William Clement Gist (1950)

GIST, GODBY

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 2/5/2007 at 14:36:52

Winterset Madisonian - September 6, 1950
Winterset, Iowa

EARLHAM YOUTH IS PLANE VICTIM

William Gist Dies When Air Liner Crashes in Egypt

(Earlham--Special)

An Earlham high school boy was one of the victims of the tragic crash of the American airlines plane in Egypt last Thursday.

The boy was William Gist, son of Mr. and Mrs. Justie Gist, formerly of Earlham. The boy's father is in the U. S. consular service, and is stationed at present in Cairo, Egypt.

The boy had boarded the plane at Cairo to return home to Earlham where he was to have enrolled as a freshman in the Earlham high school. He had planned to live here at the home of his aunt, Mrs. C. Godby, while attending school.

The plane crashed 20 minutes out of Cairo, and all 48 persons on board were killed. The dead included a number of American diplomats and an Egyptian motion picture actress.

Earlham Echo - September 1950
Earlham, Iowa

OBITUARY

William Clement Gist, elder son of Justie and Marjorie Gist, was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 11, 1936. There he spent his early childhood and started to school. In 1944 he came to Earlham with his mother and brother to make his home with his grandparents while his father was in foreign service. During this time he entered the Earlham school and made the happy association of both teachers and schoolmates.

When his father was assigned to Poland, he, his mother, and brother joined him there. The new experiences and associations appealed to William, but he was delighted to return to Earlham and rejoin his schoolmates. During this interval he became a part of the community, affiliating with the Earlham Presbyterian church and entering whole heartedly into its activities. His cheery greeting and his courteous manner endeared him to the hearts of those whom he met as he served his customers on his paper route.

In August of 1949 the family was united again in a foreign country, this time in Cairo, Egypt. Last August when his father received his new assignment for Tel Aviv, it was deemed advisable that William should return at once to Earlham to enter high school. In the early morning hours of August 31, he boarded a transcontinental T.W.A. Constilation and waved his cheery good-bye. Shortly thereafter, the plane crashed on the desert sands of Egypt, killing all aboard. It was with eager anticipation that he looked forward to being with his friends in Earlham, the place he called home. Had he lived until yesterday he would have reached the age of 14 years, but God willed that it should not be.

Funeral services were held from the Presbyterian church Tuesday afternoon, September 12, conducted by the pastor, the Rev. S. R. Overholser and burial in the Earlham cemetery.