(still gathering photos)
RODNEY JACOB TRUMAN
(History by his wife, Emma)Rodney Jacob Truman was born October 16, 1906 in Gunlock, Washington County, Utah to Albert Henry and Florence Bowler Truman. He was blessed on November 4, 1906 by James L. Bunker. He was baptized on January 3, 1915 by Josiah Leavitt in the Gunlock Creek and I remember him telling me that they had to break the ice so he could be baptized. He was confirmed the same day by (his uncle) Harry Hill Bowler.
Rod had blonde curly hair and one day his Father took him out to the barn and cut his hair. This pleased Rod but not so the rest of the family, especially his mother. His early days on the ranch were happy ones and also hard ones as they had to work hard. He told how hard his dad would laugh when he got bucked off a horse or cow. He also told of wrestling with the Indian boys and how he enjoyed this. He told of the great love the whole family had for Claude (Bracken) and how he would carry him on his back so he wouldn't hurt his bare feet.
Rod went to school in Gunlock, also riding horseback up to Veyo where school was held in a tent, and he also went to school in Central when the school house blew down during a storm during the night. Rod didn't finish High School. It was during his Junior year that he went to help his parents on the old Pulsipher Ranch in Mesquite, going from there down to Moapa to work with Dick. Later they came back to St. George and operated a service station on the east side of town. It was there that both Rod and Dick were seriously burned, but with render, loving care from his family he recovered but was left with deep scars on his arm and leg and would never wear a short-sleeved shirt. Eventually he went to work on road conrtructlon. If I remember right he told me he helped cut the tunnel through the other ride of Zion Park, as well as working on the road in the park. As we traveled through Nevada he would point out places he had worked for Nevada Rock and Sand. He had worked on the road in Virginia City, Gold Hill, Carson City, Ely, Caliente and north of Pioche and many other places. He mentioned some of the problems that they encountered and of the different people who had worked with him. He continued running the trucks until he was drafted in the Army.
Rod went into active service October 15, 1942. He was stationed in Ohio for a short time and then transferred to Camp Forest, Tennessee. It was while he was stationed here that I met him In Chattanooga, Tennessee, in September of 1943. He was transferred to Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas where we were married in June of 1944. Rod left Fort Sam Houston the early part of November 1944 to go to the European theater of war. He spent a few weeks in England and shortly after Christmas left for France across the English Channel. While midway across the Channel his ship was torpedoed and they had to turn around and head back for England but a French ship picked up their SOS and was near enough so came to their aid. After several frightening hours they landed in France with nothing but the clothes on their back. The Germans could easily have taken the whole company if they had known. He was assigned to the 15th Army Headquarters and was sent to Germany. After the surrender of Germany he was assigned to oversee the German soldiers working in the truck repair depot. He sure didn't have much patience for these soldiers but he felt sorry for those displaced persons trudging along the highways with everything they owned on their backs or tied to a bicycle. Rod arrived back In the States on October 6, 1945 and was discharged from Fort Dix, New Jersey October 12, 1945. After spending a few weeks in the East with my family we came to Utah spending a couple months in St. George. We moved to Pioche in January 1946 where we continued to live.
Rod's first job in Pioche was at the Salt Lake Pioche Mine with Uncle Chet Elmer. He worked in the mine at Castleton for a time and then went into partnership with Bob Wilkin leasing at various mines in the district. After dissolving this partnership with Bob he worked at the Perlite Mill, R.J. Dalton Fertilizer Plant and his last job was Deputy Sheriff of Lincoln County, Nevada. He retired from being Deputy Sheriff In December 1974.
Rod had become active in the church and held many callings. He served as President of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association (MIA), was a counselor in the Uvada Stake Sunday School, Counselor to Edwin Riding and Bishop Nelson Bleak. When Bishop Bleak was called on a work mission, Rod was called as Bishop of the Pioche Ward. He was set apart as a Bishop June 30, 1963. He held the position nearly seven years. He was released April 19, 1970. At the time of his death he was High Priest Group Leader. Rod received much joy and happiness in his church assignments. He had a strong testimony of the gospel and bore witness to this many times. His family was his first love and Robert, Bonnie, and Florence and grandson, Douglas Melcher, were his pride and joy and he took great pride in their accomplishments.
Rod was a humble, sincere, hard-working person and young people coming back to the Pioche Ward tell of the influence he had on their lives. Rod passed away very suddenly the 27th of May, 1975 in the Lincoln County Hospital In Caliente. His funeral was held May 30, 1975 and he was buried in the Public Cemetery in Pioche.
EMMA IRENE GREEN
(not available at this time)
Created: 15 Aug 01
Updated: 14 Sep 07
Owned and Maintained by Paul E. Price