Mowitt, George R. 14906-1967

MOWITT, JOHNSON, HALTERMAN, COUPER, COULTER, BURFIELD

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 5/9/2005 at 13:37:12

GEORGE MOWITT, CITY FIRE CHIEF, DIES SATURDAY

George Mowitt

George R. Mowitt, 61, of 515 Broad St. in Grinnell, Fire Chief of the Grinnell Fire Department, died Saturday evening at a local hospital.

Mr. Mowitt was born Feb. 22, 1906 in Grinnell to John P. and Sarah L. Johnson Mowitt. He attended the local schools and graduated from Grinnell High School.

On Sept. 21, 1929, Mr. Mowitt married Miss Ruth Halterman. Mr. Mowitt was employed as a lineman with Iowa Southern Utilities since 1937. He served fro 36 years with the Grinnell Volunteer Fire Department and served as Fire Chief the past three years.

During World War II, Mr. Mowitt served with a U. S. Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees) in the South Pacific for three years and in the Aleutian Islands. Following his honorable discharge he returned to Grinnell.

Mr. Mowitt was a 20 year continuous member of the Focht-Tennant American Legion Post No. 53, Grinnell, and a member of the Iowa Fireman's Association.

Survivors include his wife; one nephew whom he raised - - -Robert Couper of Medfield, Mass.; one sister - - - Mrs. William (Julina) Coulter, of San Bernadino, Claif.; one cousin - - - Willard Mowitt of Bonita, Calif.; and many nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister - - - Gayl Burfield; one brother - - - Wiley Mowitt; and two infant sisters.

Funeral services for Mr. Mowitt will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. Chester Custer, pastor of the Grinnell Methodist Church, officiating. Mrs. Willard Heffner will be organist. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Grinnell Fire Department and employees of Iowa Southern Utilities. Pallbearers will be Fred Taylor, Perry Wilson, Virgil Case, Clarence Doud, William Osborn and Kenneth Halstead.

American Legion Graveside Rites will be conducted by W. K. Richardson, commander, and Jack Day, chaplain, along with members of the Focht- Tennant Post No. 53 Ceremonial Unit. Burial will be in Hazelwood Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Smith Funeral Home.

Originally submitted on Mon Nov 17 13:27:31 1997 by Esther Breeden, breeden@townsqr.com