James Ray Maddox

1933 – 2018

Generation 10

From the Record

Second child of George William and Laura Estella (Robbins) Maddox; moved with his parents to Barlow, Washington County, Ohio in 1943. Served in the U. S. Army during the Korean Conflict (entered 30 July 1953, discharged 2 June 1955), training at Fort Knox as a clerk typist before assignment to the Legal Division of the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission at Munsan-ni, South Korea. On 31 March 1955 he received a Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service, presented by Major General Carter; the write-up also lists the Good Conduct Medal, Korean Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, and United Nations Service Medal. The same write-up's conflicting January discharge date is retained in source_conflicts.

Married at the St. Marks United Methodist Church by Rev. Harrison. Worked for the Union Carbide Company, as Clerk of the Board of Education for the Warren Local School District, Vincent, Ohio, and as Secretary Treasurer for the Bartlett Farmers Bank, retiring from the bank on 30 June 1995. In possession of a large plate made by the Maddock China Company. As of the document's writing, he and Esther reside in Barlow, Washington County, Ohio.

Obituary (McClure-Schafer-Lankford Funeral Home, Marietta, Ohio): “Jim” Maddox, 85, of Barlow, died at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, 29 December 2018, at his home. Past Grand Master and 50-year member of the Bartlett Masonic Lodge, member of Marietta Chapter 59 Eastern Star, charter member of the Scenic Hills Lions Club, and member of the Bartlett United Methodist Church. Survived by his son Michael R. Maddox of Bartlett and daughter Patricia A. (David) Graham of Bartlett; grandchildren Amy Graham (Thomas) Bean of Barlow and Tabatha Graham of Marietta; great-grandchildren Cameron J. Bean of Barlow, Miranda Bean of Columbus, Lucian Snyder of Marietta and Piper Webster of Marietta; niece Pam Wise of Marietta; and nephew Jerry Maddox of Vincent. Preceded in death by his parents, by his wife Esther “Betty” (Wise) Maddox on 31 December 2012, and by his brother Carl O. Maddox.

Funeral 4 January 2019 at the McClure-Schafer-Lankford Funeral Home; interment in Bartlett Cemetery.

From the Family Manuscript

James Ray Maddox 10 was born 12 June 1933 at Parkersburg, West Virginia , the second child of George William 9 and Laura Estella (Robbins) Maddox. James lived with his parents in Ravenswood, Jackson County, West Virginia. In 1943 George, Laura and James moved to Barlow, Washington County, Ohio.
Maddox Family History, transcript line 2206.
James served in the U. S. Army during the Korean Conflict, in South Korea. He entered the army on 30 July 1953 and was discharged on 2 June 1955. He was assigned to the United Nations Command, Armistice Commission. James was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by General Carter for his service in Korea.
Maddox Family History, transcript line 2208.
James returned to Washington County, Ohio and he married Esther Ann “Betty” Wise on 18 June 1955, in Belpre, Washington County, Ohio. They were married at the St. Marks United Methodist Church by Rev. Harrison.
Maddox Family History, transcript line 2210.
James worked for the Union Carbide Company, Washington County, Ohio, as Clerk of the Board of Education for the Warren Local School District, Vincent, Washington County, Ohio and as Secretary Treasurer for the Bartlett Farmers Bank, Washington County, Ohio. James retired from the bank on 30 June 1995. His wife, Esther Ann “Betty” (Wise) Maddox worked for the Warren Local School District, at Warren High School as the Secretary to the District Librarian, she retired on 1 June 1991. Both James and Esther reside at their home in Barlow, Washington County, Ohio.
Maddox Family History, transcript lines 2212–2213.
James Ray Maddox entered the U.S. Army on 30 July 1953. He completed eight weeks of basic training with the Special Training Regiment, 3rd Armored Division, at Fort Knox, Kentucky, followed by stenographer and clerk-typist school from October through December 1953.
James Ray Maddox: Service in Korea, transcript lines 10–11.

Sources for this Record

biography · James Ray Maddox: Service in Korea, transcript lines 10–17; training, Korea assignment, rank, awards, and conflicting discharge date.
biography · Maddox Family History, transcript lines 2208–2213; June discharge date and civilian occupations.
biography · James Ray Maddox: Generation 10 Family Group Sheet, lines 10–27.
birth · James Ray Maddox: Generation 10 Family Group Sheet, lines 10–27.
parentage · James Ray Maddox: Generation 10 Family Group Sheet, lines 10–27.
death · James Ray Maddox: Generation 10 Family Group Sheet, lines 10–27.

Where the Sources Disagree

military discharge date — 2 January 1955 (James Ray Maddox: Service in Korea, transcript line 17) · 2 June 1955 (Maddox Family History, transcript line 2208) — the chronicle uses 2 June 1955.
The January date precedes the same write-up's 31 March 1955 medal presentation and is internally impossible. The June reading is retained, but both transcriptions remain visible.