Ricker, Amos Leroy 1875-1927

RICKER, HASKIN, KEPFORD, WILSON, PARISH

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 1/1/2012 at 12:30:05

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Jully 12, 1927

LIFE SERVICE OF A.L. RICKER
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Former Useful Grinnell Man Closes Life at Home in Los Angeles, California
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DIED A EARLY AGE OF FIFTY-TWO YEARS
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Was Prominent in Social, Church and Civic Circles of His Home Town, Grinnell.
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Amos Leroy Ricker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. F. Ricker, was born in Tama, Iowa, on January 19, 1875. Most of his boyhood was spent in Marshall county, where his parents and grandparents, Mr. and Mr. C.A. Haskin held a prominent place in the life of the community. Five years of his life were spent in the public schools of Marshalltown where his father moved to engage in business. Later the family moved from Marshalltown to Grundy Center where he graduated from the high school with the class of 1894. He attended Des Moines college for a short time and for three years was a student at Grinnell College, where he was connected with various activities of the college and proved himself a worthy "Son of Old Grinnell."

On October 11, 1899 at Grundy Center, Iowa, he was united in marriage to Jessie V. Kepford, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. David Kepford. They established their home in Grinnell where for twenty-six years Mr. Ricker was actively connected with the Morrison-Ricker Manufacturing Company. A daughter, Eleanor and a son Kepford, completed the circle of their home.

In August, 1925, the family moved to Los Angeles, Calif., where they have since resided. Here, for a time, Mr. Ricker seemed to gain in strength and vigor until an illness two weeks ago, terminated in his death at the family residence, 544 Kenmore Ave. on Saturday, July 2, at 9:15 p.m.

Funeral services were held at the Dellebaugh Chapel in Los Angeles, Tuesday morning, July 5, at 10:30 o'clock. Rev. Dana Bartlett, formerly of Grinnell, conducted the services. He chose as his scripture the Twenty-third Psalm and the passage Jno. 14:1-15. He spoke with feeling of Mr. Ricker's devotion to his family and of the ideal home which together they had built.

Prof. Ralph Lyman of Pomona college, sang "I Cannot Trace the Way."--a compostion of W.B. Olds, a former Professor in Grinnell college and a solo entitled "There is a Land Mine Eye Hath Seen." A large group of relatives and friends attended the service. Mrs. W.D. Wilson, a sister of Mrs. Ricker, from Grundy Center, Iowa reached Los Angeles in time for the funeral.

Flowers were abundant and beautiful, an expression of love and sympathy by many friends.

Mr. Ricker's two brothers, Frank and Charles, of Berkeley, Calif., were also able to be present. There were a total of twenty-four relatives present.

Mr. Ricker leaves to mourn his loss, his devoted wife and two children, Eleanor and Kepford. His daugther Eleanor is at present librarian in the city library of Los Angeles and his son Kepford, who graduated in 1926 from Grinnell college, is employed in a large department store of the same city. Aside from his immediate family, Mr. Ricker is survived by his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. C.F. Ricker of Grinnell, Ia., who were unable to be present at the funeral, a sister, Mrs. E.S. Parish of Grinnell and two brothers, Frank H. and Chas. F. Jr. both of Berkeley, Calif. A large group of friends both in the old and in the new home, will feel keenly the death of Mr. Ricker.

When a young man, Mr. Ricker joined the Baptist church in Marshalltown, Iowa, and during the years since that time, has been a loyal and active member in the church. He served as usher, teacher and Sunday School superintendent in the Baptist Church of Grinnell and was often called upon to sing at funerals as a member of a quartette. He developed the talents which were his, by using them in service for others.

Mr. Ricker was the type of man (the rest is missing..)