This photo of my mother and I
was taken circa 1964-1966 in Titusville, Brevard County, Florida.
This website is loving dedicated to my adopted mother:
Mrs. Helen Mae Koethe Ackman
Born: 01 Aug 1926 Paris, Washington County, Pennsylvania
Died: 17 Aug 1966 Titusville, Brevard County, Florida
Helen Mae Koethe
1944 Graduation Photo
Union High School, Washington County, Pennsylvania USA
Christus Garden, Section P1, Lot 83, Space A & B
Garden Street, Titusville, Brevard County, Florida USA
Gone is the romance that was so divine.
'Tis broken and cannot be mended.
You must go your way,
And I must go mine.
But now that our love dreams have ended ...
What'll I do when you're so far away
And I am blue
What'll I do?
What'll I do with just a photograph
To tell my troubles to?"
Irving Berlin
The name KOETHE is German and the Coat of Arms contains Black shield with a silver eagle displayed. Spelling variations include: Kthe, Koeth, Kothe, Koth, Koethe, Kth, Dael, Kothmann and many more.
First found in Prussia, where the name emerged in medieval times as one of the notable families of the region.
Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: settlers who travelled to the New World and established themselves along the eastern seaboard of the United States and Canada in the 18th and 19th centuries.
1. Christian Koethe was born 1820 in Gross Thurow, GERMANY (Prussia), and died September 1894 in Hampton Township, Allegheny County, PA. He married Christianna "Christine" Muth Bet. 1839 - 1849 in GERMANY, daughter of Godfried Muth and Christianna Kaiser . She was born November 07, 1820 in Saxon, GERMANY, and died July 14, 1909 in Hampton Township, Allegheny County, PA.
CHRISTIAN and CHRISTIANNA MUTH KOETHE were my 2nd great-grandparents in my adopted family. At this time, little is known of their early lives or who the parents of Christian Koethe were. A cousin, Mrs. Beverly Koethe Carr, did secure many, many Pennsylvania documents, one of which was Christianna Muth Koethe's Pennsylvania Death Certificate. We are deeply indebted to Beverly and her selfless acts of generosity. A link to the scanned image and many others are on-file at my "Documents" page.
The town of Gross Thurow, Germany, is near Hamburg / Lubeck, I am told.
Children of Christian Koethe and Christianna Muth are:
+2 i. Louis H. "L. H." Koethe , born September 03, 1849 in Gross Thurow, GERMANY (Prussia); died June 12, 1928 in Henrietta, Clay County, TX.
3 ii. Frank H. Koethe , born Abt. 1858 in Gross Thurow, GERMANY (Prussia); died Aft. October 1895 possibly in Sherman, Grayson County, TX. He married Laura [--?--] Bet. 1880 - 1895 in Texas - could be Clay County; died Aft. October 1895 possibly in Sherman, Grayson County, TX.
4 iii. Karl Charles F. Koethe , born 1859 in Gross Thurow, GERMANY (Prussia); died Aft. October 1895 possibly in Parkersburg (fka Newport), Wood County, West Virginia. He married Louisa [--?--]; born Bet. 1857 - 1877; died Aft. October 1895 possibly in Parkersburg (fka Newport), Wood County, West Virginia.
+5 iv. John Hermann "Herman" Koethe , born 1862 in Gross Thurow, GERMANY (Prussia); died August 23, 1932 in Handley, Tarrant County, TX on a Tuesday at 9:00. **Direct Lineage**
6 v. Emilie Koethe , born Bet. 1862 - 1864 in Gross Thurow, GERMANY (Prussia); died July 02, 1938 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA at 3:00 PM. Buried: Hampton Cemetery, Hampton Township, Allison Park, Allegheny County, PA. Emilie is buried next to parents. She never married.
2. Louis H. "L. H." Koethe (Christian1) was born September 03, 1849 in Gross Thurow, GERMANY (Prussia), and died June 12, 1928 in Henrietta, Clay County, TX. He married Mary R. [--?--] Bet. 1869 - 1875 in PA. She was born November 20, 1854 in PA, and died November 22, 1928 in Henrietta, Clay County, TX.
