| Life Story
|
Louis Foltz worked as a weaver, then dresser at TKWM from 1933-1945.
Louis Frank Foltz was born 1 Mar 1914 in Jordan, Oregon, near Scio. He was the son of John C. Foltz, who was 60 years old at the time of Louis’ birth, and Margaret [Pepperling] Foltz, who was 34. The family lived on a farm outside of Scio, Oregon.
By 1930, at the age of 16, Louis still lived with his family. His father was then 75 years old, and his mother was 50. The following year, in 1931, his father passed away, with his obituary noting that his heart had been in poor condition for some time.
In July 1933, Louis moved to Salem to work in the weaving department of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill. His older sister, Mary Margaret, had married Carl Boedigheimer, who also worked at the mill and may have helped Louis secure the job. After his father’s death, Louis’ mother remarried Francis X. Albrich, a plumber in Salem.
On 9 May 1936, Louis married Mary Amelia Albrich Langford, the daughter of his stepfather. Mary, who was divorced and had a stepdaughter, married Louis at St. Joseph’s Church in Salem. The wedding breakfast was held at the Hotel Argo. Both Louis and Mary worked at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, and they had two sons, David and Stephen.
By 1940, Louis was 26 years old, married, and lived with his family at 1470 Chemeketa St., renting the house for $15 a month. Census records show that he worked 52 weeks in 1939, earning $1,129 by 3 Apr 1940 when the census data was recorded. His World War II draft registration card also from 1940, described him as 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 152 pounds, with a light complexion, blonde hair, and blue eyes. In 1945, Louis left the woolen mill to take a mechanic job at the Douglas Mckay Chevrolet Company.
In 1950, Louis was 35 years old, married with two sons and a stepdaughter in his household. They lived at 940 S. 20th St. He listed his occupation in the census as service salesman in the wholesale soft drink industry. He used his mechanical skills to service soda machines used in restaurants. His wife Mary, worked full-time at the woolen mill as a bast winder.
A year later, in 1951, Louis and Mary divorced due to desertion, after 15 years of marriage. Louis had worked with a woman named Sylvia Petrasy at the woolen mill. In fact, all four parties affected by the divorce – Louis, Mary, Sylvia, and her first husband, Steve Petrasy – had worked at the mill.
On 5 June 1952, Louis married Sylvia Petrasy in Salem. He was 38 years old and listed his occupation as a mechanic. Sylvia, 16 years older than Louis, left the woolen mill for a department store sales position. In 1953, the couple moved to Stayton.
Louis Frank Foltz passed away 7 Mar 1969 in Stayton, Oregon, from lung cancer. He was 55 years old and was buried in Jordan Catholic Pioneer Cemetery alongside extended family members. |
| Salem City Directories |
1935 Foltz Louis F, weaver, TKWM Co, r 1220 Court
1936-37 Foltz Louis F (Mary A) weaver, TKWM Co, r 1165 Chemeketa
1938-39 Foltz Louis, h 1470 Chemeketa
1940-41 Foltz Louis F (Mary A) dresser, TKWM Co, h 1470 Chemeketa
1942 Foltz Louis F (Mary A) dresser, TKMWCo, h 1470 Chemeketa
1945 Foltz Louis F (Mary A) mechanic, DMCCO [Douglas McKay Chevrolet Co.] h 1470 Chemeketa
1949 Foltz Louis F (Mary A) mechanic, h 940 S 20th
1951 Foltz Louis F, machinist, h 940 S 20th
1953-54 Foltz Louis F (Sylvia A) h 940 S 20th |
| Census Records |
1920 Lewis Foltz. Age: 5. Birth Year: abt 1915 in Oregon. Single, son to HOH. Additional household members: John Foltz, age 63 (father), Maggie C. Foltz, age 39 (mother), Edward J. Foltz, age 20 (brother), Florentine Foltz, age 18 (brother), Joseph A. Foltz, age 15 (brother), Mary M. Foltz, age 10 (sister).
1930 Louie Foltz. Age: 16. Birth Year: abt 1914 in Oregon. Home in 1930: Jordan, Linn, OR. Single, son to HOH. Additional household members: John Foltz, age 75 (father), Maggie Foltz, age 50 (mother), Florentine Foltz, age 28 (brother), Joseph Foltz, age 26 (brother), Mary Foltz, age 21 (sister).
1940 Louie Faltz [Foltz]. Age: 26. Birth Year: abt 1914 in Oregon. Home in 1940: 1470 Chemeketa St. Salem, Marion, OR. Inferred residence in 1935: Salem, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Dresser in Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Mary Faltz [Foltz], age 28 (wife), David Faltz [Foltz], age 3 (son), Jean Langford, age 8 (stepdaughter).
1950 Louis F. Foltz. Age: 35. Birth Year: abt 1915 in Oregon. Home in 1950: 940 South 20th Salem, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Service Sales, Wholesale Soft Drinks. Additional household members: Mary A. Foltz, age 37 (wife), Joan Langford, age 18 (daughter), David F. Foltz, age 13 (son), Stephen Foltz Jr., age 4 (son) |
