Notes for Joseph Dewey "JD" VAN GUNDY

VanGundy Family Tree


	Researched and Compiled by: Jane Van Gundy Published to the Web by: B.J. Van Gundy Send email to B.J. VanGundy: bj@vangundy.net Created with GEDPage Version 2.20 VANGUNDY Project July 2, 2002
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Notes for Joseph Dewey "JD" VAN GUNDY

JD related that in his younger days he had a very short temper(probably caused by older brothers who loved to torment anyonesmaller) and he always carried a lead pipe, ball bat, or brick, asprotection. Teachers habitually kept him after school, until about4:30, to allow the other children time to reach home safely. Once henarrowly missed one of the brothers when he swung at him but missedand shattered the screen door instead. JD feels his brother wouldhave died had he taken the blow. Today, JD is a milder person, ishealth and weight conscious, taking daily walks of several miles,regardless of the weather, and controlling his diet.

Following the death of his father, JD assumed the role of familypatriarch, not only for his parent's family but for his Aunt Ella andStanley Walker and the Arthur family, as wll. He was the first personcalled in case of emergency, sometimes even before emergencypersonnel, his advice was sought before major decisions andcommunication among the family often flowed through him.

Residences & events:

8/1938 Mattoon, Coles Co, IL, was his sole residence except for hisservice time. JD went to work at the Midcontinent Map Co andcontinued there for the next 10 years, with a short hiatus while inthe Air Force.

6/19/1940 214 1/2 S 17th St, Mattoon, Coles Co, IL, where son, Dale,was born.

12/17/1943 2805 Richmond was the address listed when JD was inductedand ordered to Ft Sheridan, IL, to begin active duty in the US AirForce.

12/22/1943 Keesler Field, Mississippi. JD was transferred forpre-aviation cadet basic training.

San Antonio, TX, was their residence while he was in Air Force Cadettraining but the war came to a close too soon for him to see action.

11/10/1945 Rantoul, IL. JD was discharged from the Air Force atChanute Air Force Base.

12/1948 He quit the Map Co to start as a US Postal Clerk, eventuallybeing in charge of vehicle maintenance in addition to other duties. Heoften worked at various other jobs through the years, in conjunctionwith the post office, such as delivering produce or freight.

820 N 20th, Mattoon, IL, where they bought their first house. Yearslater, daughter, Phyllis, would live across the street from them.

His photo was in the paper along with the caption: "Joseph D.VanGundy...is presented a certificate of recognition for a suggestionin improved mail handling by Palmer G. Boyle, field service officer ofthe Chicago regional office. The certificate, presented on behalf of
Postmaster General J Edward Day, was accompanied by a $50 cash award.This is the first such award presented to an employe of the local postoffice in connection with the suggestion program which has been ineffect for several years." That suggestion was the precursor for zipcodes, now a nationwide necessity. However, a law professor who
became Postmaster General in 1961 was credited with the idea of zipcodes.

1958 The newspaper also carried the story of an extended vacation thefamily took: "Mr. and Mrs. J.D. Van Gundy and children, Dale, Phyllisand Barbara, and Mrs. R.E. Van Gundy (his mother) have returned totheir homes in this city after a month's trip to the west coast." Itcontinued by listing the itinerary and relatives they visited alongthe way and ended by saying they had traveled 7000 miles.

7/6/1971 Another news photo and caption which said JD was holding thenew eight-cent commomorative stamp honoring the inauguration of thenew federal system for operating the mail service.

1976 He retired from the Post Office at age 57 but continued to workpart time at a local vending company where he reconciled accounts andcounted collections.

820 N 21st, Mattoon, IL. As the children left home, they found thehouse too big so they moved to another house in the same neighborhood,this time across the street from daughter, Barbara.

2717 Oak, Mattoon, IL. After the last child married, they moved to aneven smaller home, all on ground level.

Following the second marriage, he quit all jobs and devoted his timeto fishing and visiting with friends and relatives at localrestaurants.

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