Theodore "Ted" James Best was born in Kansas City, Missouri on November 22nd, 1898 to parents James Milton Best and Ida Elizabeth Allison Best. He grew up in Pleasant Hill, a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri and Chicago Ward 20, Cook, Illinois.
Ted had two younger sisters. Lela A Best was born in 1902, in Missouri and Jane M Best was born in 1908, in Illinois.
In 1917, at the age of 19, Ted enlisted in the Army and served at Camp Pike, in Little Rock, Arkansas.
By 1922, Ted was reassigned to Camp Winfield Scott, Presidio Military Base, in San Francisco, California.
Still a single man, at the age of 31, he lost most of his investments and savings in the famous Wall Street Crash of 1929.
In 1933, just three years into The Great Depression, he married 19-year-old Sarah Scott. (It's unclear if they met in Marysville, CA or if they were just married in Marysville.)
By this time, Ted was a career military Sergeant and was now serving at Fort Baker, in Sausalito (on the other side of the San Francisco Bay from the Presidio).
Teddy Jr. (who would grow up to join and serve in the Navy) was born in 1934 and Patricia Mae was born, a year later, in 1935. When the Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937, the family was one of the first to cross it, on opening day. Patricia was the youngest person to cross.
A decade later, in 1945, the family moved to Huntington Park, California and later to El Monte, California.
In 1950, at the age of 51, Master Sergeant Ted Best--who served and survived both World War I and World War II--retired from the U.S. Army, following a distinguished 30-year military career. He received the Army Defense Ribbon, the American Theater Ribbon and a Good Conduct Medal. He was honored at Fort MacArthur, in San Pedro, California, for his service.
In their retirement years, Ted and Sarah lived in Palm Springs, California. When he wasn't sitting on the patio of their beautiful hillside home, overlooking their pool and city views, you could find him hiking the many desert and mountain trails surrounding the city.
In 1971, at the age of 72, Ted died, from a heart attack, while hiking in the desert hills near their home.
Ted was a quiet man who enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. Following a long and interesting life, he died doing something he loved. We should all be so fortunate and we can only hope to be as missed.
Ted had two younger sisters. Lela A Best was born in 1902, in Missouri and Jane M Best was born in 1908, in Illinois.
In 1917, at the age of 19, Ted enlisted in the Army and served at Camp Pike, in Little Rock, Arkansas.
By 1922, Ted was reassigned to Camp Winfield Scott, Presidio Military Base, in San Francisco, California.
Still a single man, at the age of 31, he lost most of his investments and savings in the famous Wall Street Crash of 1929.
In 1933, just three years into The Great Depression, he married 19-year-old Sarah Scott. (It's unclear if they met in Marysville, CA or if they were just married in Marysville.)
By this time, Ted was a career military Sergeant and was now serving at Fort Baker, in Sausalito (on the other side of the San Francisco Bay from the Presidio).
Teddy Jr. (who would grow up to join and serve in the Navy) was born in 1934 and Patricia Mae was born, a year later, in 1935. When the Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937, the family was one of the first to cross it, on opening day. Patricia was the youngest person to cross.
A decade later, in 1945, the family moved to Huntington Park, California and later to El Monte, California.
In 1950, at the age of 51, Master Sergeant Ted Best--who served and survived both World War I and World War II--retired from the U.S. Army, following a distinguished 30-year military career. He received the Army Defense Ribbon, the American Theater Ribbon and a Good Conduct Medal. He was honored at Fort MacArthur, in San Pedro, California, for his service.
In their retirement years, Ted and Sarah lived in Palm Springs, California. When he wasn't sitting on the patio of their beautiful hillside home, overlooking their pool and city views, you could find him hiking the many desert and mountain trails surrounding the city.
In 1971, at the age of 72, Ted died, from a heart attack, while hiking in the desert hills near their home.
Ted was a quiet man who enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. Following a long and interesting life, he died doing something he loved. We should all be so fortunate and we can only hope to be as missed.
