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Obituaries
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submitted by: Julia Johnson - juliajoh@usc.edu
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[Amanda
Barnes Robbins] At
the age of 16, she came with her mother and brother to Taylor County
and located on a farm two miles west of Sharpsburg. She
was married to Elmer L. [eroy] Robbins, Dec. 24, 1881. To them
four children were born: Mrs. Bertha Young, Clara Robbins, Floyd
Robbins, of Bedford, and Florence, who died at the age of six years. She
was the last survivor of her immediate family. Three sisters, Mrs. Mary Humphrey, Mrs. Sarah Benjamin,
Mrs. Rachel Greeley, and
one brother, John Barnes,
preceded her in death. Mr.
Robbins died Jan. 19, 1933. Mrs.
Robbins was a member of the Bedford Methodist Church. [James
P. Opdylke] Mr.
Opdylke was honored by The Times-Press during National Newspaper Week last October, as the subscriber of longest
standing. He had taken
The Times-Presscontinuously
for 69 years. He
is survived by a daughter, Mrs. James McCluskey [Jennie] of the home. Funeral
services and burial were in Billings. [Carrie
Stewart Weir] Carrie
Leota Stewart, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. John [William] Stewart [Elvira Larison], was born July 15, 1891, at Bedford, Iowa, and died
at the age of 64 years, seven months, 17 days.
She
was married to Clarence M. Weir
April 7, 1912, at Forest Grove church, Bedford. She
was a very active member of the First Baptist church of Cedar Falls,
serving as leader of World Wide Guild, organizing and acting as director
of the Baptist Student Center Iowa State Teachers College students,
having meetings in her own home until a Center was purchased by the
Iowa Baptist State Convention. She
was also active in the Women's Missionary Society, being a member of
the Dorcas Circle of that organization. Surviving
are her husband, Clarence M. Weir
of Cedar Falls; son Oren J. Weir
of Hoyt Lakes, Minn.; a sister, Mrs. Arthur Runft [Georgia] of Cedar Falls; a niece, Mrs. Richard Lattin and nephew, Arthur Runft, Jr., Cedar Falls. She was preceded in death by a sister, Mrs. Della Walker, and by her parents. [Mary
Alice Aiton Hall] On
February 15, "Aunt Mary" was taken to the Armstrong Rest Home,
where here niece, Mrs. Thelma Meikle,
could have direct care and supervision of her. Here she died Friday evening, March 2 at 5:40 oÕclock. Mary
Alice Aiton Hall was born
in Rio, Wisconsin on June 30, 1867 to William and Catherine Hook
Aiton. When
she was two years old, the Aiton family moved to Scots' Ridge, west
of Bedford. Here she grew
to womanhood, one of six daughters and two sons, born to the William
Aitons. The home, the school, the church were
formative elements in her life.
For many years, she was organist in the Morning Star Presbyterian
Church, where her father was an elder, and where the entire family attended. On
February 18, 1903, Mary Aiton was united in marriage with Kirk Hall, son of Judge Hall, who served many years as judge in Taylor County.
For several years, Kirk and Mary lived on the Aiton farm, after
the Aitons moved to Bedford. Later they, too, moved to Bedford and
affiliated with the Presbyterian Church here. Mr. Hall died December 30, 1949. Now only a brother, James Aiton, remains of the entire Aiton family, aside from
the younger generation of nephews and nieces, of whom "Aunt Mary",
as she was familiarly called by many besides her own, was very fond,
and they of her. Mrs.
Hall was active in her church up until two months ago, about Christmas
time, when failing health compelled her to remain at home, although
she kept in touch with her friends by phone up to within three weeks
of her death. Last
year "Aunt Mary" gave a lovely, sealskin bound Pulpit Bible
to her church, a memorial to her parents and her husband, which her
pastor used at her memorial service, and which regularly rests upon
the Church Lectern. [Benjamin
Christopher Fent] Funeral
services were held at the Wetmore Funeral Home in Bedford, Wednesday
afternoon, March 7, conducted by Rev. Fred H. Cowles. Burial [was] in Fairview cemetery. The Masonic burial service was given at the funeral. Benjamin
Christopher Fent, son
of William and Hattie Fent
was born at Hope, Missouri, March 19, 1904 and died at the age of 62
years, 11 months, 21 days. He
came to Taylor County when a young man, and was married to Miss Edith
E. Straight on August
4, 1917. To them one daughter was born. He
is survived by his wife, Edith;
the daughter, Mrs. Jean Houchbaum
and her husband of Arlington, Virginia; two brothers, John Fent and Lewis Fent of Chamois, Mo. Mr.
Fent had resided in Taylor County since his marriage, spending the past
18 years on his farm near Blockton.
