Henry Wallace Ray Thurman (1909-1970) was born in Lawrenceburg, KY to William Green and Melissa (Mountjoy) Thurman. He was one of eight children. William was a farmer and Melissa worked as a laundress. Around 1934, Ray moved to Louisville and worked as a laborer for C.L. Jewell & Son, a grain company. Between 1937 and 1940, he married Freda Mae Stallard (1913-1966), the daughter of Joe Hess and Mattie (Hughes) Stallard. Ray enlisted in the US Army for World War II on July 21, 1942. He was a private first class for the 24th Infantry Division. The 24th Infantry Division was among the first US Army divisions to see combat in World War II and among the last to stop fighting. Ray and Freda lived at 2719 Chickasaw Avenue in the Clifton Heights Neighborhood. Freda worked as a maid for families in Louisville, and Ray worked as a laborer for Early and Daniel Feed Store. Freda died on June 23, 1966. She was buried in Section B, Row H, Grave 31 of Eastern Cemetery. Ray died on December 14, 1970. He was buried in Section B, Row F-1, Grave 37 of Eastern Cemetery with a military headstone. Freda’s father and mother are also buried in Eastern Cemetery. The photos of Ray are from Ancestry user gbrowntss. The photo of Freda shows her standing in the middle, rear and is from Ancestry user gbrowntss.
