PFC William Martin Drollinger
1923 - 1966 (42 years)-
Name William Martin Drollinger Prefix PFC Birth 22 May 1923 Grand Rapids, Kent, MI 
- According to his son, William Richard Drollinger, William's birth date was 24 Jun 1923.
Gender Male Death 14 Apr 1966 Grand Rapids, Kent, MI - William Martin Drollinger, aged 42 formerly of Grand Rapids, passed away Tuesday. Surviving are one son, William M. Drollinger Jr. and one daughter, Cynthia Drollinger; his mother Mrs Ambrose (Susie) Contafi; his father Harold Drollinger of Monett, MO; four sisters, Mrs. Dan (Lucy) Harrison, Mrs John (Angie) Ensley, Mrs Jack (Virginia) Lopaz, Mrs Pauline Matzon; his Aunt and uncle, Mr and Mrs William (Leona) Poddig, all of Grand Rapids. Mr. Drollinger reposes at the Creston Mortuary 1330 Plainfield NE where services will be held at 9 a.m. Friday. Friends may meet the family at the chapel 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p. m. Wednesday and Thursday.
Grand Rapids Press, 19 April 1966, page 50.
Social Security Death Index
Name: William Drollinger
SSN: 381-16-8862
Born: 24 Jun 1923
Died: Apr 1966
State (Year) SSN issued: Michigan (Before 1951)
Burial Grand Rapids, Kent, MI - Burial: Mount Calvary Cemetery
Plot: Sec. D, Lot 349-W, Grave #1
Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan, USA
Inscription
WILLIAM M. DROLLINGER
Michigan
PFC Army Air Forces
WORLD WAR II
May 22, 1923 - April 19, 1966
Person ID I11687 Drollinger Genealogy Last Modified 13 May 2021
Father Harold Martin Drollinger, b. 11 Jan 1901, Allen County, IN d. 15 Jul 1970, Monett, Barry, MO (Age 69 years) Mother Susan "Susie" Brandyberry, b. 2 Dec 1903, Monroe, IN d. 5 Sep 1983, Grand Rapids, Kent, MI (Age 79 years) Family ID F3749 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family 1 Oma Aline Lambert, b. 29 Oct 1923, Dickson County, TN d. 7 Sep 2002 (Age 78 years) Marriage 6 Nov 1943 Detroit, Wayne, MI - Michigan, Marriage Records
Name: Mr William Drollinger
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birth Year: abt 1923
Birth Place: H Gd Rapids, Michigan
Marriage Date: 6 Nov 1943
Marriage Place: Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
License County: Wayne
Age: 20
Residence Place: Detroit
Father: Harold
Mother: Susie Brendy Berry
Spouse: Oka Lambert
County File Number: 620898
State File Number: 301005
Film: 322
Film Title: 82 Wayne 298850-302159
Film Description: Wayne (Dates TBD)
Michigan, Marriage Records
Name: Oka Lambert
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birth Year: abt 1923
Birth Place: Dickson, Tennessee
Marriage Date: 6 Nov 1943
Marriage Place: Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
License County: Wayne
Age: 20
Residence Place: Highland Park, Michigan
Father: McKinley
Mother: Roberts Luther
Spouse: William Drollinger
County File Number: 620898
State File Number: 301005
Film: 322
Film Title: 82 Wayne 298850-302159
Film Description: Wayne (Dates TBD)
Divorce 22 Jun 1945 Wayne County, MI - Michigan, U.S., Divorce Records
Name: Oma A Drollinger
Marriage Date: 6 Nov 1943
Marriage Place: Michigan
Decree Date: 22 Jun 1945
Decree Place: Wayne, Michigan, USA
Spouse Name: William Drollinger
Number of Children: 0
Divorce Status: Granted
Family ID F15019 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 13 May 2021
Family 2 Mercedes Grace Bradley, b. 18 Oct 1922, Chicago, Cook, IL d. 31 Jul 2004, Wyoming, Kent, MI (Age 81 years) Marriage 1 Sep 1945 IL Divorce 21 Jul 1947 Wayne County, MI - Michigan, Divorce Records
Name: William M Drollinger
Marriage Date: 1 Sep 1945
Marriage Place: Illinois
Decree Date: 21 Jul 1947
Decree Place: Wayne
Spouse Name: Mercedes Bradley Drollinger
State File Number: 82147290
Docket Number: 414633
Number of Children: 0
Divorce Status: Granted
Family ID F15496 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 20 Jan 2018
Family 3 Thelma Marie Head, b. 21 Mar 1928, Walker County, TX d. 27 May 2017, Houston, Harris, TX (Age 89 years) Marriage 26 Sep 1952 Harris County, TX Documents 
Family ID F15476 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 18 Jan 2018
Family 4 Unknown MNU Marriage - Unknown MNU was, mother of William Richard Drollinger, was probably William's fourth relationship.
