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Catharine (Hodson) Bilderback (1921)

BILDERBACK, FRY, HODSON, FOSTER

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 9/14/2013 at 07:45:51

Earlham Echo
Thursday, Earlham, Iowa
August 11, 1921

Just before the Echo goes to press comes the sad news of the death of Mrs. John Bilderback at three o’clock Friday morning as the result of heart trouble. The final summons came at the home of her sister Mrs. R. M. Foster, who has been caring for her several days. Although Mrs. Bilderback has been in delicate health for several months, the critical nature of her illness was not suspected and her death comes as a shock to the relatives as well as her many friends.

Funeral services will be held at the home Sunday afternoon at 2:00 or 2:30 o’clock.
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Earlham Echo
Earlham, Iowa
Thursday, August 18, 1921

With the passing of Catharine Hodson Bilderback, another sweet and beautiful life has gone home, but she has left us a legacy. He are all made better in heart and richer in soul when we reflect on her life.

No one who knew her could help but know that she had found the secret to the happy life, but not everyone knows the secret. There is a center—a keynote in every life—a dominant chord in each life whether great or small. Discover that center and all else will follow. Listen for that keynote and you can hear all of the harmonies and discords that float around it. You can tell where that life will lead for you have found the star that leads the power that guides. The center of this life was Christ. She had changed centers from self to Christ, and thus she lived a life in love and service for others. She could say with Paul, “For me to live is Christ; to die is gain.”

She possessed an overflowing and happy disposition, patient and optimistic in spite of suffering and un toward circumstances. Her faith in prayer brought comfort and strength from the Christ of her soul.

Catharine Bilderback was one of eight children born to Carey and Susan Hodson. She was born on October 16th, 1859, in the state of Ohio. But when a small child the father and mother with the family moved to Iowa.

She was married to John Bilderback on June 14th, 1881. One child, a daughter came to this home. As mother and wife she was ardent in her love for companion and daughter. In the home as among her friends and neighbors she was not thinking of being ministered unto but of ministering. She was among them as one who served. She was a Christian mother and no stronger testimony to this could be given than this, the husband and daughter in her death accepted her Christ as their Christ and as the center of their lives.

She was converted twenty-five years ago and united with the Methodist Church and through all these years she has not lost her love and interest in the work of the church, although of late she has been hindered by sickness in regular attendance at its services.

She lived a beautiful life here and in the hush of the early morn on August 12th, 1921 she fell asleep. May she have the two-fold resurrection, one into the great life beyond with her Lord and her loved ones, the other in the many lives that remain here on earth blessed and purified by her influence.

She leaves the husband, the daughter Mrs. Lulu Fry, four grandchildren, Marie, Robert, Catharine and Charles Fry, three sisters, Hattie and Cora Hodson and Mrs. R. M. Foster, all of Earlham, and three half sisters.

Funeral services were conducted from the house, Rev. Chas. Lescault officiating.
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Winterset Madisonian
Wednesday, August 17, 1921
Page 2

Earlham

The funeral of Mrs. John Bilderback was held from the home Sunday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Lescault. Mrs. Bilderback had been suffering from heart trouble for several months but had seemed so much improved of late that she was spending the night with her sister, Mrs. M. M. Foster, on Thursday evening. About 3 o’clock she called Mrs. Foster, who was instantly at her side and did all that loving hands could do. The doctor was called immediately and her husband and daughter summoned, but before they arrived, her spirit had flown to her God who gave it. She was ever a kind neighbor, a loving wife and a devoted mother. She leaves a husband, an only child, a daughter, Mrs. Roy Fry and four grandchildren, with three sisters to mourn the loss of one who has just gone on before her ------ and is waiting to greet her loved ones on the other side.
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Transcriber’s note: Burial was made in the Earlham cemetery, unmarked grave. Name obtained from daughter’s obituary.


 

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