Person:Myron McBRIDE (1)

Myron Kenneth MCBRIDE, eldest son of Bert and Birdie (EVANS) MCBRIDE, was born November 24, 1911, in Rock Island, IL. His birth certificate is an example of how goofs arise-- it gives his father’s name as Ablert and his mother’s name as Birdie U. Evans (it was Birdella N. Evans)! Ken didn’t get married until August 25, 1942, in Davenport, IA, when he was 31 years old. He married Helen SCHNITGER, a native of Davenport, IA, across the Mississippi River from Rock Island. This couple had four children: Michael, an unnamed stillborn, Jeffrey, and Melissa. The Rock Island city directories show that Ken had a variety of jobs prior to his marriage: 1928: student living at 820-47th Ave 1930: technician for Rock Island Dental Lab 1932: press operator/tip printer for Regalia Mfg. Co. 1933: printer as above; same house 1936: musician 1939: no occupation listed; same house 1940: distributor for People’s Power Co. 1942: clerk for Iowa-Illinois Gas and Electric Co; same house 1947: accountant for J I Case Co; married to Betty; living at 1517-39th St. 1957: office worker for Herman Nelson Corp. (Division of Am. Air Filter Corp.). After his marriage he also worked at additional jobs as listed in his obituary below.

“M. Kenneth McBride M. Kenneth McBride, 79, of 1517 39th Street, Rock Island, died Wednesday at Oak Glen Home, Coal Valley. Memorial services are 7 p.m. Friday at Hodgson Funeral Home Ltd. Rock Island. The body will be cremated. Memorials may be made to Unity Church of Christianity, Moline, where he was a member. Mr. McBride was born Nov. 24, 1911, in Rock Island. He married Helen Schnitger Aug. 25, 1942, in Davenport. He retired as an accountant at Stardust Motel, Moline. Before that, he worked at Iowa-Illinois Gas & Electric, and the former Case Co. and American Air Filter, both of Rock Island. He was a member of Rock Island Masonic Lodge 658; Kaaba Shrine, Davenport; Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Moline; and National Cost Accounting Association. He had been a layman minister in the Methodist church for many years. He was a licensed hypnotist and a member of Animous Trans Materiam. He loved music and played the organ and piano. During World War II, he was an air raid warden. Survivors include the widow; a daughter, Melissa McBride, Rock Island; sons, Michael McBride, Geneseo, and Jeffrey McBride, Rock Island; his mother, Birdie McBride, Rock Island; four grandchildren; and a brother, Russel McBride, Rock Island.”

Ken’s brother Russel reports that Ken’s work for the Stardust Motel was done for a friend after formal retirement and that he sold real estate at one time. Ken died from metastatic carcinoma in the Oak Glen Home in Coal Valley, IL, on February 20, 1991, at the age of 79. SS# 358-10-8116. Helen Virginia SCHNITGER, daughter of Frank Douglas and Jenny Agnes (MURPHY) SCHNITGER, was born on January 6, 1915, in Davenport, IA. She and Kenny raised three children to adulthood. At some time after her marriage she started working for J.C. Penny and became the manager for the sportswear section of the store. She died September 2, 1994, at the age of 79 in the Trinity Medical Center-East of adenocarcinoma due to malignant pleural effusions and had suffered for decades with chronic pulmonary disease. Prior to her last illness she lived at 1517-39th Street in Rock Island. SS# 479-14-8795. Her daughter, Melissa DeVolder, living at 2513-5th Street, Moline, IL, was the informant for her mother’s death certificate.

“HELEN MCBRIDE Helen Virginia McBride, 79, of 1517 39th St., Rock Island, died Friday, Sept. 2, 1994, at Trinity Medical Center, East Campus, Moline. Services are 7 p.m. Tuesday at Hodgson Funeral Home Ltd., Rock Island. Burial is in Chippianock Cemetery, Rock Island. The former Helen Virginia Schnitger was born Jan. 6, 1915, in Davenport, the daughter of Frank and Jenny Murphy Schnitger. She married M. Kenneth McBride Aug. 25, 1942, in Davenport. He died Feb. 20, 1991. Mrs. McBride was employed as a sportswear manager at J.C. Penny, retiring in 1980. She enjoyed doing volunteer work. Survivors include a daughter, Melissa DeVolder, Moline; sons Michael McBride, Geneseo, and Jeffrey McBride, Andalusia; and five grandchildren.”

1. ↑ Birth certificate number 1100104361..
2. ↑ Death certificate, state file number 99342..
3.   My family records, 2002..
4.   Obituary from an unidentified newspaper, probably The Rock Island Argus, 21 Feb 1991..
5.   Family data sheet from Michael McBride, 2002..
6.   Obituary from The Rock Island Argus, Sept. 3, 1944..