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PRIVATE
FIRST CLASS FRANK. L WIDDIS was born in Maryland in 1925, the son of Mr.
and Mrs. Joseph Widdis. His father, a veteran of World War I, worked as
a metal roller at a smelting plant. Joseph Widdis died on May 17, 1938,
on the job at a smelting plant in Philadelphia. Frank Widdis lived with
his grandmother, Mrs. Miriam Cockburn. He grew up in Pennsauken, where
in April of 1930 he was at 8602 Park Avenue, Camden, and Woodlynne NJ.
He attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Camden, and transferred to
Collingswood (NJ) High School. Frank Widdis was an active Boy Scout
during his youth, and he was the leader of Boy Scout Troop 4 in Camden.
He left high school to join the Army on April 6, 1943. He was sent
overseas in August of that year.
Private First Class Widdis was wounded in action in Italy on December 8,
1943. He recovered from his injuries and was returned to combat on the
Italian front, where he died of wounds received in combat on September
27, 1944, at the age of 19.
Frank Widdis was survived by his grandmother, Mrs. Miriam Cockburn, of
208 Powelton Avenue, Woodlynne, with whom he lived, and a stepsister,
Betty Widdis. |
