It's Time to Play ... Tombstone Mysteries

The bottom of this tombstone says:

Text Luke C. 10. V. 42.

I've sent several people queries about this tombstone. I couldn't quite tell what it meant.


Initially, I  thought it said:  Luke 6. 10. V. 42.  After I wrote the first draft of this posting (having looked at the picture at least 100 times), I finally saw the "6" as a "C."  Clearly Chapter and Verse (duh!).  I was so convinced it was a 6 that I couldn't come up with any other option.

It's still rather odd - I expect the person ordering the tombstone wanted the actual text from Luke on the tombstone or just
Luke C. 10. V. 42., not the word text engraved on the tombstone. I could be wrong, but it seems funny!

From the New International Version of The Bible  -
Luke 10:42  ... but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” 

This seems an odd selection for a tombstone.  For some time, I've considered the possibility that I misread the numbers. Could it be 10:12? What about 20:12 or 20:42?

I searched for other possibilities and described them in my second draft of this blog.  Then it hit me -- the woman buried here is Mary.  Now it makes sense.  Here's the verse in context.  Rest in Peace, Mary.

Luke 10:38-42
At the Home of Martha and Mary

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

The tombstone is in Bunker Hill Cemetery, Weissport, Carbon County, Pennsylvania.

Memory of

Mary

Wife of 

Josiah Ruch

Born Feb. 9, 1833

Died Aug. 21, 1892

Age 59 Yrs,  6 Mos. & 12 Days

 Till next time, keep the blue side up ... Lynn
P.S.  I'm not related to Mary or Josiah! 

I Didn't See That Coming ... Pappy's First Wife

We regularly visit my husband's dear Uncle Donny and Aunt Floss in Pennsylvania and can usually count on their eldest son and his wife, Donny Jr. and Carol, to join us.  On one visit the conversation turned to genealogy and Uncle Donny brought out a few photos. "That's Pappy's first wife." he announced to the group.

I beg your pardon?!?  He explained that his mother was his father's (my husband's grandfather) second wife. None of Pappy's grandchildren, my husband included, knew that he had a first wife, Min, and a daughter, Dorothy, by that marriage.

When I returned home, I looked for additional evidence to support Uncle Donny's proclamation. Indeed, in the 1910 Census, I found Dorothy living with her maternal grandmother just four doors down from Pappy and his second family. Her mother, Min is no where to be found. In addition to finding Dorothy in the census, I located Pappy and Min's marriage license.

My husband and I frequently discuss this family surprise. We even take turns quoting Uncle Donny, "That's Pappy's first wife."  There is no doubt, I didn't see that coming.

Till next time, keep the blue side up ... Lynn