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George Tucker Sartwelle was born on March 3, 1885 in Ft. Worth,
Texas and married Mary Josephine Jourdan on August 28, 1918 in Del
Rio, Texas. He died on August 4, 1948. and is buried in the Masonic
Cemetery, Del Rio. George and Mary had three children:
Son George Tucker, Jr. died May 9, 1945 aboard
USS England which was sunk by Japanese Kamakazi at Okinawa during
World War II. In 1981, daughters, Mary Margaret and
Preshy, spent an entire summer in Massachusetts and New Hampshire
researching the genealogy of the Sartwelle family. They published
their research in the book, The Sartwelles in America 1635 -
1981. Much of what you see on this website is based on their
findings.
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Mary Margaret Sartwelle
Charlton
March 3, 1920 - June 29, 2002
By Catherine Charlton Cogburn (July 2002) Mary
Margaret Sartwelle Charlton came into this life in Del Rio, Texas on
March 3, 1920., the first born of George and Mary Sartwelle. She
grew up in the country north of Del Rio, learning (but never liking)
to ride horses and herd sheep. Her little brother, George, and her
little sister, Preshy, were a source of great joy to her. She grew
into a charming and beautiful young woman, well-loved for her humor
and playfulness. She captured the heart of her lifelong companion,
Marvin, in the summer of 1938. It took him two years to convince her
to marry him. Their wedding took place on January 4, 1941 in Yuma,
Arizona, and they lived and worked and played together in Los
Angeles until the start of World War II. During this extended
honeymoon, they danced as often as possible to the sounds of the big
bands they never stopped loving. They were blessed
with three children, Cynthia, Dennis, and Catherine, and Mary
Margaret devoted her love, talents and intelligence to caring for
her husband and raising her children. She was also a great friend
and even better bridge player. Her greatest tragedy
may have been the loss of her sister and best friend, Preshy, in
1982. During the year before Preshy's death, Mary Margaret taught us
all the meaning of devotion, and courage to face the impossible with
grace and determination. Her grandchildren, Alan,
Darren, David, Erin, Melanie, Laura, Michael and Daniel were her
pride and joy. Little Daniel came into our lives after her stroke,
and she would light up so much whenever he came to see her most
every day. He made her last few years of struggle far easier and
more full of love. Daniel's parents Dennis and Gabriela were
selfless in their constant support of both Mary Margaret and Marvin. Her husband Marvin dedicated himself to her care for seven years.
His incredible patience, love and kindness was a lesson of true
service, and the living out of the highest level of morality. He
made her final years meaningful for her, and for her family.
She was an honest and straightforward woman who gave
her strength, love and humor to us all. She will be missed, and she
will live inside each of us forever.
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George Tucker Sartwelle, Jr.
January 1, 1925 - May 9, 1945 The following was
received from Dennis O'Brien on July 7, 2000: I run
the web site for the
USS Englands, both DE-635 and the ship on which I served, CG-22.
I thought you might find the following interesting: DE-635 was a Buckley class destroyer escort laid down by Bethlehem
San Francisco on 4/4/43, launched 9/29/43 and commissioned 12/10/43.
She was named in honor of John C. England who died while rescuing
men from the capsized USS Oklahoma, Pearl Harbor 12/7/41. In May of
1944 she distinguished herself by sinking 6 enemy submarines in two
weeks! A 5/29/44 message from Admiral Halsey to the USS England read
"May there always be an England". Chief of Naval Operations E. J.
King reiterated this with "There'll always be an ENGLAND in the
United States Navy." ENGLAND earned the Presidential Citation. SARTWELLE, George T., Jr., S1c, USNR, died on DE-635 during an
attack on the ship by a Val bomber. At the aircraft approached the
ship, ENGLAND opened fire and commenced an evasive turn to port. The
pilot of the Val steered the plane for ENGLAND's bridge as kamikazes
had been trained to do. The gunners on ENGLAND killed the pilot and
as the ship turned the Val nearly missed her, but a wing caught the
boat davit and hurled the aircraft into ENGLAND, starboard at the
bridge. 36 men died in the attack which took the mighty ENGLAND out
of the war. The ship was damaged and slated for conversion to APD in
preparation of the invasion of Japan. She returned to
Philadelphia for repair and conversion.
Please visit
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-e/de635.htm
for pictures of the USS England. Also, please
visit
http://de635.ussengland.org/, the official USS England
web site. There is an England
Hall at the antisubmarine Warfare Training Center Base in San Diego
as well as a Prock Hall, named for the sonar man at the instruments
for most of the runs on the six submarines. As for "There'll always
be an ENGLAND in the United States Navy." In 1963 the USS England
DLG-22, later called CG-22, hit the seas and served the United
States for over 30 years. She is now in the MARAD reserve fleet
awaiting scrapping.
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Olivia Dean (Preshy)
Sartwelle
June 8, 1926 - August 18, 1982 The following was
written by the daughter of Preshy Sartwelle Barton as an editor's
note to the book, "The Sartwelle's in America 1635 - 1981": Olivia Deane (Preshy) Sartwelle Barton was a very blessed woman for
she knew and understood the key to happiness in life - LOVE - love
of God, love of her family and love of all mankind.
This book will hopefully be a lasting memorial to my
mother's goodness and everlasting love of family and its heritage.
On September 25, 1981, in the midst of compiling
this book, she was diagnosed as having incurable lung cancer. She
immediately prayed to God that He would allow her enough time to
finish the compilation of the book and in His infinite mercy He
granted her prayers. My only regret is that she did not live long
enough to see the printed copy.
Preshy Sartwelle Barton died August 18, 1982 in Del
Rio, Texas. Her funeral services were held at St. James Episcopal
Church in Del Rio where she was baptized, confirmed and married. She
is buried in the Masonic Cemetery next to her father.
"To live in the hearts of those we leave behind is
not to die."
Dorothy Barton Sanders - 1982
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