Obituaries
submitted by: Julia Johnson - julia.johnson63@gmail.com

[Moore, Maude Agnes McCowan]

Clarinda Herald Journal

December 1973

Mrs Moore died

Word has been received here of the death of Mrs Harry (Maude) [McCowan] Moore of Excelsior Springs, Mo, who died Tuesday at her home.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Survivors include a son, Richard, and two daughters, Mrs Ned (Janice) Creager of Delta, Pa, and Mrs Chris (Dorothy Jane) Williams.

[Murren, Gerald Dean]

Clarinda Herald Journal

December 1973

Services held for Clarindan's brother

Funeral services and burial were held Monday in Elliott for Gerald Dean Murren, 63, of Elliott, who died Dec 14 at Murphy Memorial Hospital in Red Oak.

He was the son of the late Frank J and Elmira K [irk Worrell] Murren of Shambaugh.

Survivors include his wife Dorothy, two daughters, Mrs Ralph (Jean) Stoneking of Elliott and Mrs David (Myra) Whickham of Salem, Neb, a son John of Elliott, brothers Bufort of Boise, Idaho, Delmar of Lake Helen, Fla, and Marion of Lancaster, Cal, a sister, Mrs John (Lena) Kenagy of Clarinda, and 12 grandchildren.

Services were held at the Elliott Methodist Church, with burial in the Hillside Cemetery.

[Clark, Terrence Miller]

Clarinda Herald Journal

December 1973

Oklahoma burial for Terrence Clark

Terrence M [iller] Clark, father of former Herald Journal news editor Terry M Clark was buried in Comanche, Okla Dec 17. He died Dec 14 in San Angelo, Tex, of a heart attack.

Clark, 59, was a technical illustrator at Goodfellow AFB. He was also a western landscape and portrait artist. He was born Jan 21, 1914, in Comanche, 10 miles south of where his son now works in Duncan, Okla.

He is also survived by a son Jerry Lubbock, four brothers, Lewis of Cullowhee, NC; Rex of San Antonio, Tex; Mike of Santa Fe, N Mex; and Champ of El Paso, Tex. His mother Mrs Cuba [Jon Miller] Reasor of Whitesboro, Tex. his wife Anna Sue of Carlsbad, N M and three grandchildren of Duncan, Ok.

[Rankin, William Nelson]

Clarinda Herald Journal

December 1973

Receives word of relatives death

Miss Frances Pfander received word of the death of her brother-in-law, William Nelson Rankin, at Houston, Tex, Dec 13. He and his wife, the former Alice Pfander of Clarinda, reached their 60th wedding anniversary Oct 1. Also surviving are their three daughters, nine grandchildren and several great grandchildren.

Burial will be at Caruthersville, Mo, on Saturday.

Mrs Rankin's address is: 14403 Carolcrest. Houston, Tex 77024.

[Connell, Eugene John]

Clarinda Herald Journal

December 1973

Heart attack fatal to Eugene Connell

Services for Eugene J [ohn] Connell, 85, of Clarinda were held Thursday morning at the Lavelle Funeral Home, with Rev John Clark officiating. Burial was in the Clarinda Cemetery. Casket bearers were Merrill and Mick Miller, Kenneth Lawson, Harry Holmes, Jack Pearson and Mernie Hays. The organist was Mrs Ronald Perry.

Mr Connell was dead on arrival at the Municipal Hospital Monday morning, from an apparent heart attack.

He was born June 12, 1888, at Essex, the son of Oscar and Adelia Wright Connell. He was raised in the Clarinda area and was married to Ina Hare in July of 1908 at Cooperstown, N D.

They made their home in Clarinda. He was a painter and cement man all his life and had been retired for 10 years. Mrs Connell died in April of 1965.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, one son, one brother and two sisters.

He is survived by two sons, Lawrence of Bettendorf, and Cecil of Los Angeles, Cal, six daughters, Mrs Gertrude Heatherington, Mrs Bertha Lee and Mrs Lou (Jean) Bathen of Clarinda, Mrs Harold (Icyle) Franks of Linwood, Cal, Mrs Raymond (Bernice) Gartin of Seattle, Wash and Mrs Paul (Ruth) Shaulis of Phoenix, Ariz, 18 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren.           

