Joseph William “Bill” Bleau, Jr. (my great-grandfather) was born on June 18, 1914 in West Virginia.

On the 1920 Census, Joseph and his family are residing in Lester, Raleigh County, West Virginia:

The 1930 Census shows Joseph at age 15 living on Meadow Creek Road in Green Sulphur, Summers Co, WV.

Joseph married Bessie Dale Hoke in 1935. He was 21 years of age. Their union is listed in the Summers County Marriage Register:

On the 1940 Census he is listed as an elementary school teacher who completed two years of college:

His World War II Draft Registration card lists Joseph as 5’8″, 125 lbs, with a light complexion, blue eyes, and blonde hair. He was employed by the Summers County Board of Education.

On January 24, 1947, Joseph’s mom (Effie Florence Ennis – b. 1891) died in Beckley, Raleigh Co, WV. Then on November 11, 1963, Joseph lost his father (Joseph William Bleau, Sr. – b. 1873). In 1993, wife Bessie Dale Hoke passed away.

Joseph is listed on his daughter Becky’s marriage certificate in 1966:

Joseph died at age 99 on July 3, 2013 in Meadow Creek, West Virginia. He is buried in the Richmond Cemetery, Summers Co, WV.