Lois Irwin

IRWIN

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 6/8/2018 at 09:05:22

19 February 1931 - West Branch Times

Lois Irwin, nine year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O. B. Irwin, died at University hospital at Iowa City at 9:45 o'clock last (Wednesday) evening as a result of burns received when she lighted the cook stove fire after school.

Mrs. Irwin had been at West Liberty during the day, and when Lois came home from school she thought to help by starting the fire and getting the house warm, ready for supper. Using kerosene she started the blaze, spilling the oil on her clothing and the rug, which caught fire as the blaze in the stove flashed. Lois tried to extinguish the flames by rolling on the floor, then ran outside, and Mrs. Irwin, returning in a few minutes, found her in the pasture with all her clothing except shoes, burned from her body.

The mother rushed the injured child to the hospital, being joined on the road by Mr. Irwin, who was returning from work.

The family had recently moved to Springdale from the L. I. Henderson farm near West Branch. Two brothers and the parents survive.

Funeral services will be held at the Friends church at West Branch at 2:00 o'clock this afternoon, conducted by Rev. G. W. Harvey.