Hovland, George Henry (1941-1967)

HOVLAND, FURMAN

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 3/5/2023 at 14:53:46

The Roland Record, Roland, Story County, Iowa, Thursday, December 7, 1967

"George Hovland, 26, killed in air crash

George Henry Hovland, 26, of Eldridge, formerly of Roland, was one of three men killed in the crash of a light plane Sunday morning in Scott County near Davenport. He was manager of Flight Line, Inc., at Davenport and was a passenger in the plane which was being tested.

The four-place Mooney Mark 21 crashed ten miles north of the Davenport airport at 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Witnesses said the plane appeared to start a loop when the engine died and the plane went into a spin.

George Hovland was born September 29, 1941, the son of Harvey and Florence Hovland, at Story City. He grew up on a farm northwest of Roland, graduated from Roland High School in 1959, and enlisted in the Navy in July, 1959. He was married April 1, 1961 to Sarah Furman, and was discharged from the Navy on January 13, 1967.

The couple made their home near Roland until October 31 when they moved to Eldridge. They were members of Bergen Lutheran Church, Roland.

Survivors include his wife, Sarah; twin daughters, Michelle and Kathleen, 4; one son, Mark, 6; his mother, Mrs. Florence Hovland; and one brother, Loren who lives in Michigan.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, December 6, at 2 p.m. from Bergen Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Howard Lybeck officiating. Burial was in the Roland Cemetery. Soderstrum-Larson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

With Hovland in the plane, and also killed outright in the crash, were Norwood Bernard, 42, the pilot; and George VanderLeest, 44, of Moline. Hovland's and Bernard's bodies were pinned in the wreckage for more than two hours. VanderLeest was thrown clear of the wreckage."