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Shonkwiler, Noble Lee (635th)

Noble Lee Shonkwiler

Biography:  Noble Lee Shonkwiler was born in Jefferson, Ohio, on May 22, 1920.  He was the son of Oliver Albert Shonkwiler and Blanche Marie Mathews and attended local schools in Jefferson though the 9th grade. He then left school and found work as a truck driver.

Service Time:  Lee entered the service on December 10, 1941, at Fort Hayes in Columbus, OH.  He was assigned to C Company of the 635th Tank Destroyer battalion and received credit for five campaigns including Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe.  He also received the Good Conduct Medal.

After Lee returned to the U.S., he worked as a Customer Service Representative and Bill Collector for the Dayton Power and Light Company.  He stayed with the firm for 34 years.  He also worked for the Fayette Ambulance Service for 6 years.  In 1947, he married the former Mary Kathryn Moorehead.  She was the daughter of Milton Franklin Moorehead and Anna L. Legg.  Mary was born in Pike County, Ohio.  The couple had one daughter, Connie. and made their residence in Washington Court House, Ohio. 

In his spare time, Lee enjoyed gardening, managing rental properties, playing softball, and fixing things.  Lee was a member of the Washington Court House Police Auxilliary, the Paul H. Hughey American Legion Post 25, and the VFW Burnett Ducey Post 4964.  Lee passed away on December 21, 1988, and was buried in the Washington Court House Cemetery.

I want to thank Lee’s grandson, Shawn, for the photo and information about his grandfather.