Donald served his country in World War II, serving in the Navy from 9 April 1942 to 5 January 1946 (BIRLS). Upon return from the War, Donald married VIVIAN CATHRYNE DANIEL at Kingsport, Sullivan County, Tennessee, on 20 January 1946. The newspaper account of the wedding reported that the wedding took place at Calvary Baptist Church. Vivian was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson Clifford Daniel, a graduate of Dobyns-Bennett High School, and served in the WAVES during the War, stationed at Washington, DC. Donald Norman Maxfield was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Miley Nelson Maxfield of Kansas City, Missouri, a graduate of Wyandotte High School, Kansaas City, and had served four years in the Naval Reserve. The couple planned to live at Kansas City, Missouri (Kingsport T-N, 27 Jan 1946, p. 15,16). Vivian had reported for active duty on October 6, 1943, and was discharged effective 1 February 1946 (Kingsport T-N 17 Feb 1946, p. 19)
On 21 May 1960, Donald N. Maxfield, now a resident of Franklin County, Ohio, married TABITHA (TEALL) ABERNATHY of Jackson County, Missouri, at Second Presbyterian Church, Kansas City, Missouri (MO M). Tabitha was born at Palco, Rooks County, Kansas, on 3 March 1922 (FL D; CA D; obituary).
This family was living at central Ohio in 1963, when a tragic accident occurred. On 4 October, Robert Norris, age 7, died in an automobile accident from a car driven by John Teall Maxfield, 16, of Upper Arlington, son of Donald Maxfield. Charges were filed in Union County Juvenile Court on 10 October (Marysville J T, 11 Oct 1963, p. 2). Nine months later the Norris parents filed a wrongful death suit against Tabitha Teall Maxfield, the mother of J Teall Maxfield and owner of the car. (Marysville J T 14 Jul 1964, p. 5).
Donald N. Maxfield later moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and about 1987 moved to Crystal River, Citrus County, Florida (obituary). At some point he married PHYLLIS MEDDLES.
Tabitha (Teall) Maxfield died at Pleasanton, Alameda County, California, on 1 July 1993 (FL D; CA D; obituary). For her full obituary see below. Donald N. Maxfield died at Inverness, Citrus County, Florida, on 1 April 1994 (FL D; SSDI; Cem Rec; obituary). For his full obituary see below.
Concerning the children of Donald N. Maxfield, my information is not clear. His obituary names only one child, LAURA, who was also listed as a child of Tabitha. She is surnamed West in the obituaries, which indicates a marriage to someone named ________ WEST.
Tabitha's obituary mentions a daughter, Tabitha Ford. As she is not mentioned in Donald's obituary, she could possibly be her child by her previous marriage with ________ Abernathy.
Then there is JOHN TEALL MAXFIELD, mentioned in Tabitha's obituary, and called the child of both Donald and Tabitha in the Ohio newspaper articles about the accident. According to the California Birth Index (CA B), John Teall Maxfield was born at Los Angeles County, California, on 28 December 1946. This agrees with his age being given as sixteen at the time of the accident. However the California index gives his mother's maiden name as PEARSON. John Teall Maxfield married PATRICIA ________, and they were divorced at Saint John's County, Florida, on 30 August 1993 (FL Div). I do not have an adequate explanation for how all of these facts fit together.
Tabitha Teall Maxfield, 71, Largo, Fla., formerly of this area, died July 1, 1993, in Pleasanton, Calif. Memorial services pending; cremation. The family suggests contributions to the American Cancer Society. Mrs. Maxfield was born in Palco, Kan., and moved to this area in the 1940s, before moving to Largo 25 years ago. She graduated from Barstow School. She was a member of the Musettes of the Kansas City Museum. Survivors include two daughters, Tabitha Ford, Pleasanton, and Laurie West, Seminole, Fla.; a son, Teall Maxfield, St. Augustine, Fla.; a sister, Mrs. Phillip A. Thomason, Lake Quivira; and six grandchildren.
Donald N. Maxfield, 71, Crystal River, Fla., formerly of Kansas City, Kan., died April 1, 1994, at a hospital in Inverness, Fla. Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at the Beverly Hills (Fla.) Chapel; burial in the Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Fla. Friends may call from noon to 1 p.m. Monday at the chapel. The family suggests contributions to the Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children. Mr. Maxfield was born in Kansas City, Kan., and moved to Columbus, Ohio, in 1960. He lived in Pittsburgh before moving to Crystal River seven years ago. He was a retired sales manager for a printing company. He was a member of Community Masonic Lodge, Columbus, and Egypt Ararat Shrine, Tampa, Fla. He was a Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean War. Survivors include his wife, Phyllis Meddles Maxfield of the home; a daughter, Laura West, Seminole, Fla.; and three grandchildren.
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