WALRATH, Warren Grant 1865-1945

WALRATH, GENUNG, DEMING, THOMPSON, DAVID DUNN, KING

Posted By: Diane M Scott (email)
Date: 12/26/2011 at 09:39:29

OBITUARY

Warren Grant Walrath was the son of Dan and Eliza Deming, Walrath descendants of two stalwart pioneer families of northeast Iowa.

Mr. Walrath was born in a log cabin at the edge of Arlington on February 14, 1865, and departed this life after a brief illness at his home in Oelwein, Iowa on August 23, 1945, aged 80 years, 6 months and 9 days.

He received his education in the school of his native community. In 1888, at the age of 23, he began his life’s career in banking in what was later to become the State Bank of Arlington.

On April 11, 1889, he was united in marriage to Sara Frances Genung at Independence, Iowa, and established their home in Arlington. To this union four sons and five daughters were born. Two of the sons died in infancy.

In March 1891 Mr. Walrath came to Oelwein, where he continued his banking career in the Jameson Brothers Bank and which he later helped to reorganize into the State Bank of Oelwein. Here his industry and ability brought him advancement until he became the vice-president which position he held at the time of his retirement.

For nine years he stepped aside from banking to serve Fayette County, three terms as County Clerk and three more years in the Auditors Office. These were the years from 1898 to 1907, when he returned to the Oelwein bank.

Mr. Walrath is survived by his five daughters and two sons. They are Ethel, Mrs. James Thomas of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Esther, Mrs. Harry Davis of Oelwein; Frank W. and Warren R. of Oelwein; Ruth, Mrs. Donald L. Dunn of Alameda, California; Wilma, Mrs. Eliza Potter of Marion, Iowa; and Elizabeth, Mrs. J. D. King of Oelwein. He is also survived by 19 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
His wife preceded him in to “the Homeland” on September 28, 1937. He was the last of his father’s family, both of his parents and two brothers having preceded him in death.

Mr. Walrath united with the Methodist Church at Arlington in early manhood and on coming to Oelwein, he and Mrs. Walrath became the 49th and 50th charter members of Grace Methodist Church which was just organizing. He served the church as Steward and as Trustee at the time of the building of the first House of Worship, and also in the later years.

He was keenly interested in public affairs of the community. He served as a member of the Board of education for a number of years. He was President of the Board during the building of the north addition to the Central School.

Memorial services were held at Grace Methodist Church on Saturday, August 25, 1945, the pastor, The Rev. F. C. Witzigman officiating. Mrs. W. P. Tait as organist played a group of old church hymns.
Interment was made in the family lot in Woodlawn Cemetery.

Oelwein Daily Register, August 27, 1945