Children 1. William Richard "Bill" Drollinger Family ID F3750 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 14 Mar 2016
Family 5 Beverly Lois Needhamschou, b. Jul 1939, England d. Apr 1998 (Age ~ 58 years) Marriage - Never legally married to Beverly according to Beverly's daughter, Cindy.
Beverly apparently was William's last relationship.
Children 1. Cynthia Rae "Cindy" Drollinger 2. Paul Martin Drollinger Family ID F4389 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 14 Mar 2016
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Event Map 
Birth - 22 May 1923 - Grand Rapids, Kent, MI 
Divorce - 22 Jun 1945 - Wayne County, MI 
Marriage - 1 Sep 1945 - IL Divorce - 21 Jul 1947 - Wayne County, MI 
Marriage - 26 Sep 1952 - Harris County, TX Death - 14 Apr 1966 - Grand Rapids, Kent, MI Burial - - Grand Rapids, Kent, MI = Link to Google Earth
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Documents
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Notes - GUN VICTIMS LISTED FAIR AT HOSPITAL
Gunman's Condition Reported Critical
by James Zeno
Gazette Staff Writer
A Portage woman and her six year old daughter were in fair condition today at Borgess Hospital after being shot Thursday at their home by a Kalamazoo man who later fired a bullet into his own head.
Portage police said that Mrs Arien (Pat) Jennings, 34 of 5520 Meredith and her daughter, Kelley M. were wounded by .32 caliber pistol shots fired by William M. Drollinger, 42 of 534 Woodward. Drollinger was reported in critical condition at Bronson Hospital. Mrs Jennings was shot in the face police reported, while standing in the garage adjoining her home. Officers said Drollinger fired from a kitchen doorway which led into the garage, then spun about and fired a shot which struck Kelley in the face. Portage Police Chief Richard A. Wild said that another woman was in the kitchen at the time of the shooting and Kelley was standing between Drollinger and when the second shot was fired. She was identified by police as a former girlfriend of Drollinger's. Beverly Needhamshou, 26, who had until recently been living in Kalamazoo Wild said. Mrs Needhamshou and an infant daughter (Cynthia) had been residing temporily with Mrs Jennings. Mrs Jennings is separated from her husband, Kenneth, and is the mother of eight children all of whom live at the Meredith Avenue residence.
Mrs Needhan-Shou told police that when the shooting began, she grabbed her daughter, Cindy and two year old David Jennings and locked the children and herself in the bathroom. She told police that Drollinger then searched the house fired several shots at the lock on a bedroom door and then went into the garage where he shot himself with the .32 caliber automatic. Drollinger reportedly had been drinking before walking into the Jennings house and Chief Wild indicated that there had been some animosity between Mrs Jennings and Drollinger over Mrs Needham-Shou's living with Mrs Jennings.
Drollinger entered the house shortly after noon just as Mrs Jennings was about to get into her car in the garage and leave for an appointment in Kalamazoo. After being shot, Mrs Jennings crawled some 80 feet across a vacant lot which separates her residence from neighbors at 5532 Meredith.
William Martin Drollinger, aged 42 formerly of Grand Rapids, passed away Tuesday. Surviving are one son, William M. Drollinger Jr. and one daughter, Cynthia Drollinger; his mother Mrs Ambrose (Susie) Contafi; his father Harold Drollinger of Monett, MO; four sisters, Mrs. Dan (Lucy) Harrison, Mrs John (Angie) Ensley, Mrs Jack (Virginia) Lopaz, Mrs Pauline Matzon; his Aunt and uncle, Mr and Mrs William (Leona) Poddig, all of Grand Rapids. Mr. Drollinger reposes at the Creston Mortuary 1330 Plainfield NE where services will be held at 9 a.m. Friday. Friends may meet the family at the chapel 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p. m. Wednesday and Thursday.
Grand Rapids Press, 19 April 1966, page 50.
Three Hurt in Burst of Gunfire
PORTAGE (AP) Three persons were hospitalized with gunshot wounds after an unexplained burst of pistol fire at a suburban Portage residence.
Listed in critical condition in Bronson Hospital, Kalamazoo, was William Drollinger, 42, of Portage. Reported in fair condition at Borgess Hospital, Kalamazoo, were Mrs Arlene Jennings, 34, and her daughter, Kelley, 6.
Portage policman Robert Stewart said Drollinger reportedly went to Mrs Jennings home and found her and the girl headed for their garage. Stewart's report said Drollinger followed them outside, flashed a .32 caliber pistol, shot Mrs Jennings in the head and fired a shot that struck the child in the face. Mrs Beverly Needhamshu (Needhamshou), a resident at the same address, told Stewart she herded Mrs Jennings' other children into a bathroom and locked herself in with them. She said the man with the gun returned to the house and fired at a bedroom door, then went into the garage and apparently turned the gun on himself.
- GUN VICTIMS LISTED FAIR AT HOSPITAL