[Travis, Gertrude Alice "Gert" Novinger]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Thursday    December 13, 1973

Mrs Travis died after long illness

Mrs Earl (Gertrude) Travis, 88, died Tuesday night [December 11, 1973] at the Clarinda   Municipal   Hospital after a long illness, and services are being held Friday.

The family is meeting friends this Thursday evening at the Walker Funeral Home and funeral rites have been arranged at 1:30 pm at Walker's with burial in the Dallas Center cemetery northeast of New Market. A representative of the Reformed Church of Latter Day Saints from Shenandoah will officiate. Shum - Novinger Funeral Home is making arrangements.

Mrs Travis was formerly Gertrude [Alice] Novinger, the daughter of Mr and Mrs Franklin [Pierce] Novinger [Ora Belle Towne] of Taylor County. She had worked in Clarinda hotels and cafes for many years as a cook. The residence is at 515 East Washington St with her son Kenneth.

Her husband died in 1972 and she is survived by sons Merle of rural Bedford, [Earl] Duane and Kenneth [Rex] of Clarinda and four grandchildren. Her sister is Mrs Mildred Ballenger of Hamburg.

[Bix, Ella Blanche]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Tuesday    January 1, 1974

Miss Bix active in church work

SIAM — Miss Ella Blanche Bix, 85, native of this community who spent her life serving others, died New Year's morning at the Gillespie Nursing Home where she had lived for two years.

Services were being held this Thursday at Walker Funeral Home, the Rev John Clark of the First Christian Church of Clarinda officiating. Mrs Willard Andrew and Mrs Ronald Perry furnished the music. Bearers included Eldon Miller, Ernest Gray, Roger Gant, Clark Crawford, Reid Shields and Thomas Harris.

Burial was to be in Bedford Fairview Cemetery where her parents and two brothers were buried. She is last of five boys and four girls in the family of George and Margaret Reynolds Bix.

She was born on a farm west of Bedford on Nov 24,1888. As a girl she was on a farm northeast of Siam and her early education was at North Star school. She attended the Morning Star Church, later joining the Church of Christ at Siam where she always was doing some active task, whether with the music, communion, caring for the property or any task needed at that time.

She worked for others many years, specializing in maternity cases. She went to make her home with the Hugh Reids in 1930 and moved with them to Clarinda in 1938. She worked at the Mental Health Institute and in local homes. Her last residence was in an apartment on South 16th St, and at that time the Siam church had a special celebration to honor her.

[Dricken, Grace]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Thursday    January 3, 1974

Miss Grace Dricken taught school here

Miss Grace Dricken, who taught home economics in Clarinda schools in the early 1930's, died Monday [December 31, 1973] at Marshalltown. She had been in Clarinda for 13 years, living at the C S Hutchings home, and went to Illinois to teach. She has lived in recent years in an apartment in Marshalltown near where her brother continues to live. She had been in a nursing home about a month. She came to Clarinda in 1972 to attend a reunion of some of her high school students. Services were Wednesday at Marshalltown, and burial was to be in South Dakota, which was her original home.

[Baggs, Louisa "Lou" Jackson]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Thursday    January 24, 1974

Mrs Lou Baggs was Taylor County native

Mrs Lou [isa] D Baggs, 77, of Council Bluffs, a native of Taylor County, died early Wednesday morning [January 23, 1974] at a Council Bluffs hospital.

Services will be at 10:30 am Friday at Woodring Chapel in Council Bluffs, with the Rev Richard E Brown of Norfolk Christian College officiating. Burial will be in the Hawleyville cemetery. Mrs Baggs was the widow of Ernest [Everett] Baggs, who died in January of 1967.

