Elvira Lalla (-1G)

a daughter-in-law of one of our paternal grandfather's half-brothers
(Click to see a chart showing her relationship to us)

Married Walter Thoma (-1G) ca 1916, probably in St. Louis.

The 1916 St. Louis Directory lists Walter Thoma, clerk, residing at 2817 Wyoming. The 1917 Directory has the same information plus gives his middle initial as "C.". The 1918 Directory has Walter C. Thoma, chauffeur, with a home at 2817 Wyoming.

The 1920 Missouri Census (vol. 108, enum. district 277, sheet 5, line 39) shows Walter and his own family living at 2927 Nebraska Ave. in St. Louis city. He is 26 years old, born in Missouri. His wife, Elvira, is 25 years old and was born in Saxony. There are no children but living with them is Elvira's brother, Robert Lalla, 23 years old, born in Saxony.

The 1920 (or 1922?) St. Louis Directory lists Walter Thoma, salesman, living at 3624a Iowa Ave. Walter is also listed in the 1924 Directory as a chauffeur living at 2844 Wyoming, the same block where his father is living. In the 1925 Dir. we see Walter C. Thoma, salesman at Columbia Products, with a home at 2844 Wyoming. The 1926 Dir. lists Walter C. Thoma as a salesman living at 2844 Wyoming. The 1927 Dir. has Walter C. Thoma (Columbia Products Co.) with a home at 2844 Wyoming. The 1929 Dir. lists Walter O. [sic!] as the manager at Columbia Products Co. [the family business] and living at 3675 Wilmington Ave. His father is also living there.

The 1930 Fed. Census for Missouri (T626_1234, enum. dist 471, sheet 9A, printed page #137, lines 3 & 4, dated 8 Apr. 1930) shows Walter C. and his wife living at 3675a Wilmington Ave. in St. Louis (ward 13, block 0699). They are living with his parents [his brother Otto and his family are living downstairs]. His parents own the house; they have a radio set. Walter C. Thoma is 36 years old, born in Missouri; his father born in Germany and his mother in Missouri. He married when he was 22 years old. His occupation is manufacturer or malt extract. He is not in school but he reads, writes, and speaks English. His wife Olivia [sic! Should be Elvira] is 35 years old and married him when she was 21. She and both her parents were born in Germany. German was the language of her youth but she reads, writes and speaks English. Her year of immigration is unknown but her naturalization status is "Na". No occupation is listed for her. Walter and his wife do not have children.

The 1930 Directory lists Walter C. and his wife (Elvira) living at 3675a and his brother and his wife Edna living at 3675 Wilmington Ave. His father is not living there because he had died ca. 1930. The brothers are working at Columbia Products Co [the family business]. His brother and family are living downstairs.

The 1931 Directory shows both brothers Otto (Jr) and Walter working (partners) in Columbia Products Co. Walter and his wife are living at 3675a Wilmington Ave. and Otto Jr. and his family are living downstairs.

The 1932 Directory shows Walter and Otto as malsters at Columbia Products Co. Walter and his wife are living at 3817 Wilmington and Otto and his family are at 6511 Leona Ave. Their mother Elizabeth is now occupying the house at 3675 Wilmington Ave.

Her mother, Augusta Foerster (-2G), died on 10 Apr. 1937 in St. Louis.

The 1937 and 1939 St. Louis Directories show Walter C. Thoma (with wife Elvira), treasurer of Surety Products Co., with a home at 6514 Delor. The 1941 St. Louis Directory lists Walter C. Thoma, with wife Elvira, president-treasurer of Surety Products Co., living at 6514 Delor. The 1944 St. Louis Dir. shows Walter C. Thoma (Elvira L.), pres mgr of Surety Products Co. Inc., with a home at 6514 Delor. Elvira has a separate listing as the vice-president of the same company.

Her brother Robert died on 29 May 1954 at Firmin Desloge Hospital in St. Louis. The death certificate is file # 20833. His funeral was handled by Ziegenhein & Sons at 7027 Gravois but he was cremated by the Missouri Crematory on 31 May. He left behind a wife (Frances) at least. They lived at 3675 Wilmington in St. Louis with Elvira and her husband.

The 1955 St. Louis Directory shows Walter C. Thoma (with wife Elvira), vp of S-O Tool Co., living at 3675 Wilmington (downstairs from his mother). The 1956 Dir. has the same information as in 1955 except Elvira has her own listing as an employee at Hamilton-Schmidt Surgical Co. and living at 3675 Wilmington.

Elvira died on 22 Aug. 1956 at her home, 3675 Wilmington, in St. Louis. The death certificate (file # 32457) gives her father's name (Fred Lalla) and her mother's first name (Augusta). Elvira was born on 13 Feb. 1894 in Germany but was then a U.S. citizen. Her husband's name, Walter C. Thoma, is given--he was the informant. The funeral was handled by Ziegenhein & Sons at 7027 Gravois but she was cremated by the Missouri Crematory. She was 62 years old.

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The 1958 Dir. has Walter C. Thoma, treasurer at S. O. Tool Co., with a home at 3675 Wilmington Ave. The 1960 Dir. has the same information. Elvira is not listed with Walter, nor does she have a separate listing. Perhaps she is deceased?

I do not think that Walter and Elvira had children. Walter's S.S. number was 492-10-7253 which was issued in Missouri before 1951. At his death Walter was living in Missouri. According to a living relative, Walter was close to his father, Otto.

Created 18 June, 2000. Updated 13 Mar. 2007.