Johnson, Marjorie Alice – 1920-1937

JOHNSON

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:40

Newton Girl, 16, Fatally Hurt In Crash
Marjorie Johnson Receives Broken Neck In Accident
Mishap Occurs as Group Are Returning From Trip To Marshalltown
Marjorie had a date with Harold Richardson Friday evening and the couple went to Marshalltown with David Longnecker, 19, whose girl friend lives there.
The three young people were returning to Newton at between 12:30 and 1 a.m. when Longnecker, who was driving, dozed for an instant. Richardson and Miss Johnson were also asleep.
Scene of Crash
The accident occurred about two miles north of Newton on a grade just north of the former Green Knolls golf course on highway No. 14.
The car left the road at a point where the grade was not high, Coroner E. A. McMurray said today, but the car angled forward struck a concrete culvert and turned over at the bottom of a 10-foot grade.
Longnecker said this morning that when he awoke he at first tried to get the car back on the road but then decided to take to the ditch. The car then struck the culver, which he had not seen.
Broken Neck
Miss Johnson suffered a broken neck and a crushed chest. She was pinned under the car. A door of the machine was partly open and was across her body.
After the crash the boys went to the nearby farmhouse of Charles White for help. Miss Johnson’s parents were notified by Mr. White.
Dr. McMurray said the young woman died before she reached the hospital, probably immediately after the crash.
Longnecker and Richardson received minor injuries.
Longnecker suffered a cut in the chin, bruises in the face and had a tooth broken off. Richardson was cut in the forehead and chin.
Born at Lovila
Marjorie Alice Johnson, who lived at 609 South Fourth Avenue East, was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elwood I. Johnson. She was a sister of Ann L. Johnson, who was high school May Queen, this year. A brother, Arthur Johnson, is in the U.S. Navy and is stationed on the “Saratoga.”
Miss Johnson was born, Sept. 10, 1920, at Lovila, Ia. she would have been 17 next Friday. She came to Newton from Albia in 1925 and Mr. Johnson has been employed at the Maytag factory.
Marjorie attended the summer session at Newton high school this year, in order that she might be graduated next June. She was active in the glee club and Girls Reserve.
Longnecker is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Longnecker. Richardson’s parents are Mr. and Mrs. Walter Richardson.
Funeral services will not be arranged pending arrival of word from the brother.
Source: Newton Daily News; Saturday, September 4, 1937

To Hold Rites For Accident Victim Thursday
Funeral services for Marjorie Johnson, 16-year-old Newton girl who was fatally injured in an automobile accident early Saturday morning, will be conducted from the Methodist Episcopal church Thursday at 4:00 p.m.
The Rev. H. LeRoy Kinser, pastor of the First Christian church, will be in charge, assisted by Dr. Leslie B. Logan, pastor of the Methodist church.
Interment will be in the Newton Union cemetery.
Source: Newton Daily News; Tuesday, September 7, 1937

Rites held For Accident Victim
Between 600 and 700 relatives, friends and schoolmates gathered at the Methodist Episcopal church Thursday afternoon to attend funeral services for Marjorie Alice Johnson, 16, who was fatally injured in an automobile accident early Saturday morning.
Among those attending the rites was a brother, Arthur Johnson, who arrived by train Wednesday from the west coast. Stationed with the U.S. Navy on the S.S. Saratoga, which is soon to sail to China, he obtained a furlough to return to Newton for the services.
Rev. H. LeRoy Kinser, pastor of the First Christian church, was in charge of the service, assisted by Dr. Leslie B. Logan of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Marjorie Orwick sang, “Asleep in Jesus” and “God Will Take Care of You,” accompanied at the organ by Mrs. R. L. Jackson.
Schoolmate pallbearers
Interment was in the Newton Union cemetery, with six present and former school mates serving as pall bearers. They were Dorothy DeBondt of Grinnell, Ardis Ringgenberg, Maysele Ringgenberg, Virginia Hasselbrink, Wilma Wood and Geraldine Keith.
Beautiful floral pieces filled the rostrum of the church and were arranged by Mrs. J. P. Walton, Mrs. Joe Griffin and Evamae Jordon. They were assisted in removing the flowers to the cemetery by principal Harold Lynn and Joe Griffin of the high school faculty, Louis Kalma, James Walton, Ralph Bowman and Kay Walton.
Many relatives and friends came from out-of-town for the services.
Marjorie, student in the Newton high school, died early Saturday morning as the result of injuries suffered in an automobile accident two miles north of Newton. She suffered a broken neck and crushed chest.
Miss Johnson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elwood Johnson, was born at Lovilia, Ia., Sept. 10, 1920, and came with her parents to Newton when she was five years of age.
A student in the senior high school, she would have graduated next spring, completing her high school work in three and one-half years. She was active in both the Glee club and Girl Reserves.
She was a member of the First Christian church.
Besides her parents, she is survived by a sister, Ann, who was graduated from the Newton high school this spring; a brother, Arthur, of Bremerton, Wash., and other relatives.
Source: Newton Daily News; Friday, September 10, 1937

Johnson, Marjorie Alice; born: 10 Sept. 1920; in Iowa; died: 04 Sept. 1937; Mother’s maiden name: Kinnaman; Death Cert # H50-0121