Willard Henry Potter (1921-1940)

POTTER, BATEMAN

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 4/19/2021 at 16:23:05

From Nevada Evening Journal March 5, 1940 (page 3)

Willard Potter Laid to Rest In Central City Cemetery

In spite of the very inclement weather and hazardous condition of the highways, the Evangelical church was well filled here Saturday morning for the local services for Willard Potter, of 1017 Eighth street, crash victim who died on Wednesday, Feb. 28.

The services were in charge of his pastor, Rev. Theo Yackel of that church. Songs were by a male quartet consisting of Ray Jones, James McDaniel, Ray Hubbard and Floyd Alderman with Mrs. Yackel at the piano.

Pallbearers were Frank Purk, Jr., Russell Hagen, Bob Scott, John Bloomberg, Kenneth McDaniel and Gale Booher.

The floral offering were many and very beautiful, a mute yet glowing testimony to the high regard in which the young man had been held in the community.

A special section of seats had been reserved for members of the class of '39 N. H. S. with which Willard had graduated. Approximately 30 members of the class were present.

Following the services here the funeral party accompanied the body to Central City, north of Cedar Rapids, where a second service was held in the Federated church in which Willard had been baptized as a boy.

Those accompanying the family from here were Rev. and Mrs. Yackel, the singers and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Purk.

The service there was in charge of Rev. Yackel, assisted by the pastor of that church, Rev. Kenyon.

The obituary a of young man as read during the service follows:

"Willard Henry Potter, son of Jesse and Pearl Potter, was born Jan. 15, 1921 at Central City, Ia., and passed away at the Mary Greeley hospital, Ames, Ia., Feb. 28, 1940, as a result of injuries received in an automobile accident early Sunday morning, Feb. 25, having reached the age of 19 years, 1 month and 13 days.

"At the age of nine years his family moved Peterson, Ia., where they lived three years and three months, then moving to George, Ia., where they lived four years prior to coming to Nevada, Ia., Sept. 26, 1937, where he lived with his parents until his death.

"Upon his arrival in Nevada with his parents, he enrolled in Nevada high school, graduating in 1939. He was popular among the high school students, participating in many activities of the school, as well as graduating with high honors in his class.

"At the age of 14 he was converted, and sought to serve his Lord, joining with the Baptist church at George, Ia., where he took his stand for the Lord. He joined with the Nevada Evangelical church by letter on Dec. 31, 1939. Willard was a faithful Sunday school scholar through his entire life, having won recognition for his faithful attendance at Sunday school.

"He was a loyal and thoughtful son a kind and helpful brother. He was a young man, whose clean habits of live whose kindly spirit and attitude, whose ability to be a friend, won for him the admiration and respect of all who learned to know him At the time of his passing he was employed at the Boyce Mid-Continent service station in Nevada, where he had proven himself to be a dependable young man.

"He leaves to mourn his passing besides his father, mother and sister Nylene, his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. George Bateman of Marion, Ia., and Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Potter of Troy Mills, Ia., also uncles, aunts, cousins and a host of friends."