Charles Rubel Hill was my biological grandfather. I did not know him. I always thought Lloyd Ezzell Truesdale was my grandfather. And here is the story of Charles Rubel Hill and why we never knew him:
1. Charles Rubel HILL was born on 21 Feb 1908 in Davidson Co, NC. He died on 11 Nov 1934 in Forsyth Co, NC. He was the son of William W Hill and Emma Spaugh. Charles is buried at , Forsyth Co, NC.
Charles "Rubel" Hill never married. However he fathered two children and the mother of his son Tommy Gray Truesdale was Sadie Cornelius Beal.
The mother of his daughter Freida Arlene Gregory was Evelyn Gregory. Freida was born 20 Aug 1932, Forsyth Co, NC. She married Robert Franklin Shore. Son of John Henry Shore and Ruth Lemar. A note here***** I wrote Freida a letter April 2006. She did not respond.
2. Tommy Gray Truesdale was born 11 Feb 1932, Forsyth Co, NC. Tommy never knew Charles Rubel Hill. Or did not remember him. Tommy's mother (Sadie C Beal) moved away from Winston - Salem, Forsyth Co, NC about 1935 and Charles Rubel Hill was killed in a car accident in 1934.
My grandmother Sadie Cornelius Beal was the daughter of George Washington Beal and Bertha Lee Troutman. She was born 09 Oct 1912, SC. Her mother also was born in South Carolina. Bertha was the daughter of Benjamin Franklin Troutman and Ida Cornelia Williams. Bertha died when Sadie was 14 years old. Sadie had a child out of wedlock with Charles Rubel Hill when she was 19 years old, whick was my father. When Rubel died, Sadie moved away and met Lloyd "Ted" Ezzell Truesdale and married him 27 Jun 1936, York Co, SC. They were living in Mooresville, Iredell Co, NC at the time.
They always led my father Tommy to believe that Lloyd "Ted" Truesdale was his father. It was a family secret. Something Sadie and Ted didn't consider I guess was that Tommy could actually remember Ted coming into their life.
I guess they never dreamed their granddaughter would someday be interested in her heritage. (LAUGHING) I don't really understand why it couldn't be known. I do not think unkindly of my grandmother for having a child out of wedlock. She kept this secret inside and it ate away at her daily. My immediate family picked up on this secret. So we won't go over all of that but we will continue with Charles Rubel Hill.
Apparently he was a daredevil and a rebel. He liked fast cars. He occasionally took on a fight now and again, as I have been told. He must have been a good guy, he attended church and he made the teenage boys actually attend the service instead of playing in the church yard. According to my great-aunt Ruth (Sadie's youngest sister) he loved my Dad. He told Sadie that if she ever left Winston with my Dad that he would come get him. Apparently she believed him. Sadie didn't leave Winston-Salem until after the death of Rubel.
Pine Chapel Moravian Church Where my great-great Grandfather Benjamin Troutman preached occasionally and My grand parents Sadie Beal and Rubel Hill attended.
Yes, he had two strikes against him because he fathered two children out of wedlock. Yes, I know he was a bit of a rebel. But he was my grandfather. I have visited his grave and oh what a presence I felt on that day.
Charles Rubel Hill's life was cut short. He died at 26 years old.
Twin City Sentinel Nov 12 1934 (Monday Evening) Winston -Salem NC
Charles father William W Hill's life was cut short also. He died at the age of 29. I can only image what the family went through during this tragedy. One son dead and another charged with manslaughter.
Charles Rubel Hill and his mother Emma Spaugh Hill Baker.
Charles Rubel Hill and his sister Flora May Hill.
Charles Rubel Hill.
Charles' brother William Arnold Hill.
I was fortunate enough to have found Charles' nephew Richard Hege (son of Flora May Hill and Ira Lindel Hege). Richard sent me information and pictures. Richard passed away 6 May 2006. Richard I will be forever grateful for your kindness in sharing my Grandfathers life with me. You filled in many missing pieces. So from the bottom of my heart, Thank you Richard!
And to my grandfather Charles Rubel Hill you left behind 5 Grandchildren : Wayne, Pam, Lesa, Tammy and Sherry. (We would have loved you no matter what the circumstances were.) And 12 Great-Grandchildren : Jason, Melissa, Tyler, Nathaniel, Hunter, Katie, Stacy, Sarah, Joshua, Jeremy, Brittany & Amber. And 4 Great-GreatGrandchildren : Haley, Autumn, Tanner & Mason.