Children of Louis Koethe and Mary [--?--] are:
7 i. Emilie B. Koethe , born October 04, 1875 in Allegheny County, PA; died October 07, 1881 in Henrietta, Clay County, TX. Buried: West Hill Cemetery, 1304 West Lamar Street, Sherman, Grayson County, TX. Emilie never married.
8 ii. Nadina Koethe , born Abt. 1877 in Allegheny County, PA; died possibly in Texas. Her fate is currently unknown by me.
9 iii Caroline Koethe , born May 28, 1879 in Allegheny County, PA; died April 1969 in Battle Ground, Clark County, Washington. SSDI: # 537-50-4406 (issued in WA).
10 iv. Verda Ann Koethe , born June 16, 1882 in Henrietta, Clay County, TX; died August 24, 1936 in Henrietta, Clay County, TX. Buried: Hope Cemetery, Section E-2, Henrietta, Clay County, TX. Apparently, Verda Koethe never married.
11 v. Charlie L. Koethe , born December 16, 1882 in Henrietta, Clay County, TX; died December 19, 1967 in Henrietta, Clay County, TX. Buried: Hope Cemetery, Section D-6, Henrietta, Clay County, TX.
12 vi. Walter Arthur Koethe , born January 08, 1885 in Henrietta, Clay County, TX; died December 15, 1963 in Henrietta, Clay County, TX. He married Mayme Miller McClure Bet. 1902 - 1962 probably in Texas; born September 03, 1883; died March 26, 1956 in Henrietta, Clay County, TX. Both buried: Hope Cemetery, Section D-6, Henrietta, Clay County, TX.
5. John Hermann "Herman" Koethe (Christian1) was born 1862 in Gross Thurow, GERMANY (Prussia), and died August 23, 1932 in Handley, Tarrant County, TX on a Tuesday at 9:00. He married Emma Rossfeld Bet. 1880 - 1888 in or near Allegheny County, PA, daughter of Johann Rossfeld and Caroline Zimmer . She was born 1865 in Allegheny County, PA, and died August 11, 1930 in Handley, Tarrant County, TX on a Monday.
JOHN HERMANN KOETHE and EMMA ROSSFELD were my great-grandparents in my adopted family.
Obituary of John Hermann "Herman" Koethe linked from my "Documents I Have".
Last Will and Testament of JOHN HERMANN "Herman" KOETHE, 25 Mar 1931 also linked from my Documents I Have page. Both are buried at Rose Hill Burial Park, Handley, Tarrant County, TX. Many other Koethe kinfolk are buried there also.
Children of John Koethe and Emma Rossfeld are:
13 i. Emilie C. Koethe , born June 26, 1887 in Allison Park, Allegheny County, PA; died Aft. 1949 possibly in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, TX. She married Egbert H. "Jack" Fowler December 1917 in Texas; born July 15, 1881; died June 19, 1936 in Dallas, Dallas County, TX on a Friday at 5:00 PM.
+14 ii. Frank Koethe , born 1891 in Allison Park, Allegheny County, PA; died Bet. 1942 - 1944 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA.
15 iii. Louis John Koethe , born December 13, 1891 in Henrietta, Clay County, TX; died September 22, 1952 in Collins County, TX.
16 iv. Carrie Koethe , born 1893 in Allison Park, Allegheny County, PA. She married Herman Smith ; born Bet. 1880 - 1900 possibly in Pennsylvania.
17 v. Fred Koethe , born August 1894 in Allison Park, Allegheny County, PA; died July 24, 1928 in Liberia, WEST AFRICA. He married Mabel [--?--]; born Bet. 1890 - 1915. Note: I'm told Fred Koethe was overseas doing construction work or something along those lines. I don't know how in the world I'm ever gonna be able to secure a death certificate on this fellow!
