William J. Pesta Sr. & His First Wife, Mary Lenyo

William Joseph Pesta was born 25 Nov 1891 in Hungary and came with his parents to the USA in 1893. He entered the U.S. Army in 1917. After William served in World War I, he married Mary Lenyo in South Bend, Indiana, on 22 May 1924, but the marriage did not last. Case # 20801 was first recorded in the St. Joseph County, Indiana Circuit Court, Box 396, Order Book 61, P. 354. A hearing was set for May 28, 1925 and another on July 10, 1925. Instead of appearing for the hearings, he finally telephoned and "defaulted." Mary was then granted a divorce with her maiden name being restored as she had requested. At some point in time after the divorce, William rejoined the Army and became a career soldier, serving in World War II. After he retired as Master Sergeant in the Army Air Force, he married Frances Agnes O'Reilly in Pinellas County, Florida in 1947. They had a son, his only child, who was named after him. William, Sr. died 21 May 1963, and is buried at the Bay Pines National Cemetery in Bay Pines, Florida.