Fry, Raymond 1893-1918

FRY, BOND

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 12/17/2012 at 15:38:17

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Oct. 4, 1918

ANOTHER SOLDIER'S FUNERAL
HELD WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
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The Obsequies of Raymond Fry Held
Wednesday at the Methodist
Church largely Attended.
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A PASTOR'S HIGH TRIBUTE
TO SOLDIER DEAD
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Members of Masonic Lodge, Relief
Corps, Pythians Sisters and Royal
Neighbors Attend Enmasse.
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The funeral of the late Raymond Fry was held Wednesday from the Methodist church at 3 o'clock. The esteem in which the young man was held in the community was attestd by the large number of citizens who attended--so many that all could not get into the church.

Members of Hermon Masonic lodge attended in a body as did the ladies representing the Relief Corps, the Pythian Sisters' and Royal Neighbors and M.E. Sunday school. The flowers and wreaths sent by friends were profuse and beautiful, especially a flag, the gift of many citizens of Grinnell, composed of red, white and blue flowers. A quartet, composed of Messrs. H.S. Lowrey and M.V. Davies, Mrs. E.A. Black and Mrs. Chas. Stafford sang during the service old familiar hymns--"My Faith Looks Up to Thee," "Jesus Is Mine" and "Nearer My God to Thee."

The service was in charge of Rev. J.M. Brown, pastor of the church. He did not take a text nor preach a sermon. Instead he paid a high tribute to the young man they had come to honor and all the soldiers of America, as well as the ideals they are fighting for. Some of the thoughts expressed are epitomized below:

This war is uniting the people of our country, from the great lakes to the gulf, as they have never been united before. In the end it will unite the peoples of the whole world closer than before. It means something that England has given a million of her best young men for the cause of freedom. It means something that France has given as many. It means something that our country, the richest and greatest on earth, has entered this great war to help free all the nations of the world from the great scourge that menaces them. Surely such sacrifices will bear results, the bettering of conditions for mankind. It has opened the eyes of the people of Europe that this nation has dedicated her men and resources to winning the war with no idea of reward in increased treasure or territory.

Our boys, whose dead bodies are being brought back to us, have not achieved their ambition as soldiers in fighting for their country, but they have reached the highest ideals of dying for their country. Our soldiers across the waters have come to realize as never before that they are fighting for home, country and God. Since they have been away they have learned to place a new and great value upon their homes. They have been impressed with the consciousness of their duty to God, and are trusting Him in this great conflict. They now appreciate how great and wonderful it is to be a free man in a government like ours.

It is fitting and proper that we mourn today with these bereaved relatives, but tomorrow we can do a nobler act by buying Liberty bonds and backing the government at this crisis.

The pallbearers were six comrades, Herbert Leroy, Gus Laros and four of the Student Training Corps, with a bugler who sounded taps. The honorary pallbearers were R.F. Nuckolls, Roy Forehand, Verne McDermott, Harry McMurray and Harry Yeager.

Interment was in Hazelwood cemetery in the family lot. Services at the grave were conducted by the Masonic lodge.

CARD OF THANKS

We wish to thank all our friends for their kindness to us, for all the aid and sympathy they have shown us at the death of our soldier husband and son, Raymond Fry, and for all the many generous acts which have helped to lighten our sorrow at this time of our great loss.
MRS. BESSIE BOND FRY.
MR. AND MRS. M.G. FRY.