TRAPNELL, Franklin Waters Jr.

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• Also Known As: Bucky / Buck
• Education: Polytechnic Institute and Johns Hopkins University
• Obituary: From The Baltimore Sun, 13 June 2014: Franklin Waters "Buck" Trapnell Jr., a retired Army colonel who served in Vietnam, died of a heart attack May 31 while visiting family near Richmond, Va. The former Roland Park resident was 77. Born in Baltimore and raised on Lake Avenue in Cedarcroft, he was the son of Franklin Waters Trapnell, an attorney who became an Office of Strategic Services and Central Intelligence Agency officer. His mother was Emily Willson Rieman Smith, a homemaker and volunteer. According to an autobiographical sketch, he spent much of his youth in Berlin, Germany, and Vienna, Austria, after World War II during the military occupation. "He routinely, and unofficially, assisted his father with his intelligence work," said his granddaughter, Alexa Warthen of Philomont, Va. "He was a courier, sabotaged car batteries, debriefed refugees, changed out wiretap batteries and collected wiretap recordings. "He used the Vienna city sewer system to do this work. He stood guard for East German defectors and used his father's pistol. He had an unorthodox upbringing and developed a remarkably open mind and had an exceptional grasp of adaptive tactics." After returning to Baltimore, he enrolled at Polytechnic Institute but left school to join the Maryland National Guard and serve in the 29th Division. He later studied at the Johns Hopkins University and was acting head of its Reserve Officers Training Corps for a year. After serving in the National Guard, he enlisted in the Army in 1961 and trained as a light infantryman and attended parachute school. While at Fort Bragg, he completed Special Forces qualification as a weapons specialist. He also trained in communications, demolitions, medical work and intelligence. After attending Officer Candidate School, he was commissioned as an infantry officer. He served in Vietnam from July 1965 to August 1966 and participated in the Battle of Ia Drang Valley during the Pleiku campaign. "He was a hard-nosed, tactically savvy commander and a genuinely caring mentor," said his granddaughter, who is a former Army captain and flier. She said that that during the second half of his first Vietnam tour, he served as company executive officer and as company commander. While on duty in Vietnam, Colonel Trapnell was photographed and quoted in a 1966 Baltimore Sun article. "We've been here a week, and I guess we're going to be here another," he said in the article, which covered U.S. aircraft bombing a jungle site. Colonel Trapnell returned to the U.S. and became an intelligence officer in the 82nd Airborne Division. He then volunteered for a second tour in Vietnam. "The locals trusted him, and would bring their gold savings and valuables for his safekeeping whenever a Viet Cong attack was in the offing," his granddaughter said. "He in turn recognized the situation as a harbinger of impending attack; he used it to prepare for subsequent attacks. He would later return the valuables." From 1982 to 1984, he commanded the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry in the 2nd Armored Division at Fort Hood and headed a Bradley Fighting Vehicle training team. Colonel Trapnell taught military science at Hopkins and oversaw ROTC programs at Loyola University Maryland and Towson University, among other colleges in the Mid-Atlantic. He retired in 1990. "He had a near flawless memory and made an unforgettable first impression," said his granddaughter. In retirement, he moved from homes on Wyndhurst Avenue and Overlook Place in North Baltimore to a home he designed and built in Manassas, Va. He cleared the land and worked on the house's construction. "He was the patriarch of the family, and he advised and coordinated many family investments," his granddaughter said. He also built, owned and operated cellphone towers from West Virginia to Wyoming. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity, 419 Cedarcroft Road, where he had been a member. In addition to his granddaughter, survivors include his wife of 55 years, the former Elizabeth Florence Rich Flannery, who performed with the Spotlighters and at the Four Corners Theatre; a daughter, Emily Marilla Trapnell Coryell of Baltimore; a stepson, Michael Flannery of Baltimore; two stepdaughters, Colise Medved of Washington and Agnes Collins Flannery of Walnut Creek, Calif.; seven other grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
• Occupation: US Army Colonel
• Religion: Episcopalian
• Cause of Death: Heart attack
• Military: 1965-1966, Vietnam

Notes:

Professional Army Officer. Served two tours in Viet Nam, the first in 1965 in the First Cavalry air mobil unit. Retired 1989 as Colonel.

Military:
Two tours of duty 1965-66, spent career in Army, retiring as Colonel in 1989.

Franklin married RICH, Elizabeth Florence on 26 Jun 1957. Elizabeth (daughter of RICH, Charles and RICHARDSON, Edwina) was born on 10 Nov 1921 in Perryville, Cecil, MD, USA; died on 6 Jul 2015 in Manassas, Prince William, VA, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

2015 obituary of Elizabeth has year of marriage as 1955, but no date provided.

1. TRAPNELL, Emily Marilla

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• Cause of Death: Pulmonary Edema with Congestion and Myocardial Failure with severe Coronary Stenosing Atheroma.
• Birth: 13 Aug 1907, Charles Town, West Va

Notes:

Lawyer. Served in Intelligence during WWII and with CIA in Austria and
Germany.

Lawyer. Served in Intelligence during WWII and with CIA in Austria and
Germany.