Survivors include one daughter, Mrs Charles Greenlee of Council Bluffs; four sisters, Mrs George Royer, Mrs Kyle Pace and Mrs Mary Hulbert, all of Clarinda, and Mrs Leslie Pratt of New Market; one brother, William Jackson of New Market; three grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

[Johnson, Tom]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Thursday   January 3, 1974

Tom Johnson former Clarindan

Tom Johnson, former Clarindan who had been living at Villisca for several years, died at Veterans Hospital in Omaha early this Thursday. Services are to be held at 2 pm Saturday at the Advent Christian Church in Villisca.

[Purviance, Eva Ethel Gwynn]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Thursday    January 3, 1974

Mrs Eva Purviance former resident

Mrs Eva Ethel [Gwynn] Purviance, 92, who lived in Clarinda prior to 1940, died at Hillsboro, Mo, and burial was in Clarinda cemetery Saturday. Her daughters, Mrs Ralph (Monica) Hall and Miss Margaret Purviance, and Mr Hall came to Clarinda for the service, burial being in the lot with her son, Harry [Eugene].

[Irvin, Edna Mae Vawter]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Thursday    January 3, 1974

Services planned for Mrs R A Irvin

Mrs R [obert] A [ndrew] (Edna) [Mae Vawter] Irvin, 80, of Bedford, died unexpectedly at her home at about noon Wednesday [January 2, 1974].

Services are to be Friday at 2 pm at Shum Novinger Funeral Home, and burial is to be in Elmwood Cemetery at Coin.

Seven children survive her, including Miss Helen Irvin of Clarinda, Mrs Harold (Velma) Shepperd [Shepherd], Leonard and Jim Irvin of Bedford, Mrs Glenn (Dorothy) Myers of Elkader, Mrs Harold (Ann) Gilbert of Carlisle and Mrs Jim (Jackie) Jacobs of Carlisle. Her husband, Robert, and a daughter preceded her in death.

[Irvin, Edna Mae Vawter]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Monday    January 14, 1974

EDNA M VAWTER IRVIN

Edna M [ae] Vawter Irvin, daughter of G [eorge] G [ranville] Vawter and Nancy Beal Vawter, was born June 12,1893, near Colby. Kansas. While still a small girl she moved with her parents from Kansas to a farm near Coin, in Page County, Iowa, where she attended the public schools graduating from the Coin High School with the Class of 1911.

On May 24, 1913 she was united in marriage to Robert A [ndrew] Irvin and they lived on various farms in Page County until 1940 when they moved to Taylor County, Iowa, living in the Bedford and Conway communities before moving to the farm near Platteville in 1943, where she has continued to reside.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Robert A [ndrew] Irvin, who died March 22, 1961, a daughter, Lois Williams Meyer, who died in 1963 and a son-in-law, Loren Williams, one brother, Melvin [Glenwood] Vawter and two sisters, Ruth George and Lois Stine.

Left to cherish the memory of her love and concern are her children: Leonard Irvin, of Bedford, Dorothy Myers and her husband, Glen, of Elkader, Ia, Helen Irvin of Clarinda, Velma Shepherd and her husband, Harold, of Bedford, Annalea Gilbert and her husband, Harold, of Carlisle, Ia, James R [obert] Irvin and his wife, Mary Anne, of Bedford, Jacqueline Jacobs and her husband, James, of Hawarden, Ia: 18 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; six brothers and sisters: Mable Murphy of Clarinda, Floyd [Alton] Vawter of Coin, Cora Haynie of Shenandoah, Darlene Williamson of Shenandoah, Lester Vawter of Blanchard, Merrill K (Brownie) Vawter of Shenandoah; other  relatives and many friends.

Early in her youth she joined the Coin Methodist Church and transferred her membership to the Bedford United Methodist Church after moving here.

She was a kind and loving mother, sister, friend and neighbor and she will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her.

[Irvin, Robert Andrew]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     March 23, 1961    [p. 1]

Robert A. Irvin Dies Wednesday

Robert A. [ndrew] Irvin, 68, of Bedford died Wednesday morning, Mar. 22 at Municipal hospital in Clarinda where he had been admitted on Monday. Services for Mr. Irvin are pending at press time Wednesday.

[Irvin, Robert Andrew]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     March 30, 1961    p. 5

Robert A. Irvin Burial At Coin

Robert A. [ndrew] Irvin, 68, a resident of the community east of Bedford, died Wednesday, March 22, at Municipal hospital in Clarinda after an illness of several months.

