GRIGGS, Melvin W. 1914-1953

GRIGGS, PHELPS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 3/5/2022 at 14:02:21

Griggs Dies In Tractor Upset at Gra-Iron

Melvin Griggs, 40, 817 Marion St., died in a Marshalltown hospital at 5:15 a.m. Saturday of injuries received in an accident an hour earlier at the Gra-Iron Foundry.

Company officials said Griggs had come to work early Saturday with other employees in the cupola department so their work would be finished by noon.

Griggs was operating a tractor-type machine with a dump bucket on the front end, used to haul waste material from the foundry. He had made the last trip when the accident occurred.

When he didn't return to the foundry, other workmen went to look for him. Tracks showed that he had dumped his load at the west end of the fill, then turned to the south and had driven along the edge of a 12 to 15 foot embankment for a short distance before the tractor slid over the edge.

The workmen found the tractor on its wheels at the bottom of the embankment with the motor running and Griggs lying beside it. The steering wheel was bent and Griggs chest was crushed. It was believed the machine rolled on him as it went down the embankment.

The officials said Griggs had worked at Gra-Iron Foundry about five yeas. The machine he was operating recently had been completely overhauled and Griggs was reported to be an exceptionally good operator of the machine.

Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday at Pursel Funeral Home with burial in Oakland Cemetery, Beaman.

Griggs was born March 8, 1913, at Sheboygan, Wis., where he lived until 1942, when he came to Marshalltown. He was married to Margaret Phelps of Belle Plaine Sept. 3, 1949, at Marshalltown.

He served with the Army from May, 1942, until October, 1945, and took part in five campaigns in Europe as a member of the 743rd Tank Battalion. Among his decorations and citations were the Silver Battle Star and Purple Heart. He was wounded Aug. 8, 1944, in France.

He attended the Baptist Church.

Surviving are the widow; two children, Melvin Lee, 3, and Marie Alice, 2; his father, Perry Griggs, Marshalltown, and a brother, H. C. Griggs, Marshalltown.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 12 December 1963, pg 9