3 Leonard Nolen? No, He Was Always Uncle Sonny

 

Uncle Sonny Nolen

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 

Week 3 -  January 13, 2025

Prompt: Nickname

Uncle Sonny was my mother’s baby brother. Born Leonard Page Nolen on February 2, 1931, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Sonny was the third of four children of Leonard Nolen and Elizabeth Moore and their only son.

Betty Ann, Leonard Page, and Margaret Ella; Martha Sue would come later.

A newspaper search for “Leonard Nolen” paints a picture of a typical mid-20th-century American childhood. Growing up in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, he attended birthday parties, participated in Scouts, and played football for the Sandites. During World War II, he supported the home front by collecting 1,640 pounds of scrap metal—a feat that earned him recognition in the local paper.

Young Sonny Nolen, smiling proudly with the American flag in the background—capturing a moment of his all-American childhood in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.

Sonny graduated from high school in 1950. He initially worked for Frank Wheatly Pumps and Valves before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in March 1951 with two of his high school buddies. After completing his recruit training at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, Sonny, a machinist mate, was assigned to LST 758, a transport ship that moved prisoners of war across the Sea of Japan.

Sonny’s proud parents, Leonard and Elizabeth Nolen, standing by their prized television set with their sailor boy’s service photo proudly displayed—a heartwarming snapshot of pride and love in the family home.

Sonny Nolen in his Navy uniform, standing proudly with his parents, Elizabeth and Leonard Nolen—a cherished moment capturing their pride and support for their sailor boy.”

After four years in the Navy, Sonny married Phyllis Jo Lane on February 4, 1955, in an evening ceremony at her parents’ home and resumed working at Frank Wheatley. 

Sonny and Phyllis, a couple building a life together in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.  

Sonny and Phyllis’s children—Julie Ann, Steven Page, John Mark and Jill Lane —in a family portrait that reflects the next generation of their legacy.

Sonny, in one of the last photos taken of him, captured in a rare quiet moment—but those who knew him will always remember his jolly, funny personality that lit up every room.

On January 26, 1970, he suffered a fatal heart attack as he was leaving work. He was just 38 years old.

Sonny’s military service left a lasting impression on his family. His son, Steve, and his nephew, Storm, were both inspired to follow in his footsteps and serve in the U.S. Navy.

Leonard Page "Sonny" Nolen February 2, 1931 - January 26, 1970