Person:Hilliare Wardwell (1)

In the late 1980's, Major Hilliare Bell Powell Wardwell instigated correspondence with Marjorie Wardwell Otten. In the insuing years, he sent a brief outline of his life and observations of his half-siblings: Grew up at Pocomoke, City, Maryland, where the family removed to in 1907. Graduated from John Hopkins University. During his college days, his Kappa Signa fraternity brohers gave him the nickname of "Larry". Prior to W.W. II, Larry had a Reserve in United States Army Infanty. At the outbreak of the War, he was assigned to G-2 Staff duty. He saw action in the Western European Theatre, including the Battle of the Bulge. I received a leg injury at the Remagen Bridgehead when we were the first Allied troops to cross the Rhine in March of 1945. I was retired as a result of the injury". (A fellow officer, Ken Hechley, would laater write the full exploits of this action in "The Bridge at Remagen.) After the War, Betty and Larry removed to Temple Terrace, Florida. Here he was City Manager from 1947 to 1960. He was instrumental in the creation of the city library. "It was a small room with books donated by local citizens. Today it is a handsome building with thousands of volumes and part of the Hillsborough County System." Upon retirement, Betty and Larry traveled abroad a great of the time. One fall they drove West to visit 1st cousin Marjorie, and her husband, Ken Otten. By this time they had moved to a Retirement Home in Pensacola. Florida, where a great many of the residents were retired military officers. While having cocktails with friends on June 6, 1995, Larry stood and gave a heartfelt toast to that great day 50 years previous. He sat down and collapsed, dying instantly, age 90. A true officer and a courtly, southern gentleman.

Through the years of correspondence, wrote of his observations of his many halfbrothers and sister:

Edith: "a lovely lady, I was very fond of her"; her husband "Brodie" Evans, "a real gentleman"; was with the I.R.S. most of his life. "Cliff": Secy.-Treasurer of Baltimore Gas Appliance Company; his wife of THE Brundage Family; the daughters resided in Baltimore together all of their lives in the family home.

John Stanley: "A wonderful person; not totally blind and able to go downtown in Pocomoke City. Had a prosperous paper route and very popular with everyone. A devoted church goer, and adored his step-mother (Larry's mother). He lived with us until my father died in 1922. It was too much for my mother to continue to look after him and he went to live with his brother Willard and Uncle Howell Robinson in Baltimore."

"Essie": "My favorite of all my half-sisters; very kind and big-hearted. Took in all the strays, children or animal. One of my mother's dearest friends."

Ernestine: "A very interesting person, and good friend of mine. She worked for War Department until retired."

Mabel: "Did not know too well. Husband William Humrichouse was from an old Baltimore County family, I did not know him. Knew the son, William, Junior, and his son who died in Vietnam." Her daughter, Marjorie, married a man by the name of Muir, but later divorced. I remember her as a rather attractive young girl, living in Baltimore"

Willard: "Married late. Pres. of Bates Elevator, which went bankrupt before WWII. He did not die until after 1945 since I had correspondence with him after I came to Florida in 1947."

His sister Druscilla: "very pretty as a young woman; popular around Washington, D.C. Unhappy marrlage but she stuck it out until her husband died." -Marjorie Wardwell Otten

Cemetery Record says last known address was Naval Air Station, 80 Hovey Road Pensacola , FL 32508

1. ↑ Florida Death Index 1877-1998 ancestry,com.
2. ↑ Florida Death Index 1877-1998 ancestry,com.
3. ↑ U.S. Veterans Cemeteries, ca.1800-2004 Ancestry.com.