Cites Death Benefits in Request for
Cut in Alimony Payments
A district court hearing for April 22 was scheduled Saturday by Judge Charles Roe after an application for a modification of divorce decree by Sam Chancellor was filed seeking to reduce monthly alimony payments of $70 to his former wife, Grace.
Chancellor alleged that United States insurance payments of $77 per month, and cash payments of $4,000 resulting after the death of two sons, had altered the financial circumstances under which the original decree had been granted.
The petition stated that cash, “in the neighborhood of $4,000” had been paid to his wife after a son, Elmer Lee Chancellor, 26, had been missing in action since Dec. 26, 1944, while flying a fighter plane in the China-Burma theater. In addition, life insurance payments of $51 per month for a period of 16 years are being received, he stated.
A second son, James Morris (sic) Chancellor, 20, was killed at Okinawa while serving with the navy, and the petition alleged that insurance payments of $25.70 per month were also paid to Grace Chancellor.
The couple were married at Beatrice, Neb., in 1943 [?], and were divorced Jan. 16, 1945.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Sunday, March 24, 1946, Page 2
Priest Tells Army Pilot Was Killed
The United States army, through a study of Japanese intelligence reports and an interview with a priest in China, are now of the opinion a P-51 shot down in China in December, 1944, was piloted by 2nd Lt. Elmer Lee Chancellor of Council Bluffs.
This information came to his mother, Mrs. Grace Chancellor, 3436 Avenue E, Thursday. Lt. Chancellor was listed as dead a year after his disappearance.
The army told Mrs. Chancellor that a priest witnessed the plane crash into the river near Anking, China, after being shot down, and added the pilot did not survive.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Monday, September 05, 1947, Page 15
2 BLUFFS WAR DEAD BACK FOR REBURIAL
Jensen, Chancellor Killed in the Pacific
Bodies of two Council Bluffs war dead have been returned to the United States from the Pacific area aboard the army transport Dalton Victory, the department of the army announced Monday. The two are Seaman 1/c James M. Chancellor, son of Grace Chancellor, 3426 Avenue E., and Cpl. Charles E. Jensen, son of James C. Jensen, 3422 Seventh avenue.
Seaman Chancellor, 19, was killed in action May 28, 1945, when his ship, USS Sandoval, anchored off Okinawa, was struck by a Japanese suicide plane. He was born Oct. 15, 1925, was a graduate of Thomas Jefferson high school. He enlisted in the navy on his 18th birthday and left Council Bluffs Nov. 19, 1943.
His older brother, Lt. Elmer L. Chancellor was killed while on a bombing mission over Nanking, China, in December, 1944. James Chancellor’s body will be returned to Meyer’s funeral home. Burial will be in Memorial park cemetery.
Survivors are the mother, Mrs. Grace Chancellor; the father, Sam Chancellor, and one sister, Mrs. Clarice Henry, all of Council Bluffs.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Monday, February 21, 1949, Page 5
Plan Memorial for Brothers
Chancellor Boys Killed in War
Memorial services will be held for two brothers Tuesday at 2 p. m. at the Meyer mortuary. They are the sons of Mrs. Grace Chancellor, 3435 Avenue E, and Sam Chancellor of Council Bluffs.
The body of Seaman 1/C James Maurice Chancellor, 19, will be returned for burial from Okinawa where he was killed in action May 28, 1945. James attended Thomas Jefferson high school and enlisted in the navy on his 18th birthday.
2nd Lt. Elmer L. Chancellor, 25, was killed on a bombing mission over Anking, China, Dec. 26, 1944. He was piloting a P-51 at the time of his death. A 1937 graduate of Thomas Jefferson high school, he entered the army air force in September, 1942, receiving specialized training at Randolph field, Waco field and Mission field, Tex.
The boys are survived by a sister, Mrs. Clarice Henry of Council Bluffs and a grandmother, Mrs. B. E. Chilcote of Bedford.
The Rev. F. G. Barnes, pastor of the Fifth Avenue Methodist church, will have charge of the services. The VFW will conduct military rites at the grave in Memorial park cemetery for the younger brother.
Source: The Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Council Bluffs, Sunday, April 24, 1949, Page 4
