Technical Sgt Billy Reese

[Dannemois]

A funeral report in the Merthyr Express newspaper of November 4 1944 of Mrs Mary Ellen Phillips of Bristol Terrace, Brithdir, revealed that amongst those present at the funeral was Technical Sergeant Billy Reese (grandson) who had arrived in the UK with the American Forces.  The report also mentioned that several members of Mrs Phillips had emigrated to America, namely, Edward Phillips, Mr and Mrs Hopkin Reese (parents of T Sgt Billy Reese), Mrs Elizabeth Prosser and Mr. and Mrs. W. Davies.
Brithdir, a former coal mining village, in the Rhymney Valley of Glamorgan, South Wales, UK, is my home village and I wondered if someone could please help find information on Sgt Billy Reese and of the family members named above.

Thanks in advance

[shellyesq]

This appears to be Hopkin and family in the 1940 census - https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQD2-2T7

And 1930 - https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHQB-W5Y

[shellyesq]

I think this is William/Billy on the Social Security Death Index - https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JR4Z-Z3D  His Social Security application has him born Wales to Hopkin Reese & Sarah Phillips.  His name was listed as William Alberthenry Reese.  (Presume that's meant to be Albert Henry.)  Veterans' Affairs info says he was in the military from 30 Apr. 1943 to 4 Jan. 1946.

[RJ137]

It appears the name might have been originally spelled "Rees"

Hopkin WWII Draft Reg.: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQNW-9XD

1930 has Hopkin's brother Luther (b.1900) living with them. This appears to be them in the 1901 census.

1901 census: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XSMZ-KJX

[shellyesq]

Obituary for Sarah Reese here - https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/67726941/