Cline, Walter and Edward (1960)

CLINE, WHITAKER, REDDING, PATTON, MILLER, WEESE, DAVIS, DWIGHT

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 5/25/2010 at 10:26:58

The Grinnell Herald-Register (Grinnell, Iowa) July 11, 1960

FATHER, SON DROWN

Walter, Edward Cline Victims In Rock River Mishap Near Milan, Ill.

Tragedy struck area residents for the third time in three days last Thursday afternoon when a local father and son lost their lives in a boating mishap on the Rock River near Milan, Ill.

Reported dead on arrival at a Rock Island, Ill., hospital that afternoon were Walter Cline, 51, 1333 Reed St., and his son, Edward, 18, of the same address. The two were drowned when their small boat capsized in the turbulent waters near a power dam on the river. A third passenger in the boat, Robert Cline, 38, Rock Island, a brother of Walter, was rescued.

Rescuers said that all three of the men were wearing life jackets when the boat overturned. Edward was trapped under the overturned boat. His unconscious father was found and pulled to the surface by Robert, who managed to hold him there until a nearby fisherman arrived at the disaster scene.

REVIVAL EFFORTS FAIL

Rescue squad from the Rock Island Police Department was dispatched to the area and worked over the two men for about a half-hour after they were taken to shore. However, efforts to revive the two were futile.

Robert Cline was treated for shock at a Rock Island hospital and released.

The two dead men had gone to Rock Island only last Tuesday to spend a week fishing.

The latest tragedy brought the accidental death toll for Grinnell area residents to four for last week. Tuesday afternoon four-year-old Dale Whitaker was killed when a heavy tractor tire fell on him and Thursday morning Francis Redding of Kellogg was killed in a two-truck collision near Oskaloosa.

Walter Cline, a sheet metal dye inspector for the Maytag Co. at Newton, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James S. Cline. His father is deceased but his mother now lives at Exline.

He is survived by his wife, Florence; two sons, Edwin of Grinnell and Kenneth of Long Beach, Calif.; and three daughters, Mrs. Leroy Patton of Brooklyn, Mrs. Omer Miller of Rock Island, Ill., and Mrs. Frances Weese of Des Moines.

Also surviving are five brothers, Gerald of Grinnell, Robert of Rock Island, Marvin of Silvis, Ill., Ronald of Rock Island, Theodore of Rockford; and two sisters, Mrs. Joe Davis of Rock Island and Mrs. Byrdine Dwight of Ottumwa.

Besides his son Edward and his father, he was preceded in death by an infant daughter.

He was a member of the Grinnell Methodist church.

Edward Cline was unmarried and made his home with his parents. He was employed by Cornland Plant Foods in Grinnell.

Authorities from the area where the drownings occurred indicated that an inquest will be conducted this week.

Double funeral services were held this afternooon (Monday) from the Methodist church with Dr. G.S. Bruland, pastor, officiating, assisted by the Rev. Gene Reasoner, pastor of the Glad Tidings Assemby of God church. Organist was Mrs. Kathleen Heffner.

Serving as pallbearers for Walter Cline were Homer Allen, Earl Fenn, Frank Fisher, Gale Fields, Ray Hartzell and Duane Sumpter. Pallbearers for Edward Cline were Norman Davis, Larry Ellis, Harold Kingsley, Harry Kingsley, James Lynch and Donald Sumpter.

Burial was in Hazelwood cemetery.