Charlotte Jane Willey Bedford

WILLEY, BEDFORD

Posted By: Andrea Plumley (email)
Date: 8/5/2003 at 13:05:17

MRS. A. BEDFORD, FORMER RESIDENT, DIES AT HOSPITAL
Deceased Had Been a Resident for Over Half a Century

Mrs. Alfred Bedford of Indianola, whose life dates from the early pioneering days in Carroll county, died at 8:20 o’clock Thursday evening, July 5, 1934, at the St. Anthony hospital. The preceding Saturday evening Mrs. Bedford suffered a severe heart attack while visiting at the home of her brother, John H. Willey, in this city. Monday evening she was removed to the hospital, where her death occurred a few days later.

The body was taken to the Huffman Funeral Home, and removed from there Friday evening to the John H. Willey home on North East street.

The funeral services, which were held a 2:30 o’clock Sunday afternoon at the Methodist Episcopal church, were attended by many relatives and friends of the departed. Rev. E.M. Buehler, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Glidden, officiated.

During the services a quartet composed of Miss Wilma Mohler, Miss Lorraine Baker, L.E. Sweany and G.S. Thomas, sang “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere,” “God Be With You Till We Meet Again” and “There is No Disappointment in Heaven,” with Mrs. John Seeden at the piano.

Burial was made in the family lot in the city cemetery, and pall bearers were Ward Willey, John Willey, Earl Willey, Walter Willey, Will Jackley and Fred Martin, all of whom are nephews of the deceased.

Out-of-town relatives and friends attending the services included W.A. Bedford and Miss Uvern Bedford, Indianola, Ia.; Pat Timball, Jefferson; Mrs William Laudenback, Indianola; Mr. and Mrs. C.R. Swanson of Storm Lake and their daughter, Mrs. Harry Brown and two children of Atchison, Kans.; Mr. and Mrs. S. Cundy of Laurens and their daughter, Mrs. Arlo Martin and daughter Velma, Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Martin, Gowrie, Ia.; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Martin, Gray;

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hessler, Coon Rapids; Mr. and Mrs. Tom Hessler and Bonnie Jean, Mr. and Mrs. John Annear, Carrollton; Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Sylvester, Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Stevens, Miss Hazel Stevens, Mr. and Mrs. Jess Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Coulter, Mrs. Emma Willey and sons John and Earl, Mr. and Mrs. Ward Willey, Mr. and Mrs. George Leonard, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Plumley, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bedford and sons, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Mereness, Mr. and Mrs. Juergens, and Mr. and Mrs. Prior Mackey of Glidden. Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Bedford and family of Ralston, and Mr. and Mrs. Ed Davis and family of Carrollton.

CHARLOTTE JANE BEDFORD, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Willey, was born in Richland county, Wis., July 18, 1852 and departed this life July 5, 1934, aged 81 years, 11 months and 17 days.

In her early life she moved with her parents to Iowa, locating on a farm in Pleasant Valley township, Carroll county.

August 17, 1876, she was united in marriage to Alfred Bedford, and to this union four sons were born, Josiah Charles of Glidden, William Alfred of Indianola, Thomas Melvin of Glidden and John Abraham of Carroll.

Mr. and Mrs. Bedford made their home on a farm southeast of Carroll until March, 1906, when they retired to take up their residence in this city. They were living here at the time Mr. Bedford passed away, May 15, 1915.

For a time after the death of her husband Mrs. Bedford continued to live in Carroll, moving from her to Glidden, and thence to Indianola, where she had made her home with her son, W.A. Bedford, for the last 12 years.

Mrs. Bedford was a woman of numerous fine qualities. She endured many of the rigors of the early pioneer life and was a loyal citizen, a loving mother and friend and a faithful Christian. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Carroll.

Friends were drawn to her by her sweet and amiable disposition.

Besides the four sons above named, Mrs. Bedford leaves two sisters, Mrs. Sol Cundy of Laurens, Ia., and Mrs. Mary E. Jackley of Carroll, one brother, John H. Willey of Carroll, 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, in addition to other relatives and a host of friends.