Franklin married SMITH, Emily Katherine Willson Rieman on 26 Feb 1932 in Baltimore, MD. Emily (daughter of SMITH, Herbert) was born on 19 Dec 1907 in Towson, Maryland; died on 29 May 1972 in Baltimore, MD, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• Birth: 19 Dec 1907, Towson, MD, USA

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• Obituary: From Farmers Advocate in Charles Town: Death of Joseph Trapnell The death of Mr. Joseph Trapnell at his home in Chatham, New Jersey, after a brief illness Sunday night last was a grievous shock to his friends and relatives in Charles Town, where he was born and grew to manhood. His death is the first in a family of seven brothers, sons of the late Joseph Trapnell, of Charles Town. He had been in business in New York since finishing school, and was 52 years of age He is survived by his wife, who was formerly Miss Laura Kennedy, of Charles Town, and seven children. He is also survived by his mother, who lives in Charles Town, and by six brothers and two sisters, Mr. Jack Trapnell and Miss Rebecca Trapnell, of Charles Town; Mrs. Harry Kloman, of Fargo, North Dakota; and Messrs. Ben and White Trapnell, of New York; William Trapnell in Weston W. Va; Tom in Washington, and Rev. Richard Trapnell in Wilmington, Delaware. Funeral services were conducted at Chatham on Tuesday, after which the remains were brought to Charles Town. Interment was made in Zion churchyard at 4 o’clock Wednesday afternoon, the commitment service being read by Rev. C. H. Goodwin.
• Occupation: Lawyer/businessman
• Religion: Episcopalian
• Birth: 21 Jun 1871, Charles Town, WV
• Residence: 1900, Yonkers Ward 6, Westchester, New York
• Death: 12 Nov 1922, Charles Town, WV

Joseph married KENNEDY, Laura Virginia on 5 Nov 1895. Laura (daughter of KENNEDY, Walter Scott and HALL, Laura) was born on 21 Aug 1870 in Charles Town, West Virginia; died on 6 Jan 1963 in Baltimore, Maryland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• Religion: Episcopalian
• Birth: 13 Nov 1870, Washington Co, MD
• Residence: 1900, Yonkers Ward 6, Westchester, New York
• Residence: 1 Aug 1900, 3 Washington, Charles Town, Jefferson, WV USA
• Death: 5 Jan 1963, Baltimore, MD

Notes:

Enumerated twice in 1900 census, first in Yonkers, NY and later in Charles Town, WV with parents.

Residence:
Last: Trapnell / F: Laura / Rel to Head: Daughter / Race: W / S: M / Birth Month-Year: Nov 1870 / Age: 20 / Years married: 4 / Children: 3 / Children Living: 3 / Birthplace: Maryland / Father's Birthplace: Maryland / Mother's Birthplace: Maryland-

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• Obituary: From Spirit of Jefferson, March 19, 1912 Mr Joseph Trapnell a prominent member of the Jefferson County Bar, died at his home in this place on Saturday last. He was a native of Maryland, but had lived here since 1865. Living in Maryland at the beginning of the War Between the States, he was arrested because he refused to take the oath to the U. S. Government, but escaped and came to Virginia and joined Company G, 7th Virginia Cavalry, in which he served as a faithful soldier to the end of the war. He had studied law with Judge Maulsby in Frederick, Maryland, and continued his studies after he came here in 1865.After getting his license to practice he formed a partnership with Nathan S. White Esq., whose daughter he married in the fall of 1866. The firm had a large and lucrative practice for a number of years. For several years prior to Mr. Trapnell's death was so impaired that he unable to give the attention to his practice to which he had been accustomed since he came to the Bar. Mr. Trapnell was highly esteemed by the community in which he lived and by his brethren of the Bar with whom he was associated. He was a vestryman of the Protestant Episcopal Church and was frequently sent as a delegate to the conventions of that denomination. He is survived by his widow, seven sons and two daughters. Benjamin, Joseph, White and Thomas, of New York, William, of Romney: Rev. Richard Trapnell of Bluefield, West Virginia; John M. of this vicinity: Mrs H. F. Kloman, of Portland Me., and Miss Rebecca at home. Service will be conducted at Zion Episcopal Church, by Rev. J. S. Alfriend, assisted by Rev. J. H. Blake of Georgetown, D. C. Members of the Jefferson County Camp, U. C. V. and the members of the Bar will attend. Pallbearers are J. William Brown, Forrest W. Brown, W. O. Norris, S. W. Washington, John M. Daniel, Thomas R. Moore, W. L. Saunders and John Porterfield,
• Obituary: From Bluefield Daily Telegraph: Joseph Trapnell Church Paper Pays Tribute to Deceased Father of Bluefield Rector The following on the death of Joseph Trapnell, father of Rev. R. W. Trapnell, of this city, is taken from the Southern Churchman: Joseph Trapnell, of Charles Town, W. Va., died Saturday, a.m. March 16, 1912. Born in the city of Annapolis, Md., Sept 1, 1842. A grandson of Rev. Joseph Trapnell, who was born at Ottery St. Mary, Devonshire, England, November 8, 1775. Oldest son of Rev. Joseph Trapnell, D. D., who was born at Bemerton, Wiltshire, England, June 19, 1814. Our subject’s boyhood days Baltimore, Bristol, R.I., and Keokuk, Iowa, where his father was rector of churches in these places. He commenced the study of law in the office of Belknap & Lomax, at Keokuk, Iowa, in 1859. In 1861 (his father having moved to St. Marks parish, Frederick Co, Md.) he continued his legal studies with Joseph Palmer, esq., a noted attorney of Frederick, Md., until Sept, 1862, when he entered the confederate army on the 12th, Company G, 7th Va. Cavalry, where he remained until the late fall of 1864, when he joined the Maryland Battalion, which had the honor of being the last army of northern Virginia to surrender. In the summer of 1865 he continued his interrupted studies in the offices of the late N. S. White esq., at Charles Town, W. Va.. In Oct, 1866, he was admitted to the bar at Frederick, Md., and commenced the practice of his profession with his late preceptor, N. S. White, making the firm of White & Trapnell. On Nov. 20, 1866, he was united in marriage in Zion church, Charles Town, with Miss Rebecca Holmes White, only child of his preceptor and partner. The Rev. Joseph Trapnell officiated. His long useful life in the practice of his profession was spent in this ancient and beautiful town. He was the chancellor of the diocese of West Virginia, a lay deputy to the general convention of the church, which meets every three years, since 1889; a vestryman, of Zion Church, Charles Town, or warden, for upwards of forty years. Throughout the whole valley of Virginia, especially, and in all parts of the state and adjoining states of Virginia and Maryland, in many parts his professional ability makes him much sought after — especially in the intricacies of the great science, he was known to be a master of the law. Respected, honored, loved by the whole community, after a life spent there of nearly 47 years, he will be missed in the church and state. He leaves a widow and one sister. His brother is Dr. R. Watkins Trapnell, of Point of Rocks, and his sister, Miss Ella Trapnell, of Middletown, Md.
• Occupation: Lawyer
• Religion: Episcopalian
• Military: 12 Sep 1862, Knoxville, Frederick, MD, USA
• Residence: Apr 1870, S. George Street, Charles Town, Jefferson, West Virginia
• Residence: 1880, Charlestown, Jefferson, West Virginia, United States
• Residence: 1900, Charles Town, Jefferson, West Virginia
• Residence: 1910, Charles Town, Jefferson, West Virginia

