John Valentine Fry (1855-1945)

FRY, BRYANT, KELLEY, KELLY, POOL, POOLE, RYGBY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/4/2014 at 12:45:08

From unknown newspaper April 9, 1945

John V. Fry Laid to Rest Sunday Afternoon

Funeral services fro the late John V. Fry, long time resident of Nevada who passed away Thursday, April 5 at the home of his daughter Mrs. James Bryant, were held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 at the Brethren church in Fernald with the Rev. Earl E. Jarboe officiating.

Three songs were sung by Mrs. Wilbur Gerlach, Mrs. Royce Strong and Paul Gerlach.

The pall bearers were Harve Kitchen, John Peterson, Earl Clemmons, A. H. Huhn, Fred Chitty, W. T. White.

Mrs. Morfoot and Mrs. B. Shull looked after the flowers.

Among those here from a distance in attendance at the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Engle, Mrs. Bernice Halverson and son Allen, Mrs. Hazel Foote and Warren Hand from Hawkeye, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Claude Poole of Des Moines, Mr. and Mrs. M. Malliet of Cambridge, Mr. and Mrs. Merve Fry and son Dick of Sioux Falls, S. Dak., and Mrs. Rafdel of Ames.

Burial was in the Nevada cemetery. The following obituary was read by the funeral service:

"John Valentine Fry son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarnce Fry was born near Randalia, Iowa in Fayette County on Oct. 5, 1855 and died at the home of his daughter on April 5, 1945 at the age of 89 years and six months. While still a small child his parents moved to Ohio and then later to Illinois where he lived till he was 20 years old, when he came to Story County in Iowa to the home of his brother, George Fry who lived just one half mile of where the tow Fernald now stands. On Feb. 5, 1882 he was married to Ida Mae Kelley daughter of an early pioneer family and they started farming on a near by farm.

Several years later they moved to Nevada where Mr. Fry was employed for years at the Blackman Brothers Garden. In 1909 he started a confectionery store and was Post Master of Fernald for 10 years. Retiring from this they made their home in Nevada where Mrs. Fry passed away on May 8, 1934, from this time on he has made his home with his children.

Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Fry, two survive, Clarence Fry of Nevada and Mrs. Bertha Bryant of Richland township. The eldest son Ross E. Fry died on Dec. 2, 1942. The grandson, Mervin Fry was also raised in the home.

He leaves six other grand children and seven greatgrandsons. The grandson Clifford E. Fry, Seamon First Class had been missing in action in the Pacific since Oct. 23, 1944 and another grandson John V. Fry, Yeoman Second Class is somewhere in the Pacific area. He also leaves two sisters, Mrs. Clara Poole of Mt. Vernon, Wahsington and Mrs. Letta Rigby of Santa Cruz, California.

When a young man he united with the Church of the Brethren and he died steadfast in that faith. Being of a very cheerful and friendly nature he made friends readily, and especially died he love young children, and he never grew to old to visit and play their games with them. he will be greatly missed in the home of his children and also by his many other relatives and friends.

The funeral service was held in the church of the Brethren, in Fernald on Sunday, April 8, by Earl E. Jarboe, pastor. Burial was in the Nevada cemetery.