GASTON, W.O.: Died 1939
GASTON, SATTERTHWAITE, JACK, SWEAZEY
Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 8/10/2016 at 17:42:21
**Handwritten: 1939
W.O. GASTON
The following account of the death of W.O. Gaston of Burlington was clipped from the Burlington Daily Hawkeye of Saturday, April 8:
W.O. Gaston, 74, of 121 Grand street, retired Burlington, Muscatine and Southern railroad official, died at the residence this noon, a few hours after a cousin succumbed in Ft. Madison, and bringing to five the total of deaths in the immediate family in the past 18 months.
Mr. Gaston has been seriously ill since last November, but his health had been failing since the death of a son, Jack, and the latter's wife and daughter, in a railroad-auto collision near DeWitt, Iowa, a year ago last September. His health was undermined further by the death of a daughter, Mrs. Paul Satterthwaite, Burlington, a year ago in March. The cousin who died in Ft. Madison today was Hazen Gaston, 46, who was found dead in bed this morning.
Born on a Farm
Mr. Gaston was born on a farm near Vernon, Iowa, Feb. 18, 1865, and he was a life a resident of this state. He left the farm as a young man to make his home in Ft. Madison where he became employed by the Santa Fe railroad. He later went to Texas for the railroad, and still later to Muscatine for the B.M. & S. line. He came to Burlington from Muscatine as an official of the road 20 years ago, retiring 10 years ago.
He was married 49 years ago to Clara Jack of Vernon at Bentonsport. She died five years ago here.
Mr. Gaston was a member of the First Methodist church. His death comes as a shock to the many friends among whom he was well liked.
Surviving are: one daughter, Mrs. John Sweazey of Seattle, Wash.; a brother, Charles of Ft. Madison; a sister, Mrs. Anna Gaston of Ft. Madison; and six grandchildren, Audrey, John and Don Sweazey of Seattle, Bobbie and Marilyn Satterthwaite of Burlington, and Joyce Gaston, now a resident of Ft. Madison and whose twin sister was killed in the train and auto accident which claimed the lives of their parents.
Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book G, Page 153, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA
Van Buren Obituaries maintained by Rich Lowe.
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