Theodore "Ted" James Best was born in Kansas City, Missouri on November 22nd, 1898 to parents James Milton Best and Ida Elizabeth Allison Best. He grew up in Pleasant Hill, a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri and Chicago Ward 20, Cook, Illinois.
Ted had two younger sisters. Lela A Best was born in 1902, in Missouri and Jane M Best was born in 1908, in Illinois.
In 1917, at the age of 19, Ted enlisted in the Army and served at Camp Pike, in Little Rock, Arkansas.
By 1922, Ted was reassigned to Camp Winfield Scott, Presidio Military Base, in San Francisco, California.
Still a single man, at the age of 31, he lost most of his investments and savings in the famous Wall Street Crash of 1929.
In 1933, just three years into The Great Depression, he married 19-year-old Sarah Scott. (It's unclear if they met in Marysville, CA or if they were just married in Marysville.)
By this time, Ted was a career military Sergeant and was now serving at Fort Baker, in Sausalito (on the other side of the San Francisco Bay from the Presidio).
Teddy Jr. (who would grow up to join and serve in the Navy) was born in 1934 and Patricia Mae was born, a year later, in 1935. When the Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937, the family was one of the first to cross it, on opening day. Patricia was the youngest person to cross.
A decade later, in 1945, the family moved to Huntington Park, California and later to El Monte, California.
In 1950, at the age of 51, Master Sergeant Ted Best--who served and survived both World War I and World War II--retired from the U.S. Army, following a distinguished 30-year military career. He received the Army Defense Ribbon, the American Theater Ribbon and a Good Conduct Medal. He was honored at Fort MacArthur, in San Pedro, California, for his service.
In their retirement years, Ted and Sarah lived in Palm Springs, California. When he wasn't sitting on the patio of their beautiful hillside home, overlooking their pool and city views, you could find him hiking the many desert and mountain trails surrounding the city.
In 1971, at the age of 72, Ted died, from a heart attack, while hiking in the desert hills near their home.
Ted was a quiet man who enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. Following a long and interesting life, he died doing something he loved. We should all be so fortunate and we can only hope to be as missed.
Ted had two younger sisters. Lela A Best was born in 1902, in Missouri and Jane M Best was born in 1908, in Illinois.
In 1917, at the age of 19, Ted enlisted in the Army and served at Camp Pike, in Little Rock, Arkansas.
By 1922, Ted was reassigned to Camp Winfield Scott, Presidio Military Base, in San Francisco, California.
Still a single man, at the age of 31, he lost most of his investments and savings in the famous Wall Street Crash of 1929.
In 1933, just three years into The Great Depression, he married 19-year-old Sarah Scott. (It's unclear if they met in Marysville, CA or if they were just married in Marysville.)
By this time, Ted was a career military Sergeant and was now serving at Fort Baker, in Sausalito (on the other side of the San Francisco Bay from the Presidio).
Teddy Jr. (who would grow up to join and serve in the Navy) was born in 1934 and Patricia Mae was born, a year later, in 1935. When the Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937, the family was one of the first to cross it, on opening day. Patricia was the youngest person to cross.
A decade later, in 1945, the family moved to Huntington Park, California and later to El Monte, California.
In 1950, at the age of 51, Master Sergeant Ted Best--who served and survived both World War I and World War II--retired from the U.S. Army, following a distinguished 30-year military career. He received the Army Defense Ribbon, the American Theater Ribbon and a Good Conduct Medal. He was honored at Fort MacArthur, in San Pedro, California, for his service.
In their retirement years, Ted and Sarah lived in Palm Springs, California. When he wasn't sitting on the patio of their beautiful hillside home, overlooking their pool and city views, you could find him hiking the many desert and mountain trails surrounding the city.
In 1971, at the age of 72, Ted died, from a heart attack, while hiking in the desert hills near their home.
Ted was a quiet man who enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. Following a long and interesting life, he died doing something he loved. We should all be so fortunate and we can only hope to be as missed.
Inscription
Theodore James Best
California
M Sgt US Army
World War I & II
Nov 22 1898 March 16 1971
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
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