RITCHEY, Paul W. (1934-1938)

RITCHEY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 5/11/2020 at 15:04:22

Paul W. Ritchey
(February 19, 1934 – November 16, 1938)

PAUL W. RITCHEY
Paul William, youngest son of Abe and Agnes Richey, was born in Clarke County, Iowa, Feb 19, 1934, and departed this life November 16, 1938, in Des Moines, Iowa, in the Methodist hospital at the age of 4 years and 9 months. He was accidentally shot Wednesday afternoon and was taken immediately to the hospital where all was done that medical aid and loving hands could do but to no avail. He passed away at 11 o’clock the same evening. Billy’s life, though short, was a completely happy one and he leaves only pleasant memories for his love ones. He leaves to mourn his departure his father and mother, one brother, Bud, age 9, and two sisters, Patty, 10, and Shirley, 1. Nine uncles, six aunts, many cousins, one aged grandfather, Robert Ritchey, one great-grandfather, C. C. Edgerton, besides many friends, also survive. The funeral was held at the Orr Funeral home Friday, Nov. 18, at 2 p.m. conducted by the Rev. N. D. Gordon of Indianola. Interment was in the cemetery at Liberty Center.
Card of Thanks – We wish to thank everyone who was so thoughtful and helpful at the time of the accident to our little son and for the flowers sent by the neighbors. – Mr. and Mrs. Abe Ritchey and family. [copied from newspaper clippings in a scrapbook at Warren County Historical Society Library, Indianola, IA]
Boy Fatally Wounded in Gun Mishap
4-Year-Old lad Is Shot as Father Fires at Rabbit
Paul William Ritchey, four-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Abe Ritchey, was fatally shot when his father fired at a rabbit with a .22 caliber rifle in the barn lot of their farm 11 miles southwest of Indianola on Wednesday afternoon. The boy and his father had cornered the rabbit under a corn crib and the boy, without the knowledge of his father, ran to the opposite side of the building. Thinking his son was behind him, Mr. Ritchey fired beneath the corn crib and it is believed that the bullet must have glanced, striking the boy. The bullet entered the lad’s head just above the right eye and lodged in the back of the brain. He was brought to Indianola for first aid treatment and rushed to the Methodist hospital in Des Moines where he died at 11:30 p.m. No attempt was made to operate. Funeral services will be held at Orr’s Funeral Home Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock. The Rev. N. D. Gordon will have charge of the services. The Ritchey’s are the parents of three other children, a daughter, Paddy, 10; a son, Buddy, 9, and a daughter, Shirley, 2.
[copied from newspaper clippings in a scrapbook at Warren County Historical Society Library, Indianola, IA]