William Horace VanFossen

Bill was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the youngest child of Harry Elsworth Van Fossen, Jr. and Mary Louisa Kirbyson.  The 1930 census recorded the family of 6 renting a 3 bedroom, 1 bath home located at 4715 Sheldon Street in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia, around the block from Bill's paternal grandparents, Harry and May (nee Krouze) who lived at 290 Hermitage Street.   

Bill's parents were members of the Wissahickon United Methodist Church located at 5245 Ridge Avenue in Roxborough; and this is where their children were christened on June 10, 1928.  Just two months later, in August 1928, Bill's oldest sister, Mary Louisa, died at the age of 13 from a perforated appendix.  

In the 1940 census, Bill, age 15, and his two brothers, Harry and Tom, were living with their parents in a rented home located at 636 Leverington Ave.  Their older sister, Ruth Rebecca (who went by the name Peg) was living with her husband, Melvin Smith, and a daughter, Jane, age 3. 

In the early 1940's Bill attended Roxborough High School, where he met the popular bobby-soxer, Bunny Ott who was 2 years younger. 

On June 10, 1943, the day before his 18th birthday, Bill enlisted in the navy,   He spent Tiburon California, where he received training at the US Naval Net Depot and Training Center.  From there he sailed to the South Pacific, aboard the SS Walter Colton.  You can learn more about his service on the WW2 page.   

In February of 1944 while Bill and his brothers were serving overseas, their father Harry died suddenly at the age of 50 from an apparent heart attack while driving.  It is unclear as to whether or not his sons were granted leave to attend their father's funeral.  

On September 13, 1947 Bill & Bunny were married at the Wissahickon United Methodist Church in Roxborough and began their life together. ❤️

Ellen Mae Ott was born on Palm Sunday, one week before Easter, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Elmer Foering Ott and Edna Mae Wadenpfuhl, who fittingly gave her the lifetime nickname "Bunny".

The 1930 census shows us that Bunny's parents, Edna and Elmer and their 3 children (of whom Bunny was the oldest at age 3), lived with Elmer's mother, Martha Ott (widowed) and Elmer's younger brother Walter, who was only 19.   The 3 bedroom, 1 bath row home located at 3080 Tulip Street must have been quite chaotic with 4 adults, 2 toddlers and 1 infant sharing the same space!  The home was owned by Martha Ott and is still there today.  A photo of the home can be seen on the Roxborough page.

In the 1940 census, a 13 year old Bunny is recorded as living with her parents, and younger brothers, Elmer and George at 154 Sparks Street in the "Olney" neighborhood of Philadelphia.  Their 3 bedroom, 1 bath home was rented for just 35.00 per month.  On June 26, 1941, Bunny's grandfather, George E. Wadenpfuhl purchased a row home at 523 Green Lane in Roxborough and this is where Bunny's family lived until she married Bill in 1947.  

During her years at Roxborough High School, Bunny was a popular cheerleader and quintessential "bobby soxer" wearing the signature penny loafers and white socks.  She started a local Frank Sinatra fan club and even won a contest to have lunch with "The Voice"!.  When not in school, Bunny lived for the beach, spending most of the season in Ocean City and Cape May.   During the summer of 1944 she had a job waitressing at the Chatterbox restaurant in Ocean City and spent her free-time tanning on the beach with her large group of friends.  {She used to tell me about those days and how she and her friends would French-braid each other's hair. } During that same summer, Bill was in the South Pacific and Bunny would send him photos of her and their friends, to lift his spirits. (See images on WW2 page).   Ellen "Bunny" Ott graduated from Roxborough High School in 1945 and when Bill returned they picked up where they left off before he enlisted. They were married in September 1947. ❤️