He was a member of Bethany Masonic Lodge, No. 320, was a past
Master of the Lodge, and a member of Molla Shrine Temple at St. Joseph. [Ora
J. Hays] He
was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Clyde C. Hays, and one sister, Mrs. Ethyl Markee. Surviving
are two sisters, Mrs. Maggie E. Blake of San Jose, Calif.; and Mrs. Grace Balch of Athelstan; one brother, J. [oseph] A. Hays of Athelstan. Funeral
services were held at Community church in Athelstan, Thursday, June
27, conducted by Rev. Ward Campbell of Mount Ayr. Burial [was] in Athelstan cemetery. [Ella
Cunning McKinley Mouser] Mrs.
Mouser will be remembered here as Mrs. George S. McKinley and before her marriage as Ella Frances Cunning. She moved west from Bedford many years
ago. Mr. McKinley died
in 1920. Her second husband
also preceded her in death. She
is survived by two sons, Ralph E. McKinley and Harry T. McKinley,
both of San Diego, California.
Also by one sister, Mrs. Grace Harris of San Diego; one brother, William Cunning, of Clearfield; and by 13 grandchildren. Her
son Ralph accompanied the body here. |
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[Florence Simpson Thompson] Funeral services were held Saturday morning at Baxter
Springs and the body was brought to Bedford, where graveside services
were held Sunday afternoon at Graceland Cemetery. Born February 5, 1888, at Bedford, she had lived
in Baxter Springs 30 years. Surviving are her husband, Clark E. [dwin] Thompson
of Baxter Springs; two daughters, Mrs. Pauline Kennedy of Victoria, Texas, and Mrs.
Richard Sperberg
of Malvern, Ark.; one son, Eugene Thompson of Fort Eustis, Va.; three sisters, Mrs. Irene
Webster
of Fort Worth, Tex., Miss Ethel Simpson of Marshalltown, Iowa, Mrs. Helen Schiveley of Berkeley, Calif., and three
grandchildren. [Willis
Carl Ernest] Funeral services were held
at the Wetmore Funeral Home Tuesday afternoon, July 26, conducted by
Rev. Fred H. Cowles of the Baptist church.
Burial [was] in Fairview cemetery. Willis Carl Ernest was born at Bedford, Taylor County, Iowa, on Feb.
22, 1883, and died at the age of 72 years, five months, two days. He was a son of August and Hannah
[Ditch] Ernest and lived his entire
life in Taylor County. On December 15, 1912, he
was married to Georgia Dean Slauson
and to them one son was born. He is survived by his wife
Georgia; the son, Willis Dean; his daughter-in-law, Darline [Opal Hughes];
one granddaughter, Joyce Ann. Also by four brothers,
Frank Ernest of Denver, Colo.,
Fred Ernest of Conway,
Glen Ernest of Bedford, Herman Ernest of Clarinda; four sisters, Mrs. Rose Larison,
Mrs. Allie Brown, Mrs. Roy Spurgeon of Bedford, Mrs. Loula Reece of Denver, Colo. [Frederick
Ezra Ernest] Last rites were held at
the Wetmore Funeral Home Tuesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Howard
DeVore, pastor of the Conway Methodist church.
Burial [was] in Fairview Cemetery. Frederick Ezra Ernest, son of August and Hannah [Ditch] Ernest, was born in Taylor County, March 1, 1881, and passed
away at the age of 76 years, one month, seven days. On January 14, 1903, he
was married to Miss Edith Slauson,
who survives him. With the exception of 11
years, he spent his entire life in Taylor County. Fred was one of nine children, seven of whom survive him.
They are Mrs. Rose Larison, Mrs. Allie Brown, Mrs. Maude Spurgeon,
Mrs. Loula Reece, Glen Ernest of Bedford; Herman Ernest, Clarinda; Frank Ernest, Denver, Colorado. A brother, Will [is]
Ernest, passed away in July 1955. [Lori
Dawn Colyn] A committal service was held Feb. 8 at 1 o'clock
with Rev. Harry K. Zeller of the Church of the Brethren officiating. Interment [was] in McPherson cemetery. [Mary Jane John Keith] Funeral services were held at the Wetmore Funeral
Home Monday afternoon, Rev. Lowell Hall of the Blockton Christian Church
officiating. Burial [was]
in Fairview Cemetery. Mary Jane John, daughter of Christopher C. and Nancy [Ensminger] John, was born Jan. 23, 1870, in Ross
Township, Bedford, and died at the age of 87 years, 10 months. On Jan. 6, 1889, she was united in marriage to Silas
U. [sher] Keith. To them eight children were born, two
died in infancy, also two daughters preceded her in death, Mrs. Florence
Snyder
in 1950 and Mrs. Ruth Cheshire in 1955. Mr. Keith passed
away on August 29, 1919. Four children survive, Glade Keith, Mrs. Minnie
Jared
and Mrs. Clark Spencer
[Mildred Amanda]
of Bedford, Theron Keith of Cherokee, Iowa. There
are also grandchildren and great grandchildren; one brother, Walter
V. John
of Bedford. At
an early age she united with the Berea church, later transferring her
membership to the Bedford Christian Church. [Eugene Paul Simpson] Mr. Simpson died at Veterans Hospital in Omaha on
August 14 and funeral services were held the following Monday at the
Wetmore Funeral Home. Both
Masonic and military services were given at the funeral home. [Eugene
Paul Simpson] Funeral services were held at the Wetmore Funeral
Home, Monday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Fred H. Cowles. Masonic and military services were given
at the funeral home. Interment
was in Graceland cemetery following cremation. Eugene Paul Simpson, son of E. [ugene] H. [arlan] and Alice [Salen] Simpson, was born in Taylor County, Iowa,
Sept. 14, 1892, and died at the age of 61 years, 11 months. On Dec. 25, 1919, he was married to Hilda Dowlin
of Bedford, Iowa. To them,
two children were born. He is survived by his wife; one daughter, Mrs.
