Down the Rabbit Hole: the Women of Talmadge #2

This journey down the Rabbit Hole begins with Doris Willis at 4605 48th Street. This adventure began as a solo dig yet ended with a pleasant and surprising collaboration.

As I was researching the original owners on 48th Street, I soon became aware of Wilmot and Doris Willis. Their house was built by Hays & Jackson in 1940. They had a 9-year-old daughter, Suzanne, and identical twin boys, age 2, named James and Jerome. Wilmot was a salesman in the lumber business. According to his WWII Draft Card, he worked for Dixie Lumber Co. at 3925 Ohio Street. This building still stands today. Coincidently, Wilmot’s boss, owner of Dixie Lumber, lived at 4603 Natalie Drive. That is a rabbit hole for another day.

Sadly, I became aware that Wilmot had died in February of 1944. Doris was left with a new house and 3 young children to raise at the age of 42. As you are aware, single women in Talmadge always peak my curiosity. So down the rabbit hole I went.

Happily, by October of 1945, Doris married Edward P. Fleming a divorced pharmacist. Based on their marriage announcement in the Union newspaper, her daughter, Suzanne was the maid of honor at their wedding and Doris wore a gray suit with brown accessories. She also carried a bouquet of orchids. I am sure she looked quite fetching.

After their 2-week honeymoon, Edward moved in with Doris and her children on 48th Street. Edward owned a drug store at 4251 Park Boulevard in University Heights. The building still exists today, even though it is no longer a drug store.

In 1964 Edward retired from the drug store business. Doris and he were still living on 48th Street. Sadly by 1966 Edward was dead at the age of 69. Edward was a U.S. Army veteran from WWI and was buried at Fort Rosecrans. After 21 years of marriage, Doris finds herself widowed, once again. She was only 58 years old.

As I followed the rabbit hole further, Doris lived at 4605 48th Street until the late 70s when she mysteriously moved to 4625 48th Street, 2 doors down from her original house. In 1977 she married again to John Hansson, President, Hansson Motor Supply Inc.

I could not figure out why Doris moved two doors down. Therefore, I decide to exit the Doris rabbit hole and move down 48th Street to see what other stories I could unearth about the original homeowners of Talmadge. Much to my surprise, I discovered that John Hansson, Doris’ new husband, was the original owner of 4625 48th Street and had been Doris’ neighbor since 1940. John had been married to Helen when they bought their house on 48th Street the same year Doris and Wilmot had bought their home. John and Helen had twin infant girls at that time. Having twins would have certainly been an area of commonality between the Hansson family and the Willis family. John was widowed in 1975, therefore this would have been another area of similarity between he and Doris 2 doors down.

According to John’s obituary, he and Doris had been married for 22 years. He died in 1999 at the age of 88 and was a very well liked and successful businessman.

After John’s death, in 1999, my rabbit trial with Doris dried up until I discovered her obituary from 2011. Doris died at the age of 102. She outlived 3 husbands, 2 children and 2 stepchildren. She attributed her long life to, “wine-thirty.” She also said her greatest accomplishment was raising her 3 children. As I was reading about all her many surviving grandchildren, I came across the most surprising statement, “She is survived by her…adopted granddaughter, Anastacia Tobin.” It just so happens that Anastacia Tobin is one of my dearest friends. Out of shock, I called Anastacia immediately and said, “WHY DIDN’T YOU EVER TELL ME ABOUT DORIS?!?” She very polity said, Doris Hansson?, I did tell you about her. She was the extraordinary older woman I use to visit on Canterbury Drive in Kensington. She lived next door to the former Major Jerry Sanders.” I did remember her telling me about Doris, but now I had a lot more questions. Anastacia told me that Doris loved all 3 of her husbands very much. Her first husband was her favorite and the father of her 3 children. Unfortunately, he died of pancreatic cancer at a very young age. Her second husband, the pharmacist, loved to travel with her. Doris wrote amazing travel journals that her daughter-in-law plans to publish someday. Her last husband was her longest marriage and a very happy one.

Doris finally left 48th Street to lived her later years with her daughter, Suzanne in Kensington. Anastacia said she met both Doris and her daughter through church.

Doris made a wonderful impression on Anastacia. She thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her and learning about her extraordinary life. I only wish I had met Doris Willis, Fleming, Hansson. She experienced so much loss yet was resilient and full of life and love. Like Alma Staggs, she demonstrates that is never too late to fall in love and have a second and even a third chance at a good life despite many traumas along the way.

My next trip Down the Rabbit Hole: The Women of Talmadge will take place on Norma Drive.