Ross D. Lapham (1900-1942)

LAPHAM, RUMPH, BEST

Posted By: John Davis (email)
Date: 10/17/2019 at 06:10:36

Obit posted in Ottumwa Courier January 5, 1942
Ottumwan Dies After Pushing Car From Ditch
Ross D. Lapham, 41, Succumbs Sunday Afternoon At Centerville.
Ross D. Lapham, 41, of 426 Gray avenue, died in a Centerville hospital at 4:50 p.m. Sunday, after over-exertion in pushing his car out of a snowdrift. His car had slid into a ditch north of Centerville on highway 60. He and his son were on their way to Mercer, Missouri with relatives who have visited at the Lapham home. Mr. Lapham became ill after they had succeeded in lifting and pushing the car out of the ditch. The son drove the car to a Centerville garage, and the sick man was removed by ambulance to the St. Joseph hospital in Centerville. He was admitted to the hospital a 1 p.m. and died about four hours later. A cerebral hemorrhage was given as the cause. Mr. Lapham was employed in the sanitary department of the John Morrell & Co. in Ottumwa. He was born in Ottumwa September, 25, 1900 the son of Eila and Henry Lapham. He married Estelle Rumph in Ottumwa May 1, 1921. He was a member of the Wesley Methodist church, the Homebuilders' Sunday school class, A.F & A.M. No. 269 and the Modern Woodman lodge. Surviving are his wife, daughter Betty, and a son Dale, at home; his father, Henry of Ottumwa and a sister Mrs. Leo Best of Ottumwa. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday from the Wesley Methodist church with the Rev. J.B. Johnson in charge. Masonic services will be held at the grave in the Ottumwa cemetery. Pallbearers will be Frank Rogers, Paul Celania, Doyle Shy, John Brooks, Fred Wells and Bob Fisher. The body will be taken to the church from the Carroll Reece funeral home at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, and will be in state until time for the services.