18 vi. Lenora May "Nora" Koethe , born February 19, 1898 in Allison Park, Allegheny County, PA; died June 1973 in Etna, Washington County, PA - never married.
+19 vii. Richard Darrell Koethe, I , born August 27, 1899 in West Deer, 3 Degree Road, Allegheny County, PA; died October 16, 1950 in Frankfurt Springs, Beaver County, PA at home at 7:00 PM. **Direct Lineage**
14. Frank Koethe (John Hermann "Herman"2, Christian1) was born 1891 in Allison Park, Allegheny County, PA, and died Bet. 1942 - 1944 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA. He married Marie Caroline Clouse 1923 in Allegheny County, PA, daughter of Madeline Clouse . She was born March 1897 in Allegheny County, PA, and died February 28, 1972 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA.
There's more about the CLOUSE / CLAUS Family at: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/a/l/l/Charles-A-Allen/index.html . Click on "Desc. of Peter Claus and Theresa Muller" link. Koethe's are listed there.
Children of Frank Koethe and Marie Clouse are:
+20 i. Clifford Franklin Koethe , born November 19, 1924 in Allegheny County, PA; died September 1983 in PA.
+21 ii. John Walter Koethe , born Private (living).
Richard Darrell Koethe, I Koethe Headstone in Grandview Mrs. Edna Margaretta Strain Koethe
19. Richard Darrell Koethe, I (John Hermann "Herman"2, Christian1) was born August 27, 1899 in West Deer, 3 Degree Road, Allegheny County, PA, and died October 16, 1950 in Frankfurt Springs, Beaver County, PA at home at 7:00 PM. He married Edna Margaretta Strain Bet. 1919 - 1924 in PA, daughter of Louella Mae Strain. She was born July 30, 1903 in Eldersville, Washington County, PA, and died October 14, 1993 in Orlando Care Center Nursing Home, Orlando, Orange County, Florida.
Richard Darrell Koethe, I and Edna Margaretta Strain Koethe were my adopted grandparents. I never knew my grandfather since he passed away before I was born, but I did know Edna. She died in Orlando, FL and was cremated there. She has no tombstone in Florida but there is one in Pennsylvania next to, or part of, her husband's grave with no Date of Death listed. Apparently, both died intestate as no Will's have been found to-date.
Date of birth confirmed by Allegheny County, PA court birth records. County of Allegheny misspelled his name thusly: RICHARD KOETHER, Father HERMAN (farmer), Mother EMA. SOURCE: Allegheny County court records of births dated 1899.
EDNA MARGARETTA STRAIN's father is currently not known because she was illegitimate. The family rumour is that he was a Mr. FISH / FISCHE or some such spelling of the name "Fish".
Edna moved to Orlando, Orange County, FL between 1951 - 1960. She purchased a house or undeveloped land, on March 31, 1960 at "1 block F Pinecrest" from Grange Mutual Casualty Company. Then she purchased land or a house on March 8, 1960 at "10 Blk 4 Colonial Acres" from William R.
& Dorothy C. Vezina, Jr. She then sold the land or house at 4 Colonial Acres on October 7, 1971 to Ms. Dorothy F. Fitzpatrick. SOURCE: Orange County, FL Comptroller Public Records on-line.
OBITUARY for Richard Darrell Koethe, I:
Richard D. Koethe, 52, died in his home in Frankfort Springs Monday, October 16, 1950, at 7 p.m.
He had been a railroad engineer for the Weirton Steel Company since 1931 and had worked Sunday night.
In addition to his wife, Edna, surviving are one son, (Richard) Darrell Koethe, at home; one daughter, Mrs. Helen Mae Ackman, Frankfort Springs; one brother, Frank Koethe, West View, three sisters: Lenora, Etna, Carrie, Mt. Washington; and Emilie, Fort Worth, Texas.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, Oct. 20, 1950 at 2 p.m. from the late home in charge of student pastor, Robert R. Wilson. Internment was in Grandview cemetery, Florence (Pennsylvania).
