried in Maryland and died in 1965.
Harold Leeson (1911-1965) - Find A Grave Memorial

This is great! Thank you for taking the time to put all this info together! Her case is truly baffling.

 

[onceuponadecember]

This is great! Thank you for taking the time to put all this info together! Her case is truly baffling.

No problem!
Mary Jane's outcome is just so unpredictable - evidence points in 50 different directions and yet we haven't been down 1st Ave yet.
IMO

 

[onceuponadecember]

Here is a list of outcomes that I've come up with so far (as well as evidence to support this):

1. Mary Jane met with foul play or died

• Mary Jane would not go for long periods of time without contacting her children
• Mary Jane stopped contact and deliveries to her family members
• Mary Jane was not found at the addresses she was listed as living at

2. Mary Jane ran off to start a new life and didn't want to be found

• Mary Jane did not list all of her children in work records, etc.
• One of her addresses stated that she had never lived at her listed address
• Mary Jane requested to have the war bonds returned to her
• Mary Jane constantly was changing addresses

3. Mary Jane ran off and intended to start a new life with her kids, but never got the chance to

• Mary Jane moved to a new state and was increasing in sizes of homes
• She had been a working parent
• She was constantly sending goods to her kids (clothes, money, etc.)
• Mary Jane had a divorce petition in the ready

 

[Luckyzmom]

Thanks very much, you did a great job digging !!

 

[onceuponadecember]

Thanks very much, you did a great job digging !!

No problem

 

[onceuponadecember]

I’m confused on the petition drop on April 4, 1946: did Mary Jane dismiss her petition or did the court drop it due to time?
IMO

 

[MadMcGoo]

I’m confused on the petition drop on April 4, 1946: did Mary Jane dismiss her petition or did the court drop it due to time?
IMO

I’ve wondered that too. I’m not sure if there is even a way for us to tell that.

 

[onceuponadecember]

I feel like a suspicious factor is that Mary Jane was AWOL two times in the summer of 1944- June 26 - 29 and July 6 - August 2.
IMO

 

[MadMcGoo]

Mary Jane Vangilder - Redgrave Research Forensic Services LLC

 

[Mindy71]

It's been awhile since this thread was active. @Mindy71 , any updates or new information that could possibly help in the search for your grandmother?

No nothing new.. still searching

 

[Mindy71]

We do know her social security number hasn't been used since 1945

 

[Mindy71]

I did a timeline last night, here y'all go:
Cold Case Timelines - Mary Jane VanGilder

I also found info on Mary Jane's missing sister, Rosie. Her husband is buried in Maryland and died in 1965.
Harold Leeson (1911-1965) - Find A Grave Memorial

Thank you, this is awesome. I still think its odd how my grandmother had so much going for her and she just quits and dissapeared..

 

[Mindy71]

I’ve wondered that too. I’m not sure if there is even a way for us to tell that.

I was told because she was a no show. Im not certain of truth behind that.

 

[Mindy71]

Here is a list of outcomes that I've come up with so far (as well as evidence to support this):

1. Mary Jane met with foul play or died

• Mary Jane would not go for long periods of time without contacting her children
• Mary Jane stopped contact and deliveries to her family members
• Mary Jane was not found at the addresses she was listed as living at

2. Mary Jane ran off to start a new life and didn't want to be found

• Mary Jane did not list all of her children in work records, etc.
• One of her addresses stated that she had never lived at her listed address
• Mary Jane requested to have the war bonds returned to her
• Mary Jane constantly was changing addresses

3. Mary Jane ran off and intended to start a new life with her kids, but never got the chance to

• Mary Jane moved to a new state and was increasing in sizes of homes
• She had been a working parent
• She was constantly sending goods to her kids (clothes, money, etc.)
• Mary Jane had a divorce petition in the ready

I'm her grandaughter, and I honestly believe 1 or 2, she had to much in play, with a raise, and a promotion. She filed for a divorce and paid money to do so. That is not the action of a woman in the 40s who did not intend on going through with her plan. She was not in hiding. Everyone knew where she was, after she got there.

 

[Mindy71]

I did a timeline last night, here y'all go:
Cold Case Timelines - Mary Jane VanGilder

I also found info on Mary Jane's missing sister, Rosie. Her husband is buried in Maryland and died in 1965.
Harold Leeson (1911-1965) - Find A Grave Memorial

Still trying to locate exactly what happened to rose.

 

[Mindy71]

It's been awhile since this thread was active. @Mindy71 , any updates or new information that could possibly help in the search for your grandmother?

Nothing new, I wish there was

 

[onceuponadecember]

I feel like Mary Jane might’ve tried to deliberately hide her tracks, considering the fact she didn’t give an address at the time of her resignation.

 

[onceuponadecember]

Nothing new, I wish there was

I hope something is found out about your grandmother soon, I can’t fathom your pain.