John P Alcorn (1952)

ALCORN, ELLIOTT, WILES, HERN, REED, PATENAUDE

Posted By: Ida Morse (email)
Date: 3/28/2007 at 18:17:38

Winterset Madisonian, October 22, 1952, Pg 1
Winterset, Iowa

JOHN P ALCORN KILLED BY TRAIN

Winterset Trucker Struck by Rocket at Crossing in West Des Moines

John P. Alcorn, Winterset truck driver was killed last Friday afternoon in West Des Moines when the gravel truck he was driving was hit by a Rock Island Rocket.

The accident occurred at a private crossing of the railroad tracks in West Des Moines. Alcorn was enroute to the Concrete Materials company loading area when hit. He had been hauling gravel from there to Winterset daily.

The truck was hit broadside by the fast train, carried 500 yards down the track and demolished. It was owned by C. J. Shelley of Winterset.

Mr. Alcorn had been living at Winterset only six weeks. He was 32 years of age. He was born at Danville, Ill., on June 13, 1920, first coming to Winterset with his parents, Mrs. and Mrs. John D. Alcorn in 1929. He lived here until 1937, when he returned to Danville. Six weeks ago he moved back to this community.

He is survived by his wife, the former Mary Lucille Elliott; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John D. Alcorn of Winterset; three children, Barbara, Patricia and David Alcorn; a brother, Eugene Alcorn of Winterset; a sister, Mrs. Grace Wiles of Danville; a half-brother, Glen Alcorn of Red Top, Mo., two half sisters, Mary Lou Hern of Winterset and Shirley Alcorn of Peru; and two step sisters, Mrs. Lela Reed of Thayer and Mrs. Eunice Patenaude of Ravina, N. Dak.

Funeral services were held Monday from the Richards Funeral home conducted by the Rev. Elmer McVety, pastor of the First Baptist church of Winterset. Burial was made in the Winterset cemetery.