Larry Gerald Waddell (1953)

WADDELL, BEBOUT

Posted By: Treva Patterson (email)
Date: 7/27/2007 at 18:28:26

Winterset Madisonian-Winterset, Iowa
October 7, 1953; p. 1

LARRY WADDELL DIES AT 16 YEARS

Wound From .22 Caliber Rifle Proves Fatal to Young Hunter

Larry Waddell, 16 year old Earlham High School student, was fatally injured last Friday afternoon in a hunting accident near Earlham. It was the first hunting fatality in Madison county in recent years.

The youth was hunting with three companions in the Gilbert's grove area south of Earlham when the accident occurred. Larry is reported to have raised up suddenly in front of a companion who was aiming over his head. He was hit in the back of the head and the bullet lodged just behind the right eye.

He was rushed to the Dexter clinic for examination then taken to the Mercy hospital in Des Moines where emergency brain surgery was performed in an effort to save his life. He died however, at about 9:25 p.m.

The boy was born May 14, 1937 at Dallas Center.

He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence A. Waddell of Earlham; a sister, Rosalie; a brother, Harold; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Bebout of Dexter; and his great grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bebout of Earlham.

Funeral services were held Monday from the Earlham Presbyterian church, conducted by the pastor, the Rev. Donald Freeman. Burial was made in the Earlham cemetery.

Earlham Library collection
October 1953

LAWRENCE GERALD WADDELL

Lawrence Gerald Waddell, son of Lawrence and Violet Waddell, was born near Dallas Center, May 14, 1937 and passed away at the Mercy hospital, October 2, 1953 at the age of 16 years, four months and 18 days.

The first eight years of his life were spent in and around Dexter after which he moved with his parents to Earlham where he has made a host of friends in the school and the community.

At the age of 13, he joined the Presbyterian church under the ministry of Rev. Overholser.

He leaves to mourn his passing his father and mother, brother, Harold and sister, Rosalie. His grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Bebout and Mrs. Eunice Waddell; great grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bebout and many other relatives and friends.

Last Friday, shortly, after noon, Harry Petersen, Larry Waddell, Harold Waddell and Ronald Reimers were hunting in the old quarry area about a mile southeast of G. D. Jackson's south barn.

According to the boys they flushed a rabbit and Harry was attempting to shoot when Larry who was squatting down, raised up in the path of the bullet and it entered at the back of his head, lodging back of his left eye.

Harry stayed with Larry while the other boys rushed to Jacksons for help, where Verlyn Gilbert and Wallace Cooper were painting. Ronald Reimer came on to town to get Dr. Bobenhouse, who was at Adel at the time on a call. In his absence Mrs. Bobenhouse and Mrs. Cecile James went to the scene of the accident to administer first aid until the doctor arrived. Guy Wright, who was on his way to the quarry to inform Larry's father of the accident, met Dr. Bobenhouse and told him what had occurred.

Larry was taken in the ambulance to the Dexter clinic where X-rays revealed the seriousness of his condition. He was then taken to the Mercy hospital in Des Moines where emergency surgery was performed in an effort to save his life. He died about 9:30 a.m.

Funeral services were held at the Presbyterian church Monday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Donald Freeman, pastor of the church, in charge.

His classmates of the Sophomore class attended in a body together with a number of other school friends. Casket bearers were: Ronald Reimers, LeRoy Jacobsan, Alen Osborn, Paul Bedwell Jr., Harry Petersen and Larry Allsup.

Burial was in the Earlham cemetery.