Patricia Holland
and four grandchildren, Kathryn, Michael, Robert Eugene and Paul Tarrence Holland of Charleston, S. C.; four sisters,
Miss Ethel Simpson of Marshalltown, Iowa, Mrs. Clark Thompson [Florence] of Baxter Springs, Kansas, Mrs.
Roy Webster
[Alpha Irene]
of Fort Worth, Texas, Mrs. Robert Schiveley [Helen Leone] of Berkeley, California. He was preceded in death by his parents and by one
son, Eugene Allen,
who died in infancy. When a young man he joined the Gilead Methodist Church. Mr. Simpson was a Past Master of Taylor Lodge, No.
156, A. F. & A. M., and a Past Patron of Bedford chapter, No. 228,
Order of the Eastern Star, of Bedford.
He was also a member of Triangle chapter, No. 68, Royal Arch
Masons; of the Scottish Rite Bodies, Des Moines Consistory; of Za-Ga-Zig
Shrine Temple in Des Moines, and of Bedford Post, American Legion. He had been in the employ of the State of Iowa since
1948. [Ruth
Stanley Keith Cheshire] On June 21, 1939, she was married to Dr. John
B. Cheshire
of Maryville. She leaves to mourn her passing, her husband, her
mother, two sisters and two brothers, Mrs. Clark Spencer [Mildred
Amanda], Mrs. Minnie Jared, Glade Keith of Bedford and Theron Keith of Cherokee, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her father on August
29, 1919 and by one sister, Mrs. Florence Snyder on April 2, 1950. She
was a member of the Methodist church and a Past Matron of Rosanna Chapter,
Order of the Eastern Star, at Maryville. [Guy
Thompson] Guy Thompson, son of James Monroe and Martha Hedrick Thompson, born in Bedford, April 19, 1872,
died near his daughter Helen, Mrs. B.[en] H. Jostes, in a Chicago hospital June 5,
1956, after several months illness.
Except for a few short ventures out of the city, Guy spent his
entire life in Bedford. Reared
of Presbyterian parents, on February 19, 1886, when less than 14 years
of age, he united with the Presbyterian Church and remained a member
more than seventy years. Here
he served as an elder, financial secretary of the church for many years,
a long-time member of the choir and for some years director of the choir. Possessed with a good voice and friendly disposition, he was
called upon many, many times to sing at funerals and other special occasions. Guy graduated from the Bedford High School with the
class of 1889. After this
he spent a short time in business with his brother-in-law, James
H. Dickey at Storm Lake. In 1898 he returned to Bedford and started
working for the Thompson Mercantile Co. In September 1901, he married Myrtle Ann Parker, and the young couple went to Oklahoma
and set up business at Geary with another brother-in-law, Harry Guthrie. In 1902, daughter Helen, now Mrs. Dr. B. [en] H. Jostes,
was born. Soon Guy moved
to St. Joseph, Mo., where he entered business again. But [in] 1908 he moved to Bedford and again joined the Thompson
Mercantile Co., where he remained until his retirement in 1953. Guy is further placed in the city as the brother
of Ralph Thompson
and Mrs. Mary Richardson, who survive. Dr. and
Mrs. Jostes have three children, Mrs. W. [illiam] L. Chadima [Judy] of Cedar Rapids, Thomas William
and Jean Ann Jostes. Mrs. Chadima has three small children:
Christine, Barbara
and William. Mrs. Guy Thompson died April 23, 1954. "Dependable service for 87 years", means
Thompsons. The present
owners have a great heritage, which they know and appreciate. They do not cater to flash sensations or trick advertising,
but depend upon that for which Thompsons have always been noted----dependable
merchandise, fairly priced, honest and courteous treatment. As was written 30 years ago of James Monroe Thompson, Guy's father, "His has been a life, the usefulness of which ends not with earth. Its influence will be felt long after his body has turned back to earth." ---so can it be said of Guy. He too ran a good race, fought a good fight, finished the course, kept the faith. |