Family:Paul Ternet and Margaret Wittkamper (1)

Paul disappeared and was not heard from since September 13, 1954. He was presumed dead. His parents were awarded a $3,000 judgment in their suit against the National Life and Accident Insurance Co. They contended they had paid installments on the policy for their son. He was married, but he walked out on his wife. She eventually had him declared legally dead and remarried.

From the newspaper, "COUPLE GETS $3,000 FOR MISSING SON. Susan Ternet and Cletus Ternet were awarded a $3,000 judgment yesterday by Superior Court 3 judge Lloyd S. Hartzler in their suit against the National Life and Accident Insurance Co. The plaintiffs contended they had paid installment on the policy for their son, Paul E. Ternet. The son had not been heard from since September 12, 1954, and is presumed dead."

Paul was found later in Denver, Colorado, but he had cancer and died before seeing his parents again.

His obituary reads, "Services for Paul E. Ternet, 51, a former area resident, will be at 9 a.m. Saturday in D. O. McComb & Sons Lakeside Park Funeral Home and at 10 a.m. in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Avilla. He died in AMC Cancer Hospital, Denver. Surviving are two brothers, Clifford C., Avilla, and Merlin, Fort Wayne; and a sister, Mrs. Odeal Messman of Hicksville, Ohio. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, where Rosary services will be at 7 p.m. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Avilla." [Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, 13 January 1978, pg. 2A]