ROBERT OWEN BINGHAM was born March 31, 1924 in Calf Creek, McCulloch County, TX and died January 11, 2009 in Irving, Dallas County, TX. He was the fourth child born to Cafford Owen Bingham and Sallie Attaway Bingham. He was first married to PEGGY JEAN HILL. He married FREDDIE GWENDOLYN KEITH February 01, 1947 in Brady, TX. She was the third child born to IVAN AIRS KEITH and DOVIE LEE BLOUNT. She was born July 10, 1925 in Brady, McCulloch County, TX., and was first married to DONALD EDWARD MORGAN. She died September 19, 2009 in Irving, Dallas County, TX.

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Gwen weighed only four pounds when she was born. The newspaper birth announcement called her “little midget.” During World War II, she worked as a welder at a shipyard in Oregon, doing her part for the war effort. She was also a licensed beautician and worked in that profession for some time.

In 2004, I asked her to write out, in some detail, answers to some specific interview-questions about her memories of her family.  While I was not able to get all questions answered,she did a great job trying. The following are 4 pages of those answers in her handwriting:

• Gwen Bingham interview answers 01
• Gwen Bingham interview answers 02
• Gwen Bingham interview answers 03
• Gwen Bingham interview answers 04

Still not fully out of the depression era, the patriotism in this country was bountiful when the war started.  Bob was anxious to go and serve his country during WWII.

At the age of 17, he would have to get his parents to sign for him.  they were reluctant to do so, as he was their only living son (they had three daughters).  But it became clear that if he did not volunteer soon, he would be conscripted anyway. So they finally relented.

Bob joined the Navy during World War II, and was engaged in operations in the Pacific. He was assigned to a total of 4 ships during the war, including the destroyer, the USS Massey and the USS Fremont.  More about Bob’s military service here.

In 2004, I also asked him to write out, in some detail, answers to some specific interview-questions about his memories of her family. While I was not able to get all questions answered, he did a great job trying.  The following are pages of those answers in his handwriting:

• Bob Bingham interview answers 01
• Bob Bingham interview answers 02
• Bob Bingham interview answers 03
• Bob Bingham interview answers 04
• Bob Bingham interview answers 05
• Bob Bingham interview answers 06
• Bob Bingham interview answers 07

Bob and Gwen had three children (and many grandchildren) not listed here as they were born after the latest released census.

Genealogical Sources

• 1930 Census McCulloch County TX