Virgil Hiser McDowell, 1900-1932

MCDOWELL, LOCKE, HISER, LARUE, SEEMAN, SHELTON

Posted By: Clay County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 4/2/2013 at 07:37:51

V. McDowell Passes Away at Home Here

Heart Attack Cause of Sudden Death Last Friday

Virgil McDowell of Spencer, 31 years of age, died suddenly early last Friday morning May 20, 1932, at his home in the Inn apartments in Spencer after being seized with an attack of illness while taking his morning bath. Mr. McDowell, who was believed to have been in the best of health, arose early Friday and went to the bath room at about seven o'clock. A half hour later, Miss Lorraine Berenger, residing in a downstairs apartment, noticed a water mark on the ceilng and called upstairs.

Mrs. McDowell called to her husband, but received no answer. Becoming alarmed she tried the door and found it locked. Her father, William Locke, who was residing with the McDowell's, climbed through an outside window into the bathroom and found Virgil gasping for breath while seated in the tub of water. He had been seized by a sudden attack of illness. He died within a few moments after Locke entered the room in spite of hurried attempts to revive him.

Blame Heart Attack

Coroner P. F. Schwarck and physicians were summoned at once and they pronounced his death due to natural but unknown causes. Opinion was agreed that heart diease had been responsible, the attack coming suddenly and without warning.

The only indication that members of the family had that Virgil was not feeling well was a single complaint, on the morning of his death, that he felt unusually warm. It was also stated that he had been subject to fainting spells.

Funeral services were held Monday, May 23, at two o'clock from the Cobb-Phelps funeral chapel and at 2:30 o'clock from the First Congregational church with Rev. Benjamin J. Trickey officiating. Interment was at Riverside cemetery.

Mrs. J. Elliot Gould sang "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" and Miss Cleo Hansen accompanied at the organ. Miss Hansen also played several hymns.

Pall bearers were Russell King, Harold Hofstad, Francis Rose, Donald Maurer, Dale Norton and John Hart. Employees and associates of the H. & N. Chevrolet company, with which Virgil had been connected, attended the services in a group.

Born Near Spencer

Virgil Hiser McDowell, oldest son of Frank and Nellie Hiser McDowell, was born September 12, 1900, at the family home seven miles northeast of Spencer, at the time of his death, being nearly 32 years of age.

He attended the country school in Meadow township and completed his eighth grade studies there. He then attended the Spencer high school and graduated with the class of 1920 of which his wife, Miss Coral Locke, was also a member.

After his high school education, he spent some time at the home farm and following his marriage he engaged in farming south of Spencer. For the past three years he has been associated with the H. & N. Chevrolet company in Spencer.

He was married February 22, 1926, to Coral Velma Locke of Spencer.

Besides his wife and four-months old daugther Patsy Gay, he is survived by his parents; three sisters, Mrs. Ralph LaRue of Greenville, Mrs. Eldon Seeman of Spirit Lake and Mrs. Cecil Shelton of Birnamwood, Wisconsin; two brothers, Verne McDowell of Alpha, Minnesota, and Gaylord McDowell at home. A sister Flossie preceded him in death six years ago.

Among the out of town relatives and friends who attended the funeral were Mrs. L.R. Dellibac and daughter Ruth of Kankakee, Illinois, Mrs. William Hiser and son and daughter, Saint Anne, Illinois, Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Steffen and son of St. Paul, Minnesota, Dr. and Mrs. L.S. Biddleman of Webster City, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Brooker of Forest City, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Brooker, Forest City, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Brooker, Fairmont, Minnesota, Mr. and Mrs. R.W. Hansen, Mitchell, South Dakota, Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Shelton and family of Birnamwood, Wisconsin.

Source: Spencer News Herald, Spencer, Clay County, Iowa; May 27, 1932.

Interment in Riverside cemetery
 

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