Notes:

Military:
Enlisted in Company G, Virginia 7th Cavalry Regiment on 12 Sep 1862.

Residence:
“A dwelling house was completed in Charles Town for Joseph Trapnell, S. George St.” (Ultimately was 416 S. George Street, Charles Town, WV)

Joseph married WHITE, Rebecca Holmes on 20 Nov 1866 in Charlestown, WV. Rebecca (daughter of WHITE, Nathan Smith and MACKY, Frederica) was born on 4 May 1845 in Charlestown WV; died on 3 May 1931 in Charles Town, WV; was buried on 5 May 1931 in Zion Church yard, Charles Town, WV. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• Obituary: From The Morning News, Wilmington, DE Mrs. Rebecca H. Trapnell Mrs. Rebecca H. Trapnell, 85 years old. widow of Joseph Trapnell, of Charlestown. West Virginia, died in that town on Sunday, according to news received here yesterday. Mrs. Trapnell was the mother of the Rev. Richard W. Trapnell, now cf Norfolk, Va. Mr. Trapnell was rector of St. Andrew's P. E. Church, in this city, and was well known here, leaving for Norfolk last year. Mrs. Trapnell was a daughter' Of Nathan S. White, a member of the Charlestown bar. for many years. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. H. F. Kloman, wife of the Rev. H. F. Kloman, rector of the Episcopal Church at Cumberland, Md., and Miss Rebecca R. Trapnell, of Charlestown, and four sons, William Trapnell, superintendent of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, Western; Captain Thomas T. Trapnell, U. S. A.; the Rev. Richard W. Trapnell, Norfolk, Va., and J. M. Trapnell, of Charlestown. Funeral services will be held in Zion Episcopal Church this afternoon.
• Residence: 1910, Charles Town, Jefferson, West Virginia

Notes:

Married:
Officiated by his father, Rev. Joseph Trapnell

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• Census: 1 Aug 1900, 3 Washington, Charles Town, Jefferson, WV USA

Notes:

Census:
Last: Kennedy / F: Walter Scott / Rel to Head: Head / Race: W / S: M / Birth Month-Year: Jan 1833 / Age: 67 / Years married: 30 / Birthplace: Maryland / Father's Birthplace: Maryland / Mother's Birthplace: Virginia -

Walter married HALL, Laura. Laura was born in Dec 1841 in Ann Arrundel Co, MD. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• Census: 1 Aug 1900, 3 Washington, Charles Town, Jefferson, WV USA

Notes:

Census:
Last: Kennedy / F: Laura / Rel to Head: Wife / Race: W / S: M / Birth Month-Year: Dec 1841 / Age: 58 / Years married: 30 / Children: 8 / Children Living: 5 / Birthplace: Maryland / Father's Birthplace: Maryland / Mother's Birthplace: Maryland-