Rebecca Jane (Lowther) Junkin (1914)

JUNKIN, LOWTHER, BLACK, BROWN, WATSON, FLINN

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 8/28/2007 at 08:00:23

Earlham Library Obituary Collection
Earlham, Iowa
May 1914

On Wednesday morning, May 20th, this entire community was saddened by the message that passed from home to home in hushed voices- “Grandma Junkin is dead.” Mingled with the sadness, was a vote of thanksgiving that the dear sufferer was released from a condition from which she so earnestly and prayerfully desired to be free; Only those who know her intimately, know how keenly she resented being what she termed herself, a helpless burden.

Her tranquil passing from this earth life to the life eternal occurred at the home of her son J. H. Junkin, at Earlham, in the quiet watches of the night. Her loved ones united in caring for her with a love and tenderness due a devoted mother, but special mention is due Mrs. J. H. Junkin, whose untiring devotion and loving care during the past 17 months have done so much to alleviate her suffering and add to her comfort in every way.

Rebecca Jane Lowther, daughter of Sarah Black and Thompson Lowther was born in Franklin County, Ohio, Dec. 14, 1832. Her parents moved to McLean County, Ill., and a few years later to Monmouth, Warren Co., Ill., while she was yet a little girl. They continued to reside in this vicinity a number of years, a happy family, consisting of father, mother, one sister and four brothers.

She was united in marriage with James L. Junkin, Nov. 4, 1852 and lived in Warren County, Ill., until March 1880 when they moved to Mitchell South Dakota, moving from there to Madison County, Iowa in the autumn of the same year, where they have lived since that date. Her husband died Jan. 15, 1907 and Grandma continued to make her home with her son J. H. and family until her death May 20, 1914. She was stricken with complete paralysis of the right side Jan. 11, 1913 and never regained the use of herself.

She, with her husband, united with the Presbyterian Church soon after their marriage and she lived a very consistent Christian throughout her long and useful life. There is much in her life that is beautiful and worthy of imitation. Sunday was to her, God’s holy day, and in her life it was set apart for the study of his word and in prayerful meditation; and her home life reflected the sprit of Christ in her quiet unassuming ministrations, as a result of thus keeping in close touch with God’s word and his will.

Those left to revere the memory of their devoted mother are: Mrs. Sarah Brown and Geo. T. Junkin, Dexter, Iowa, Mrs. Effie Watson, Monmouth, Ill., J. H. and J. F., Earlham, Iowa, Mrs. Blanche Flinn and Grant R. of Humboldt, Kans., and an invalid sister at Burlington, Ia. There are also 20 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren who will ever remember their grandmother as one of their very best friends.

Funeral services at the Presbyterian Church, in Earlham Thursday at 10 o’clock, were conducted by her pastor Rev. Demaree, assisted by Rev. J. W. Stribling. The service included the reading of favorite passages of scripture of the deceased and the sermon preached from words that had been especially helpful to her in her long and faithful service as a follower of Christ.

Following the service at the church, the procession wended its way to the Penn Center cemetery where the worn, tired body was laid to rest by the side of her husband, who preceded her in death seven years ago. Life’s race well run, life’s work well done, now.