Funeral services were held at the Bedford Methodist church, Friday afternoon, March 24. Rev. Anthony Blankers, pastor of the church officiated. Burial was in the cemetery at Coin, Iowa.

Robert Andrew Irvin, son of John and Martha [McQuiston] Irvin, was born August 9, 1892 on a farm near Coin, Iowa and passed away at the age of 68 years, seven months, 13 days.

On May 24, 1913 he was united in marriage to Edna M. [ae] Vawter .To this union were born eight children.

Most of his life was spent in Page County. He was baptized and united with the Methodist church at Coin in 1903, later transferring his membership to the Bedford Methodist church after establishing his residence in Taylor County in 1939.

He is survived by his wife, Edna; two sons, Leonard and Jim [James Robert] of Bedford; six daughters, Mrs Lois Williams of Coin, Helen Irvin of Clarinda, Mrs. Glen (Dorothy) Myers of Canton, S. Dak., Mrs. Harold (Velma) Shepherd of Bedford, Jacqueline Irvin of Des Moines, Mrs. Harold (Analea) Gilbert of Springfield, Ill.; 12 grandchildren, three great grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Lida Safley of Bedford, Mrs. Mattie Whitmore of Coin; four brothers, Wes of Clarinda, Ed of Coin, Leo of Bloomfield, Elton of Shenandoah; also one daughter-in-law, three sons-in-laws.

[Pollert, Victor "Vic"]                                 [Pollert, Edith May McNeal]

Clarinda Herald Journal

December 1973

VICTOR J and EDITH M POLLERT

Victor J Pollert, age 68, son of John Pollert and Kate Stuckwish, was born in a log cabin on Sept 18, 1905 near Seymour, Ind. His childhood was spent at Vega, Tex and Clarksdale, Mo. At age 16 he came to Clarinda to work for G J Sunderman.

Edith May Pollert, age 66, daughter of Frank McNeal and Millicent Williams, was born on May 1, 1907 near Villisca.

They died accidentally Dec 5, 1973 of carbon monoxide poisoning caused by fumes from a gas furnace in their home. They had been without electricity for about forty hours resulting from a severe ice storm.

The couple was married Nov 27, 1930 and to this union were born their two daughters- - ConaMara Freed of Clarinda and [Mary] Elaine Cassady of Fort Dodge. Also surviving are Victor's three brothers-- Ray Pollert of Clarinda, Perry Pollert of Easton, Mo, and Lee Pollert of Clarksdale, Mo, a brother-in-law, J H Crussell of Villisca, and eight grandchildren.

They spent all of their married life on the same family farm near Hepburn. They were faithful members of the Rose Hill United Methodist Church. On Dec 8 a family service was held in the forenoon at the Rose Hill Church and a public service was held at 2 pm at the Walker Funeral Home. Rev Carl Cummings officiated. Nick Roberts sang "Ivory Palaces" and "Beyond the Sunset" accompanied by Aletha Hutchings. Pallbearers were Max Sunderman, Arnold Fastenau, Melvin Royer, Lyle Eden, Calvin Williams, and Harold Miers. Internment was at the Rose Hill Cemetery.

[Pollert, Victor "Vic"]                     [Pollert, Edith May McNeal]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Monday    December 10, 1973

Services held for Victor Pollerts

Services were held Saturday afternoon   at   Walker   Funeral Home for Mr and Mrs Victor Pollert   who   died   Wednesday night [December 5, 1973] at their farm home north of Clarinda, victims of monoxide poisoning.

Victor Pollert was born Sept 18, 1905, at Seymour, Ind, the son of John H and Mary K Stuckwish Pollert.

Edith May Pollert was born May 1,1907, at Villisca, daughter of Frank and Millicent Williams McNeal.    The couple were married Nov 27, 1930.

 Mr and Mrs Pollert lived in the Rose Hill community where they were active members of the Rose Hill UME Church where a family prayer service was held Saturday morning.

