Perry, Robert L. 1948-1965

PERRY, BEAM, EAMES, STODDEN, CRISWELL, CROSSON, HOIT, EDWARDS, STUART, MCCALLUM, STUTZMAN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 10/28/2012 at 23:04:17

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Sept. 6, 1965

GRINNELL YOUTH KILLED IN SUNDAY MORNING CRASH

Robert L. Perry, 17, GHS Senior,
Dies Instantly As Car Hits Bridge

A 17 year-old Grinnell high school senior boy, Robert L. Perry, became Poweshiek county's third traffic fatality of 1965 early Sunday morning in a one-car auto crash near Searsboro.

THROWN FROM CAR

Young Perry, who was thrown from the car and killed instantly, was a passener in a car driven by Glen Beam, 16, also of Grinnell. The third occupant of the auto was Thomas S. Eames, 17, of Gilman.

Beam and Eames escaped serious injury. They were taken to a Grinnell hospital for examination and treatment and released.

Crash occurred about 1:15 a.m. Sunday on county road M about 4 miles east of Searsboro. The car, headed west at the time, struck a bridge railing and then skidded sideways for 225 feet, according to investigating officers.

Michael P. Stodden, 21, of Grinnell, who had been with the trio earlier in the evening, was charged with making beer available to minors. He appeared in justice of peace Edwin Lincoln's court and waived to the Grand Jury. Bond was set at $3500 and he is currently being held in the county jail.

Another youth who had been with the trio earlier in the night was charged with possession of beer as a minor, second offense. He is Frederick Earl Criswell, 18, of Grinnell. He appeared in justice Lincoln's court and received a 30-day term in the county jail.

Beam and Eames were also charged with possession of beer as minors and Beam faces an additional charge of failure to have his vehicle under control. They have yet to appear in court.

The 1964-model car driven by Beam in the accident was totally demolished.

Two previous Poweshiek county traffic victims of 1965 were:

Marvin Gordon Crosson, 41 of Newton, who was killed instantly February 26th in a one-car accident on highway 146 about two miles north of Searsboro.

Donald S. Hoit, 56, of Iowa City, who died August 26th of injuries received August 24th in a two car crash at the intersection of highway 63 and old highway 6 east of Grinnell.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Funeral services for Robert L. Perry will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday from the Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. Ronald Rain, pastor of the First United Presbyterian Church, officiating. Organ music will be provided by Mrs. Willard Heffner.

Serving as pallbearers will be Roy Haines, Johnny Fleming, Gene Shook, Pat Lynch, Ronnie Innis and Jim Patten. Interment will be in Silent City cemetery at Monroe.

He was the son of Robert Lewis Perry, now deceased, and Violet June Edwards Stuart of Des Moines and was born January 14, 1948 at Newton. He had made his home in Grinnell since he was four years old with his grandmother, Mrs. Catherine McCallum.

He attended the elementary schools in Grinnell and was a member of the senior class of 1966 at Grinnell high school.

Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Mr. and Mrs. Oral Stuart of Des Moines; his grandmother Mrs. Catherine McCallum, and his great-grandmother, Mrs. Mollie Stutzman, both of Grinnell, and two half brothers and a half sister, Carl Stuart, Catherine Stuart and Oral Stuart Jr., all of Des Moines.