More About Richard Darrell Koethe I:
Age at Death (Facts Pg): 51 years old
Attended: Presbyterian Church, pastor Wilson, Frankfurt Springs, Beaver County, PA
Burial: October 20, 1950, Grandview Cemetery, Florence, Washington County, PA
Occupation: Bet. 1931 - 1950, Railroad Engineer
Religion: Presbyterian
Work: Bet. 1931 - 1950, Weirton Steel Company
More About Edna Margaretta Strain:
Address (Facts Pg) 1: February 09, 1951, Rural Delivery #1, Box 30, Burgettstown, Pennsylvania
Address (Facts Pg) 2: Bet. 1960 - 1971, 1 BLK F Pinecrest, Orlando, Orange County, FL
Address (Facts Pg) 3: Bet. 1971 - 1975, 4 Colonial Acres, Orlando, Orange County, FL
Address (Facts Pg) 4: October 14, 1993, 1900 Mercy Drive, Orlando, FL 32806
Attended: Bet. 1953 - 1993, Reeves Memorial United Methodist Church, Orlando, FL
Burial: No burial & no tombstone in Florida, she was cremated. There is a tombstone in Grandview Cemetery, Washington County, PA
Census 1: 1910, Ridge Road, Hanover Township, Washington County, PA - Enum. Dist. 0205, Visit 0060, living with grandfather JOHN STRAIN
Census 2: 1920, Hanover Township, Washington County, PA - living with uncle Samuel & aunt Miriam Strain
Census 3: 1953, Moved to Orlando, Orange County, FL
Cremation: October 15, 1993, Baldwin-Fairchild Crematory (see Funeral Home)
Education: Abt. 1917, Only finished the 8th grade (Pennsylvania).
Funeral Home: October 15, 1993, Baldwin-Fairchild Crematory, 301 NE Ivanhoe Blvd., Orlando, Orange County, FL
Member: United Methodist Women and Meals On Wheels
Obituary: October 15, 1993, Published on page B4 on a Friday: Orlando Sentinel, Orlando, Orange County, FL
Occupation: Homemaker
Retirement: Senior Citizens Program Volunteer
Social Security Number: issued February 09, 1951
Will: No Will (died Intestate)
Children of Richard Koethe and Edna Strain are:
+22 i. Richard Darrell "Darrell" Koethe II , born October 26, 1924 in Hanlin Station, Allegheny County, PA; died August 14, 1968 in Orlando, Orange County, FL.
+23 ii. Helen Mae Koethe , born August 01, 1926 in Paris, Washington County, PA; died August 17, 1966 in Jess Parrish Memorial Hospital at 5:45 am, Titusville, Brevard County, FL. **Direct Lineage**
22. Richard Darrell "Darrell" Koethe, II (Richard Darrell3, John Hermann "Herman"2, Christian1) was born October 26, 1924 in Hanlin Station, Allegheny County, PA, and died August 14, 1968 in Orlando, Orange County, FL. He married Helen Despina Marcus Bet. 1945 - 1955 in Allegheny County, PA, daughter of Augustus "Gus" Marcus and Cynthia Zefakis. She was born January 10, 1927 in Caretta Russell, McDowell County, West Virginia, and died February 16, 1994 in St. Francis Hospital, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee.
Notes for Richard Darrell "Darrell" Koethe II:
Richard and Helen were my Uncle and Aunt by my mother, Helen Mae Koethe. Uncle Darrell died in Orlando, Orange County, FL at the very young age of 43. He was working for an inground pool installer at the time as a Pool Engineer. Funeral handled by: Fairchild Funeral Home, Orlando, Orange County, FL. Pls Note: His Florida Death Certificate has an incorrect Social Security Number. SOURCE: Florida Death Certificate and Social Security Application.
Uncle Darrell and Aunt Helen purchased a house at 15 Meadowbrook, Orlando, FL on October 5, 1959. The mortgager was "All S Mortgage, Inc." and they purchased the home from John S. and Sherry R. Duncan. The mortgage loan was satisfied on June 20, 1967. Her son, Richard "Ricky", help sell the home on August 22, 1988 to Ms. Betty Kaye Britt. SOURCE: Orange County, FL Comptroller Public Records on-line.
