Private Oscar Sidney Wofford, Engineers, United States Army [March 2, 1925 - July 26, 1944] was born to Jesse Oscar Wofford [January 23, 1886 - February 17, 1965] and Eva (Faulk) {Dendy} Wofford [April 3, 1882 - December 19, 1964] at West Columbia, Brazoria County, Texas.  At an undetermined date, the family moved to Van Vleck, Matagorda County, Texas.  Oscar was inducted into the United States Army on June 22, 1943 and attended Demolition School at Camp Abbott, Oregon.  He was graduated as a Demolition Specialist in October 1943.  Soon after he was assigned to Company C, 15th Engineer Combat Battalion, 9th Infantry Division, the "Old Reliables" and was involved in the invasion of France.  He was mortally wounded on July 26, 1944 and died later that day from his wounds.  He was first interred at Blosville Cemetery, Carquebut, Normandy, France.  In 1948 his remains were repatriated to the United States and he was buried with full military honors at Cedarvale Cemetery, Bay City, Texas.  He was survived by his parents: Jesse and Eva, a sister: Mrs. Ruby E. Helton, two half brothers: Jesse T. Dendy and William C. Dendy, two half sisters: Private Bessie M. Cleary, WAC, US Army, and Mrs. Lillie B. Findley.  He never married.
 

KILLED IN ACTION

      Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Wofford of Van Vleck, received a telegram from the War Department, Friday, October 6, stating that their son, Private Oscar Wofford had died July 26. They had previously received a telegram that he had been seriously wounded in action in France, July 26. Despite numerous cablegrams and letters sent by his family and inquiries by the Red Cross no further news could be learned until the message came that he had died.

      Oscar was inducted into the army June 22, 1943. He received his training in Demolition School in Camp Abbott, Oregon and graduated as a demolition specialist in October. He went overseas soon after. He participated in the invasion of France.

      Oscar Sydney Wofford was born in West Columbia, March 2, 1925 and was 19 years, 4 months and 24 days old at the time of his death.

      He leaves to mourn him his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Wofford of Van Vleck, a sister, Mrs. Ruby E. Helton of Brazoria, two half brothers, Jesse T. Dendy of El Campo and William C. Dendy of Venezuela, S.A., and two half sisters, Private Bessie M. Cleary, a WAC at Des Moines, Iowa and Mrs. Lillie B. Findley of Sweeny.

Matagorda County Tribune, October 12, 1944
 

Blosville Temporary Cemetery
Near Carquebut, Normandy, France
Courtesy of Family and Friends of 508th PIR Association

Reposing here from June 1944 to 1948, 6000 tombs of American Soldiers who fought for the liberation France.
9th Infantry Division
 

BODY OF VETERAN OF WORLD WAR II ARRIVES FOR BURIAL

      The body of Private Oscar Wofford, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Wofford of Van Vleck, arrived from Europe Friday afternoon for reburial Sunday. Taylor Brothers Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

      Members of Bay City Post 2438, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Bay City Post 11, the American Legion, formed an honor guard at the train.

Matagorda County Tribune, May 20, 1948

[Editor's Note: Pvt. Wofford was first interred in Blosville Cemetery, Carentan, France and later reinterred at Cedarvale Cemetery.]
 

Wreaths Across America 2019

Photo courtesy of Kenneth L. Thames
 

Mrs. Wofford

Services will be at 2 p.m. today in the Sweeny First Baptist Church for Mrs. Eva Wofford who passed away Saturday in the Matagorda General Hospital at the age of 82.

The Rev. Charles Chance, pastor of the church, will officiate with burial following in Cedarvale Cemetery under the direction of Taylor Brothers.

She is survived by her husband, Oscar, three daughters, Mrs. Bessie Mae Cleary of Houston, Mrs. Lillie Belle Finley of Sweeny and Mrs. Ruby Loren Helton of Brazoria; and one brother, William Chester Dendy of Kerrville.

The Daily Tribune, December 21, 1964

Photo courtesy of Betty Crosby
 

Sweeny Rites For Wofford

Services are set for 2 p.m. Friday in Sweeny's First Baptist Church for Jesse Oscar Wofford, 78, who died Wednesday afternoon in Gulf Coast Medical Center, Wharton.

Wofford, a 43 year resident of Sweeny, was a retired oil field worker. A veteran of World War I, he was also a member of the American Legion.

The Rev. Charles Chance will officiate at the services with interment following in Cedarvale Cemetery.

Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Ruby Evelyn Helton of Sweeny; two step-daughters, Mrs. Bessie M. Cleary of Houston and Mrs. Lilly Belle Finely [Finley?]; a step-son W. C. Dendy, Kerrville; and one sister, Mrs. Mary Roberta Brooks of West Columbia.

Pallbearers will be Hubert Stevens, Wiley Cottongame, Bill Pollard, J. C. Pollard, Walter Pollard and Clyde Hooper.

Taylor Brothers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

The Daily Tribune, February 18, 1965

Copyright 2006 - Present by Carol Sue Gibbs
All rights reserved

HOME