Charles E Hilburn(1916-1948)&Marion Hardin Hilburn(1924-1948

HILBURN, PALM, WILSON, PICHT

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:11

From Nevada Evening Journal August 23, 1948 (page 1)

Headline:
Uncle and Nephew Killed in Airplane Crash

Chas. Hilburn, Nevada, Marion Hilburn, Fernald Were Air Crash Victims Sun.

A double airplane tragedy claimed the lives of Charles Hilburn, 32, of Nevada and his nephew Marion Hilburn, 23, Iowa State college student and son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Hilburn of Fernald, when their plane crashed about 200 feet from the Bradford Dial home, north and east of Fernald, Sunday afternoon at 4:10 o'clock.

The 65 horse power Luscombe plane plummeted to the ground a distance of approximately 150 feet, according to Northbert Lock of Des Moines, director of the Iowa Aeronautics Commission, who investigated the tragedy shortly after it happened and stated, that in his opinion, the plane was flying low, lost speed while turning and spun to the earth, its nose embedded in the ground.

Were Eye Witnesses.

Mr. Dial, and his house guest, W. S. Payne of Boone, who were in the Dial yard at the time were eye witnesses to the accident and immediately hastened to give aid. Mrs. Dial, who was within the house at the time, heard the crash and stepped to her back door just after the plane had reached the ground.

No time was lost in getting to the scene of the accident which was but 200 feet away. The alarm was sent out and very soon a physician was at the scene of the accident. Charles Hilburn, however, died before the arrival of the physician and Marion, critically injured, was rushed to Mary Greeley hospital by ambulance, but passed away at 8 p. m. without regaining consciousness.

At Family Reunion

The death of the two men was a sorrowful ending to Hilburn family reunion which was held at the Mrs. Clarence Hilburn home where the entire family of Hilburns were Present for the day.

The two men, uncle and nephew, in an airplane belonging to Marion's father, had been flying for a couple of hours. The men had taken off from a private airport owned by Clarence Hilburn at the southeast edge of Fernald. Mr. Hilburn saw the accident from a distance.

Funeral Pending

The bodies of the accident victims who are son and grandson of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Hilburn, are resting at the Morfoot Funeral Home where funeral arrangements are pending.

Charles Hilburn

Charles Hilburn was born May 10, 1916 on a farm near Fernald. He graduated from the Fernald high school, attended the State University of Iowa for two years and also Iowa State College from which he graduated.

He taught in the Marion schools for one year before going to the Lumber Yard at Ida Grove. During the war he was in Chicago for the government.

Charles was married Jan 1, 1930 to Juanita Palm of Farragut and to this union one son Charles David was born.

Since coming to Nevada two years ago Mr. Hilburn has been employed in the Iowa State College work shop, and also building a new home in Nevada which is nearing completion. Mrs. Hilburn is teaching in the Nevada schools.

Mr. Hilburn is survived by his wife, Juanita, seven year old son Charld David, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Hilburn and the following brothers: Clarence of Fernald, Willis, superintendent of the Iowa Falls Schools, George of Odebolt, and Howard of near Fernald and sisters: Mrs. Charles F. Wilson of Nevada and Mrs. John Picht of Fernald.

Marion Hilburn

Marion Hilburn, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Hilburn, would have been 24 years of age on October 24.

Like his uncle he was graduate of the Fernald schools. He was in service in the U. S. Navy for three years. Since his return from service he had been attending Iowa State college as a science student and also working. He was unmarried.

Marion was a licensed pilot with around 75 hours of flying time to his credit. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Hilburn and by two sisters, Janice, who is taking a course in nurse's training and Colleen, who is taking work at Iowa State Teachers' College, Cedar Falls. He is also survived by his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Hilburn of Nevada and by other relatives and friends.

Extends sympathy

The entire community joins in extending sympathy to those bereaved as the result of this tragic accident.