H0088
The study's number for this person. Cite it and it will always lead here, whatever the spelling.Courtland Walter Bunker
Born at Great Falls in 1911.
born about 29 Sep 1911 at Great Falls, Cascade
Life story
Courtland Walter Bunker was born, according to the family tree, on 29 September 1911 at Great Falls, Montana (see Research Notes).1
On 26 June 1934, at Montesano, the seat of Grays Harbor County, Washington, he married Ruth Elizabeth Wilson, nineteen, a daughter of James Israel Wilson and Lucy M. Harris, whose family had come to Grays Harbor from the Ozark borderlands of Missouri and Oklahoma.1 The marriage did not last: by May 1942 Ruth was using the name Ruth Wilson Martin.2 No children of the marriage are known.
Courtland's later life has not yet been traced from records. The family tree says that he died on 25 March 1969 at Algona, in King County, Washington.
What we know
Proven
- Birth at Great Falls, 1911
- Marriage to Ruth Elizabeth Wilson at Montesano, 1934
What's still open
- End of the marriage. Not found. A divorce in Grays Harbor County between 1934 and 1942 is the likeliest explanation, since the family tree has him living until 1969.
- Parents. Not yet identified.
Sources
Source 1
1 Washington, U.S., Marriage Records, 1934
"Washington, U.S., Marriage Records, 1854–2013," database, Ancestry.com, marriage of Courtland Walter Bunker and Ruth Elizabeth Willson [Wilson], 26 June 1934, Montesano, Grays Harbor County, Washington (the groom's line record 5200724, the bride's line record 905200724); citing the Washington State Archives; as recorded from this index in the Ancestry tree, where it is attached to both; not re-read in this study.
Source 2
2 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1915
"U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007," database, Ancestry.com, Ruth Wilson Martin [later Ruth E. Martin], born 7 April 1915, Noel, McDonald, Missouri; died 20 November 2000; father James I Wilson; mother Lucy M Harris.
More sources are in the evidence below.
Life in time
about 29 Sep 1911
Birth , Great Falls, Cascade, Montana, United States
How we know
As the family tree gives it (see Research Notes).
The family tree gives 29 Sep 1911 at Great Falls, Montana, and cites his 1934 marriage record and another family tree for it. The marriage record has not been re-read in this study, and a marriage index of 1934 would normally give an age rather than a date, so the day may come from elsewhere; the date is recorded as uncertain until a record giving it is found.
26 Jun 1934
Marriage, with Ruth Elizabeth Wilson , Montesano, Grays Harbor, Washington, United States
How we know
The bride, Ruth Elizabeth Wilson (Willson in the index), was 19. The marriage had ended by May 1942, when she was Ruth Wilson Martin; how it ended is not known.
Ancestry's index of Washington marriage records, attached to both of them in the family tree, gives the marriage of Courtland Walter Bunker and Ruth Elizabeth Willson at Montesano on 26 Jun 1934. The record has not been re-read in this study.
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1911 Birth
As the family tree gives it (see Research Notes).
The family tree gives 29 Sep 1911 at Great Falls, Montana, and cites his 1934 marriage record and another family tree for it. The marriage record has not been re-read in this study, and a marriage index of 1934 would normally give an age rather than a date, so the day may come from elsewhere; the date is recorded as uncertain until a record giving it is found.
Source 1
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1934 Marriage, with Ruth Elizabeth Wilson
The bride, Ruth Elizabeth Wilson (Willson in the index), was 19. The marriage had ended by May 1942, when she was Ruth Wilson Martin; how it ended is not known.
Ancestry's index of Washington marriage records, attached to both of them in the family tree, gives the marriage of Courtland Walter Bunker and Ruth Elizabeth Willson at Montesano on 26 Jun 1934. The record has not been re-read in this study.
- proven
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Places in this life
2 places, in order- 1 Great Falls, Cascade County Birth about 29 Sep 1911
- 2 Montesano, Grays Harbor County Marriage 26 Jun 1934
Family
The evidence 2 facts with their grades, 2 sources, and the research notes
Facts
| Fact | Date | Place | Grade | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | about 29 Sep 1911 | Great Falls, Cascade, Montana, United States | proven | 1 |
| Marriage with Ruth Elizabeth Wilson | 26 Jun 1934 | Montesano, Grays Harbor, Washington, United States | proven | 1 , 2 |
Research notes
- Identity: He is known here only from the index of his marriage to Ruth Elizabeth Willson [Wilson] in 1934, which the family tree attaches to both of them.1 The bride is identified as Ruth Elizabeth Wilson (H0096) by her name and her age; she was a Martin by May 1942.2
- Birth: The family tree's 29 Sep 1911 at Great Falls, Cascade County, Montana, is cited in the tree to the 1934 marriage record and to another family tree. Neither has been read in this study, so the date is recorded as uncertain. His birthplace and age on the marriage record, and the 1920 and 1930 censuses of Montana and Washington, are the next checks.
- End of the marriage: Not found. A divorce in Grays Harbor County between 1934 and 1942 is the likeliest explanation, since the family tree has him living until 1969.
- Death (unconfirmed): The family tree gives 25 Mar 1969 at Algona, King County, Washington, citing only another family tree. The Washington death certificates (1969) at the Washington State Digital Archives are the place to confirm it.
- Sources: The marriage is known from the index attached in the Ancestry tree; the record has not been re-read. No FamilySearch profile for him has been identified, and the WikiTree duplicate check of 26 Sep 2026 found no profile for him.
Working notes
- Tree-only death (unsourced lead): 25 Mar 1969 Algona, King, Washington, USA
Sources
- 1
"Washington, U.S., Marriage Records, 1854–2013," database, Ancestry.com, marriage of Courtland Walter Bunker and Ruth Elizabeth Willson [Wilson], 26 June 1934, Montesano, Grays Harbor County, Washington (the groom's line record 5200724, the bride's line record 905200724); citing the Washington State Archives; as recorded from this index in the Ancestry tree, where it is attached to both; not re-read in this study.
- 2
"U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007," database, Ancestry.com, Ruth Wilson Martin [later Ruth E. Martin], born 7 April 1915, Noel, McDonald, Missouri; died 20 November 2000; father James I Wilson; mother Lucy M Harris.