Vinton H. Males (1944)

MALES, HORTON, HUTCHINS

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 7/9/2006 at 12:05:58

Earlham Echo - Thursday, December 28, 1944

VINT MALES, 69, DIED SUDDENLY CHRISTMAS DAY

V. E. Males, 69, died suddenly Christmas day while he and his wife were enroute to Des Moines to spend the day with friends.

They had gotten as far as Herman Schafer's when he slumped over in the seat. Mrs. Males guided the car to the side of the road where it stopped in the snow. Help soon arrived and the body was brought back to Earlham.

Mr. Males retired about two years ago after working as a motorman for the Des Moines Street Railway Co. for 35 years. He bought the Goodson property in the north part of town which he has been remodeling.

Funeral services were held at the Earlham Methodist church Thursday afternoon with Rev. Henry in charge.

Burial was made in the Earlham cemetery. He is survived by his wife and one son.
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Earlham Echo - Thursday, January 4, 1944

On the morning of holy Christmas Day, while observing the birthday of the Divine Saviour, it seemed an appropriate time for Vinton H. Males to be called to greet, in the Heavenly realms, the Master whom he loved and served on earth.

Vinton H. Males, son of Richard and Lavina Horton Males, was born in Ackworth, Iowa, May 2, 1875, and passed away while on his way to Des Moines, with Mrs. Males, Christmas Day, 1944, at the age of 69 years, seven months, and 23 days.

When Vinton was about six years old, his mother, a former school teacher in Indiana, died and he lived for a time with his father in Ackworth. Coming to Earlham, after his father remarried, Vint attended school and as a normal, ambitious boy entered into the religious and social activities in the community of the growing prairie town.

He was a birthright member of the Friends Church where he still retains membership and served as usher, janitor, and sang in the choir of the local church.

On October 31, 1926, he was married to Mrs. Susan H. Hutchins, of Des Moines, who, with one son, Howard Vinton Males; one grandson, David Lee, and Howard's wife, Anna, of Cincinnatti, Ohio, survive. A twin sister died at birth.

On August 28, 1916, Vinton was employed by the Des Moines Street Car Company and retired on pension, May 1, 1943, after which he moved to Earlham. During his 27 years of service, he acted as street car conductor and motorman. He was a member of the Division 441 Street Railway Employees Union and also a member of Street Car Men's Credit Union.

A framed "Certificate of Service", signed January 19, 1942, hangs on the wall in the Males' home with this tribute:

"To Vinton H. Males for long years of faithful and loyal service as Credit Committeeman of the Des Moines Street Car Men's Credit Union and for his unselfish and self-sacrificing devotion to his fellowmen, we, the members, do hereby express our most sincere and heartfelt appreciation for his 14 years of service." It was signed by the president and secretary of the above association.

Mute testimony of thoughtfulness and industry of Vint Males, is evident in the comforts provided for his wife and by expressions of friends and neighbors for his many acts of kindness to all. In the case of this good citizen, neighbor, friend, husband and father, "Death has not extinguished the Light; it has put out the Lamp because Dawn has come."

It is not needful to write a volume to tell whether a man has spent a noble or a wasted life. One stroke of the pen, one solitary word may be enough.

Services were held in the Methodist church, Thursday afternoon, December 28, with Rev. Arthur Henry, officiating, and Rev. Walter Wilson of the Friends church, assisting. Mervyn McLennan sang. Interment was in Earlham cemetery.