Walter Ludlow Pitcher (1873-1957)

PITCHER, AUSTIN, HUFFAKER

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:13

From Nevada Evening Journal March 11, 1957 (page 4)

Collins Services Held For Walter L. Pitcher, Train Accident Victim

COLLINS Funeral services were held in the Methodist church Sunday afternoon at 2:30 for Walter Pitcher, with Pastor Cecil Ettenger of Des Moines officiating, assisted by Elder Edward Baie, also of Des Moines. Mrs. Noram Van Zee was the soloist and sang "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and "Beyond the Sunset."

Casket bearers were Milo Pitcher, Howard Pitcher, Merritt Pitcher, Jack Buchanan, Glen Pyle and Dale Huffaker.

Flowers were cared for by Mrs. B. W. Lyons and Mrs. Milo Pitcher. Burial was in the Collins Evergreen cemetery with Brouhard morticians of Zearing in charge.

Obituary

Walter Ludlow Pitcher was born Dec. 4, 1873 near Lena, Ill., the son of Lorenzo and Aurora Austin Pitcher. When he was 12 years old the family moved the Exeter, Neb. where they farmed a year before moving to Bird City, Kans. where the elder Mr. Pitcher had filed on a homestead. They left Kansas in the fall of 1894, going to Marshalltown, making the trip in horse-drawn wagons.

On March 4, 1895, Mr. Pitcher was married to Miss Rittie Huffaker in Marshalltown. They farmed in Marshall county and northern Jasper county for several years; before buying the farm six miles southeast of Collins now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Roy Van Winkle. Mr. and Mrs. Pitcher engaged in farming near Rhoades, Melbourne and Zearing from 1920 to 1942 when they retired and moved to Des Moines.

Mrs. Pitcher died in 1952 and Mr. Pitcher maintained his home in Des Moines until two years ago when he went to Milwaukee to make his home with his son Elbert.

Mr. and Mrs. Pitcher united with the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints about 1898. At the time of his death he was a member of the Des Moines branch.

Mr. Pitcher died Thursday, Feb. 28, 1957 at Milwaukee, Wis. when he was accidentally killed when he was struck by a switch engine. He was 83 years old at the time of his death.

Mr. and Mrs. Pitcher were the parents of two sons Merle, who died in infancy, and Elbert, who survives his father. Also surviving are two grandchildren, Trenton and Deanna, and a brother Austin of Collins.

Relatives in attendance were from Stewartsville, Missouri, Grundy Center, Conrad, Sioux City, Mason City, Sheffield, Rockwell, Marshalltown, Melbourne, Baxter, Rhodes, Newton, Nevada, Ames and Maxwell.