More About Richard Darrell "Darrell" Koethe II:
Address (Facts Pg): Bet. 1959 - 1968, 15 Meadowbrook, Orlando, Orange County, FL
Burial: August 17, 1968, Woodlawn Memorial Park Crematory, POBox 585627 (zip 32858), Old Winter Garden Road, Orlando, Orange County, FL
Cause of Death: Heart attack? at work
Medical Information: Death occured at 2:30 PM. Attending physician was Dr. W? N? Sisk, MD.
Occupation: Pool Engineer
Social Security Number: issued July 30, 1942
More About Helen Despina Marcus:
Address (Facts Pg) 1: May 24, 1944, 105 Bell Aveue, Burgettstown, Allegheny County, PA
Address (Facts Pg) 2: Bet. 1959 - 1988, 15 Meadowbrook, Orlando, Orange County, FL
Address (Facts Pg) 3: 1994, 6539 Knight Arnold Road, #159B, Memphis, Shelby County, TN 38115
Burial: February 21, 1994, Woodlawn Memorial Park Crematory, POBox 585627 (zip 32858), Old Winter Garden Road, Orlando, Orange County, FL
Cemetery Info: Phone # 407-293-1361, Fax # 407-521-9848
Education: Graduated from the 12th grade (per death certificate).
Funeral Home: Memorial Park Funeral Home, Candace Stokes (Embalmer), 5668 Poplar, Memphis, TN 38119
Medical (Facts Pg): Died from her 2nd bout with brain tumors. Attending physician - Dr. Stephen Shiffman, 6005 Park, #200, Memphis, TN 38119
Note 1: Aunt Helen was cremated, then buried in Orlando, FL.
Note 2: Tennesse Death Certificate and SSDI have her incorrect date of birth. They show b. 1928. She was b. 1927 (per SSA completed by HELEN MARCUS).
Occupation: Restaurant Waitress
Other: No Florida Death Certificate found. She died in Tennessee.
Social Security Number: issued May 24, 1944
23. Helen Mae Koethe (Richard Darrell3, John Hermann "Herman"2, Christian1) was born August 01, 1926 in Paris, Washington County, PA, and died August 17, 1966 in Jess Parrish Memorial Hospital at 5:45 am, Titusville, Brevard County, FL. She married Donald Willard "Don" Ackman May 22, 1948 in Crafton, Allegheny County, PA, son of Charles Edward Ackman and Edna Bella Ehle. He was born March 02, 1924 in Imperial, Allegheny County, PA, and died January 03, 2006 in Forest City, Rutherford County, NC.
Donald Ackman and Helen Mae Koethe Ackman are my adopted parents. Donald sold the house in Titusville, Brevard County, FL in 1988 and moved to first the town of Ruth, then to the Washburn community near Bostic, Rutherford County, NC, with his 3rd wife, Myra Cook Morgan Ricketts Ackman (died 18 Jan 2004). It was the third marriage for both of them. You can read more about the Ackman's at this link. My father died January 3, 2006. There is a memorial for him at www.redbirdacres.net/ackman_dadmemorial.html
I remember Mom as a gentle, quiet lady. She grew up in rural Washington County, Pennsylvania. She graduated with her High School class on May 21, 1944 from Union High School. According to the program guide that she saved from her graduation, it went thusly:
BACCALAUREATE SERVICE
Union High School
Sunday Evening, May 21, 1944 8:00 PM, E.W.T.
