Arvid William McGuinn 1925-1949

MCGUINN, PAULSON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 1/1/2012 at 22:03:06

Ex-Estherville Man Killed In California
Arvid William McGuinn, 24, Estherville native, was killed 2 a.m. Sunday [December 4, 1949] on highway 80 near San Diego, Calif., when a motorcycle on which he was riding ran into the back of a car. He is son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter J. McGuinn.

McGuinn was in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Nereus. He had been in service more than seven years and had just signed up for another enlistment.

According to the California state highway patrol, there were no witnesses to the accident, and no one knows whether the car was in motion or standing still. McGuinn was thrown 105 feet from his motorcycle by the impact.

First report of the accident that his Estherville relatives received was a telephone call last night from his wife in San Diego. The department of defense had sent a telegram to a brother, Clifford, but Clifford had moved from his former address in New York to Chicago and that wire was not received until today.

McGuinn was born Sept. 7, 1925, in Estherville and received his education in the local public schools. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the U.S. navy. He was married to a California girl about a year and one half ago and has one daughter.

Survivors include his parents, wife and daughter; five brothers, Clifford of Chicago, Arnold and Frank of Kansas City, Mo., Merlyn of Little Rock, Ark., and Paul of Oklahoma, as well as a sister, Mrs. Paul Paulson of Estherville.

His body is being sent back to Estherville for burial and is being accompanied by a military escort.

Funeral services are pending. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, December 6, 1949)

Funeral Rites for McGuinn To Be Tuesday
Services for Arvid William McGuinn will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday at Sandin funeral home and at 2:30 in Estherville Lutheran church, Rev. L.G. Hindraker officiating. Burial will be held in East Side cemetery.

McGuinn, son of Mr. and Mrs. W.J. McGuinn of Estherville was killed 2 a.m. Sunday in a highway accident in California. He is a native of Ringsted and was educated in the Ringsted schools, and spent much of his life there. An earlier story reported that he was born and educated in Estherville.

McGuinn was stationed aboard the U.S.S. Noreus at San Diego naval base. He had been in the navy since he was 17 years old and after completing seven years naval service had recently reenlisted for another tour of duty.

His body is being returned to Estherville and will arrive Monday on Rock Island train No. 19. Mrs. A.W. McGuinn, his wife, is serving as escort for the body in place of a naval escort.

The American Legion and VFW commanders in Estherville have requested all members and other ex-service men to gather at the club rooms so they can attend services in a body. A firing squad will take part in the grave side ceremonies. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, December 8, 1949)