Mary Helen (Foster) Winjum (1958)

WINJUM, FOSTER, BROWN, HAWLEY

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 4/29/2007 at 17:55:29

Winterset Madisonian - December 10, 1958
Winterset, Iowa

YOUNG WOMAN IS FOUND DEAD

20-Year-Old Winterset Mother is Apparent Suicide Victim

Mrs. F. O. Winjum of Winterset was found dead this Wednesday morning in the garage at her home on East North street. The body was found about 8:45 a.m. by her husband, Dr. F. O. Winjum, Winterset optometrist.

Doctor Winjum told officers his wife had awakened him about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, when she was unable to sleep. He fell asleep again, and when he arose Wednesday morning she was missing from the house. When he went out to the garage he found her on the floor there, underneath the exhaust of the car.

He summoned a physician and ambulance, and she was taken to Memorial hospital, but was dead on arrival there.

Mrs. Winjum was 20 years of age. She and her husband had been residents of Winterset the last three years. For some time she had been under treatment for mental illness.

Nearest surviving relatives are her husband; and a son, Michael, who will be 3 years old next March.

Madison county Coroner Dr. Paul Eggleston was summoned in the death. He pronounced it an apparent suicide, but said an autopsy would be held.

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Winterset Madisonian - December 17, 1958
Winterset, Iowa

SERVICES MONDAY FOR MRS. WINJUM

Burial Made in Winterset Cemetery for Young Woman

Funeral services were held this Monday from the First Methodist church in Winterset for Mrs. F. O. Winjum, whose death occurred here Wednesday, Dec. 10. The Rev. W. W. Steinmetz, pastor of the church, conducted the services. Burial was made in the Winterset cemetery.

An autopsy performed following her death revealed definitely that carbon monoxide poisoning was cause of the fatality, according to County Coroner Paul Eggleston.

Mrs. Winjum was the former Mary Helen Foster, daughter of Robert C. and Florence Brown Foster. She was born in Shackelford county, Tex., on March 8, 1938.

She attended school in Albany and Ft. Worth, Tex., and on March 13, 1955, was married at Albany to Dr. Francis O. Winjum. They came to Winterset three years ago. Here she was a member of the Methodist church, the Wesleyan Service guild, the American Legion auxiliary, and was also active in the Winterset Art center.

Surviving are her husband; their son, Michael; her parents; a brother, Wayne Foster of Corpus Christi, Tex.; and two sisters, Faye Hawley and Lynda Foster, both of Albany, Tex.