Ada Berry

PALMER, FISHER

Posted By: N. Wagner (email)
Date: 12/23/2007 at 10:35:14

Mrs. Ada Berry, West Union, was instantly killed at 5:15 p.m. last Wednesday, March 8, in an automobile accident in the west edge of Postville. Her husband, Dr. George M. Berry, had died just one week before.

Mr. and Mrs. Francis W. Loftus, West Union, also were badly hurt. Mr. Loftus with many gashes about the head, and Mrs. Loftus with two fractures of the pelvis. Both are still in the Postville hospital, and Mrs. Loftus will have to remain in a cast for six weeks.

Other occupants of the car, Mrs. Berry's daughter and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Fisher of Durham, N.C., were only slightly hurt.

Mr. Loftus, who was driving his car, headed for Prairie du Chien, Wis., passed a mail truck, and on account of icy pavement lost control of his car, which then turned around and collided with the west bound stock truck of Clarence Tope of West Union. Mrs. Berry was thrown to the pavement, and was at once seen to be dead.

When Dr. Berry died March 1, Mrs. Berry's daughter and husband came from North Carolina to attend the funeral Saturday. They planned to return home last Wednesday, and Mrs. Berry wished to accompany them as far as Prairie du Chien, where they were to take the train. Their plans for going to Prairie having been upset by the snow storm, Mrs. and Mrs. Loftus volunteered to take them.

Mr. Loftus, 45, is a restaurant proprietor and chairman of the Fayette county selective service board.

Mrs. Berry's funeral was conduced at 10 a.m. Friday by the Rev. Charles Steinlage at Holy Name church. Burial was made in West Union cemetery.

As Ada Nola Palmer she was born in Gretna, Neb., and after schooling there received nurse training at Omaha. She married Dr. George M. Berry in 1912. They came in 1916 to West Union, which since has been her home. She was of great service in the community, being employed often on special cases as nurse at the hospital. She was a sprightly, energetic, capable woman, of vivid personality.

Survivors besides the daughter by a former marriage are three brothers and three sisters, all in the Middle West.

Fayette County Union, March 1944