My Truby Family Findings: Children of David and Mary Truby

Clara L Truby
born: Mar 28, 1874 - Rockmere, Venango County, Pennsylvania
died: Jan 24, 1951 - Oil City, Venango County, Pennsylvania

Clara was the 10th and last child of David and Mary Bortz Truby. Clara lived at home with her mother until Mary's death in 1900, we can assume, caring for her mother. As was the custom at the time, marriage was the next step for Clara as occupations for women were very limited.

On June 5, 1901, at the age of 27, Clara was married to Willard Cecil Ball, a 42-year-old widower. He was the son of William Wallace Ball and Emeline Adele Wells and was born June 25, 1852 in Newtown, Forest County, Pennsylvania. His first wife, Ida Sarah DeMang Ball, had passed away Aug 22, 1895. It does not appear that Willard had any children with either Sarah or Clara.

Clara Truby Ball - sister of John C Truby

Willard was also a first cousin twice removed to the actress Lucille Desiree Ball of "I Love Lucy" fame. Lucy was born in Celeron, Chautauqua County, New York. Clara most probably knew Lucy as a child since Lucy was 11 years old at the time of Willard's death on Apr 9, 1922 in Stow, Chautauqua County, New York. Celeron and Stow are a mere nine miles apart.

After Willard's death, Clara moved back to Oil City and apparently worked as an "agent" along with George B McCollum. It is unclear whether George owned a real estate agency or was merely another agent working with Clara. Clara and George were married on Mar 19, 1928 in Erie PA. They appear to be living at the same address in Oil City, although I suppose this could have been the address of the real estate agency, if it was owned by George.

After their wedding, Clara and George moved to Erie PA. It appears that they lived a life of retirement as neither the 1930 nor the 1940 census shows an occupation for either of them. A 1951 City Directory also shows no occupation for them. In 1930, they were boarding in the home of John and Rose Million. But in 1940 they are living in Cranberry Twp, Venango Co in a home which they own. This census indicates that Clara has only completed 2nd grade which is not at all unusual for a woman of her generation. In 1951 they are living at 105 Wilson Ave in Oil City.

Clara passed away in Oil City Hospital from arteriosclerotic heart disease. She is buried with her husband, George, at Sunset Hill Memorial Gardens in Cranberry PA.