PA PA - Virginia Shary/Gruich, 33, Columbia, 1955

[tshary]

My aunt has been missing since about 1955, and my father is her last immediate relative. I and other descended relatives have been trying to find her, or what happened to her, for all these decades. We've tried private investigators and every internet resource available, so I'm appealing to you folks in case you can provide any direction or clues. Here are all the details I know:

• she was born as Virginia Lillian Shary on May 17, 1922

• her supposed S.S. number was 203-07-7069

• she was born in and last seen in Columbia, Pennsylvania, around 1955

• by the early '50s, she was married to a man named Stephen Gruich, who lived in Steelton, PA

• she had at least a few children out of wedlock before marrying Gruich, which we know to be:
Michael Shrewbridge, 1945
unknown, 1947
Aloysius (John) Heyen, 1949
Cecelia Bloom, 1951

• she had a son, Anthony Gruich, with Stephen in 1952. He lived in Columbia and went by the name Tony. He died in 1999.

• she was likely pregnant when she disappeared in 1955, or gave birth to another child and then disappeared soon thereafter

• Jean's father (George) passed away in 1937; her mother (Clara Loder) passed away in 1997.

• the only surviving sibling of Jean is my father, Robert Shary, who lives in Delaware

• one investigator claimed that Jean moved south after 1955 (supposedly as a result of that last illicit pregnancy), perhaps to Mississippi or Alabama

And that's about all we have. Ask any questions you like. If you can point me in the direction of finding what happened to her, I would be most appreciative.

Tim

 

[ColyH]

Tim, I know you said that your father was your aunt's last surviving relative but does that include the children out of wedlock? Have you tried looking them up because you might find a clue with them.

 

[Richard]

I would recommend that you contact the Doe Network, the Charley Organization, or other such missing person sites with your information and any photos you might have. Also include the Law Enforcement agency which has/had jurisdiction over the case.

 

[tshary]

Tim, I know you said that your father was your aunt's last surviving relative but does that include the children out of wedlock? Have you tried looking them up because you might find a clue with them.

I have been in contact with the surviving children, although none of them know anything and are just as eager to learn as me (well, with one exception, who just wants to be "left alone"). For someone who disappeared in the mid-'50s, she covered her tracks well.

 

[strangerthanfiction1200]

tshary: A couple of questions for you. How far is Columbia, Pennsylvania from Philadelphia? If she was pregnant and gave up her child, could "The Boy in the Box" found in 1957, be related? The "Boy in the Box" was 2 to 4 years old and never identified. There is DNA listed. Since Virginia went missing in 1955. Also, an investigator and reporter investigated a lead to Tennessee. Thinking Out loud. Mississippi or Alabama. Mississippi is where the middle child of N.H. tragedy has familial roots. Could this be a possible connection?

 

[Brightchaser47]

 tshary, if you're still reading this thread, old newspaper archives and census records are often a useful source of information, when trying to locate someone who's been missing for a long time.