Processional: Pomp and Circumstance -- Elgar
Invocation: Reverend William H. Flurkey
Selection: "American Prayer"-Stock and Rose by the Girl's Chorus
Scripture Lession: Psalm 86 given by Reverend L. M. Van Inwegan
Prayer: Reverend W. J. McCashin
Selection: "Navy Hymn" - Dykes, Whiting and Hamilton sung by the Ensemble
Address: "The World God Would Have Us Build" by Joseph S. Morledge, D.D., Pastor of Sixth Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Selection: "A Song Of Peach" by Sibelius sung by the Girl's Chorus
Benediction: Reverend Jacob C. Ruble
No marriage certificate was found in Allegheny County, PA. Apparently the license was purchased in Washington County, PA, and they married in Allegheny County. No license has been located to-date.
Mom loved animals, especially dogs. Unfortunately, I have very few memories of her. But the one I do have is of her stopping our old faded green Volkswagon "bug" to help a wounded dog in the street just outside Parkway Junior High in Titusville. I do believe she was in frail health by then. But even with that infirmaty and also with their tiny bank acount, she had offered to take the animal to a veterarian. It was too late though for the poor little dog. I remember how sad she felt all the way home. She was so thoughtful and kind. Another vivid memory I have is of when I was very little. I was feeling carsick in the back seat and Mom just stopped at a strangers house and knocked on the front door asking for a class of water for me. She was so sweet about it too. Isn't it funny that even when other memories fade, the tender memories that one can recall after so many years?! She was really special.
Inspite of her increasing physical difficulties, Mom was very strongwilled. There was nothing weak about her mind. Her wrists were very tiny and delicate. Mom apparently loved Jesus Christ and to read The Holy Bible. I have found many passages underlined with notes from her studies. I know she would be so happy to know that her little girl now Believes. :o) Mom also had a large collection of costume jewelry I "inherited" after her death in 1966. God is truly merciful, though, and I am grateful for the few years of peace that I did have and the gentle memories of a loving, caring Mother. I do thank God for His tender mercies.
More About Helen Mae Koethe:
Address (Facts Pg): 1950, Frankfurt Springs, Beaver County, PA
Age at Death (Facts Pg): 40 years, 16 days
Attended 1: 1950, Presbyterian Church, pastor Wilson, Frankfurt Springs, Beaver County, PA
Attended 2: 1956, First Presbyterian Church, Titusville, Brevard County, FL
Burial: August 19, 1966, Oaklawn Memorial Park (beside Donald), Garden Street, Titusville, Brevard County, FL
Cause of Death: Acute Massive Myocardeal, Acute Pancreatitus
Census 1: 1940, Allegheny or Washington County, PA
Census 2: 1950, 17 N. Holiday Lane, Titusville, Brevard County, FL
Census 3: 1960, 17 N. Holiday Lane, Titusville, Brevard County, FL
Death Certificate: 1966, Florida Death Certificate # 66-038047
Funeral Home: Smith Chapel, Smith Funeral Home, Titusville, FL
Graduation: May 26, 1944, Union High School, Burgettstown, Allegheny County, PA
Marital Status: Married
Medical Information: Brevard County Coroner
Medical (Facts Pg): Bet. August 14 - 17, 1966, Acute Massive Mycordial --(?)-- (could mean brain embolism), and Acute Pancreatitis
Obituary: None found
Occupation: Homemaker
Religion: Presbyterian
Social Security Number: yes issued in PA) not listed in SSDI
Child of Helen Koethe and Donald Ackman is:
36 i. Pamela Dawn Ackman , born Private. My parents adopted me when I was only 2 days old. I am the biological daughter of Marion Estelle "Mary" McMahan and David Ronald "Ronnie" Keith. I married (1) Jeffrey Knox Philips August 31, 1974 in Church of God, Carpenter Road, Titusville, Brevard County, FL; born Private. We mutually divorced April 09, 1979 in Jacksonville, Duval County, FL. I then married (2) Steven Robert "Steve" Hudson August 11, 1979 in the clubhouse at Meadow Wood Apartments, 5959 Fort Caroline Road, Jacksonville, Duval County, FL; born Private. He is the son of Robert John "Bob" Hudson and Althea Ceals Moon.
Happy Researching Y'all,
Pamela 8^}
NOTE: Guestbook is now SPAM-Guarded. No postings will show up on-line without my approval.
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