Survivors include two daughters, Mrs Don (Elaine) Cassady of Ft, Dodge, and Mrs Leslie (ConaMara) Freed of Clarinda and   eight   grandchildren.   Mr Pollert is also survived by three brothers, Ray of Clarinda, Lee of Clarksdale, Mo, and Perry of Easton, Mo.

Carl Cummings officiated at the services with Miss Aletha Hutchings, organist   and   Nick Roberts, soloist. Casket bearers were Max Sunderman, Arnold Fastenau, Melvin Royer, Lyle Eden, Calvin Williams   and Harold Miers.

Burial   was   in   Rose   Hill Cemetery.

[McElroy, Willa Edens Fann]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Thursday    January 10, 1974

Mrs Willa McElroy services scheduled

Mrs Willa [Edens] McElroy, 91, died Wednesday morning [January 9, 1974] at the Clarinda Rest Home where she had been a resident for the past 4 1/2 years.

She was a resident of Mt Pleasant, and came to Clarinda and stayed with her son, Lyle Fann, for two years before going to the rest home.

Services will be at 1:30 pm Friday at Walker Funeral Home with Rev John Clark officiating. Norma Kramer will be organist. Burial will be in Memory Cemetery at New Market.

The family will meet friends at the funeral home from 7 to 8 pm this Thursday.

Mrs McElroy is survived by six children: Mrs Glenn (Alberta) Burrell of Hesperia, Cal, Mrs Sam (Alice) Woods of Downers Grove, Ill, Mrs Tom (Daisy) Mosely of Chicago, Ill, Ray Fann of Sun Valley, Cal, Joseph McElroy of Grinnell and James McElroy of Yuma, Ariz. There are 21 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two sons, Carl Fann and Lyle Fann.

Mrs McElroy was born Sept 28, 1882, in West Virginia. She was married to Alonzo Fann and later to Homer McElroy who died in 1961.

[Kelley, Wayne Eth]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Thursday    January 3, 1974

Clarinda burial for Wayne Kelley

Wayne E [th] Kelley, 66, died Dec 27 at The Dalles, Ore. In recent years he had made his home at Moro, Ore, and spent considerable time with relatives in this area.

He was born Sept 4, 1907, at Darlington, Mo, the son of George and Adrena Kelley. He had operated heavy equipment in earth moving projects. Mr Kelley was a former resident of the area.

He is survived by five children: Carl Kelley, state of Oregon; George Kelley, state of Kentucky; Jerry Kelley of Philadelphia, Pa; Dorothy Duncan of Las Vegas, Nev, and Lois Powell of Portland, Ore. Three sisters are, Mrs George Murry of Darlington, Mo, Mrs J R Pike of Omaha and Mrs Oren Slocum of Stanberry, Mo.

Services for Mr Kelley were held Monday morning at Walker Funeral Home with Rev John Clark officiating.  Grace Perry was   organist.   Casket   bearers were Lowell, Duane, Lee, Virgil and Burman Kelley, and Robert Drumman.  Burial was in   the Clarinda cemetery.

[Dunkin, Lynn]

Clarinda Herald Journal

Thursday    January 3, 1974

Lynn Duncan died after long illness

Lynn Duncan [Dunkin], 52, of near Nodaway died Saturday [December 29, 1973] at the Veterans Hospital at Omaha after an extended illness. Services were held Wednesday at Wolfe Funeral Home in Villisca.

He was born Aug 1, 1921, the son of Anna [Evelyn Linn] and Fred [Benjamin] Dunkin of Coin, and lived in and around this community all his life. His main interest was farming and he was a member of the Methodist Church. In 1942 he went into the armed services and was discharged in 1945.

He is survived by his wife, Charlotte, six daughters, Cheryl Dunkin of Temple Hills, Md, Mrs Barbara Wingard of Glenwood, Mrs Kathryn Clark, Mrs Joyce Blank, Mrs Jona Ward, of Villisca and Robin and John of the home.

His mother, Mrs Fred Dunkin, lives in Villisca and his father is in a nursing home in Shenandoah. A brother, Benjamin, lives in Fort Collins, Colo.