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

[Ruby, Ralph]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday   May 20, 1971    p. 6

Ralph Ruby Rites Held In Diagonal

Funeral services for Ralph Ruby, 72, were held May 14 at the Diagonal United Methodist Church with Rev. Russell Schmitz officiating.  Mr. Ruby died May 12 at the Clearview Home in Clearfield.

He is survived by a son, Doyle, of Diagonal; a daughter, Mrs. Mervin Blunt of Indianola and a sister, Mrs. Rosie Short, of Wenatchee, Wash.

 [Utter, Melvin A.]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    May 5, 1966   p. 4

Melvin A. Utter Dies In Michigan

Funeral services for Melvin A. Utter, 67, of Dansville, Mich., were held April 23 at the Free Methodist Church in Dansville, with Rev. G. Robert Sawyer officiating.  Mr. Utter died April 21, 1966 at Mason General Hospital in Dansville.  He had been hospitalized for seven weeks but had been ill for about seven years.  Interment was at Fairview Cemetery, Dansville.

Born in Gravity, April 7, 1899, he was the son of Thomas [Morgan] Utter and Carrie Rogers Utter.

Mr. Utter spent most of his working life as a road construction worker operating a power grader.  He was a member of the Union of Operating Engineers Local 423-B, joining the union in 1937.

Surviving are his wife, Bernice C.; three daughters, Mrs. Patricia Starr of Mason, Mrs. Melva Harrison of Mason; one son, Melvin Gene of Lansing; 11 grandchildren; three sisters and a brother, Mrs. Verla Moore of Gravity, Mrs. Pauline Clemens of Holt, Mrs. Osie Briggs of Michigan Center and Wayne Utter of Holt; several nieces and nephews.

[Kingsley, Samuel John]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    May 5, 1966    p. 4

S. J. Kingsley Dies May 2

S. [amuel] J. [ohn] Kingsley of Grinnell, formerly of Bedford, died May 2 at a Grinnell hospital.  Services will be held Friday, May 6, at the Grinnell Baptist Church and burial will be there.

Mr. Kingsley is survived by his wife, Nelle; one son and three daughters; a brother, Dave Kingsley of Bedford, of Bedford; sister-in-law, Mrs. Don Jones of Bedford.

[Kingsley, Samuel John]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    May 19, 1966   p. 7

S. J. Kingsley Rites May 6

Funeral services for Samuel John Kingsley, 87, of Grinnell, formerly of Bedford, were held May 6 at the First Baptist Church in Grinnell conducted by Rev. Wayne Shireman and Rev. Carl E. Kingsley of Valley Forge, Pa.  Mr. Kingsley died May 2 at a Grinnell hospital.  Interment was at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell.

He was the son of Frederick William and Mary Ann Beatty Kingsley and was born at Cascade, Iowa, on July 21, 1878.  He attended the public schools near the family home and later attended Wisconsin State Agriculture College.

On Oct. 28, 1908, he was married to Nellie Goudie at Bedford.  To this union were born six children, five of whom survive:  the Rev. Carl Edwin Kingsley of Valley Forge, Pa.; Miss Mary Emma Kingsley of the home; Mrs. Everett (Mildred) Ilk of Denver, Colo.; Mrs. James (Nellie) McPherson of Moab, Utah; and Mrs. Monte (Pearl), Payne of Westport, Wash.

In 1927 Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley moved to Colorado, in 1943 to the west coast and in 1952 to Grinnell.

Mr. Kingsley was a member of the Farm Bureau and had been a member of the Bedford school board for some time.  He was a lifelong member of the Baptist Church and has served in many capacities as a lay leader.

Preceding him in death were his father, mother, infant daughter, Ruth, and a sister, Alice Kingsley.

He is survived by this wife; five children, five grandchildren; a great grandson; a brother, David J. [ames] Kingsley of Bedford; and several cousins.

Attending the services were Mr. and Mrs. D. [avid] J. [ames] Kingsley, Mr. and Mrs. George Goudie and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Jones, Bedford; Mrs. Doris Morrison, Corning; Shirley Goudie and Mrs. Elsie Herriott of Des Moines; Pat Goudie of Pocahontas; Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Wintermute of Guildford, Mo.; and Alan Jones of Cedar Rapids.

[Kingsley, Ethel Ovinda Trumbo]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    November 26, 1970    p. 5

Mrs. Kingsley Rites Held Here November 23

Funeral services for Mrs. David (Ethel) Kingsley, 75, of Bedford, were held November 23 at the Bedford Baptist Church with Rev. Ollie Odle officiating.  Mrs. Kingsley died November 18.  Interment was at Fairview Cemetery.

[Kingsley, Ethel Ovinda Trumbo]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    December 3, 1970    p. 3

Mrs. Kingsley Rites Nov. 23

Funeral services for Mrs. David (Ethel) Kingsley, 75, of Bedford, held November 23 at the Bedford Baptist Church, were conducted by Rev. Ollie Odle.  Mrs. Kingsley died November 18 at Rosary Hospital, Corning.  Interment was at Fairview Cemetery, Bedford.

Ethel Ovinda Kingsley, only daughter of George and Flora Trumbo, was born on a farm near Greenview, Ill., on December 10, 1894.

Ethel's family moved to Iowa when she was a small child and she lived near Bedford all her life except for the past one and one-half years when she enjoyed her little home in Corning.

On December 28, 1915 she was united in marriage to David James Kingsley and to this union two daughters were born.

Dave and Ethel observed their 50th wedding anniversary in 1965.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dave, her parents and one granddaughter.

Ethel is survived by her two daughters, Doris Morrison, and husband, Cecil, of Corning, Iowa; Dorothy Reed, and husband, Ernest, of Hazelton, Idaho; six grandchildren; eight great grandchildren, all of whom she prided with joy; other relatives and friends.

Ethel was a member of the First Baptist Church, Bedford for 61 years.  She loved her church and she was happy when she could be of service to it.  She attended faithfully and supported the church in many ways.

Ethel was a wonderful mother, grandmother and friend.  We shall always cherish the memory of her wonderful Christian example.  She shall be sadly missed by her family and friends.

[Kingsley, David James]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    August 1, 1968    p. 2

David Kingsley Rites July 28

Funeral services for David James Kingsley, 86, long time Taylor County resident, held July 28 at the Bedford Baptist Church, were conducted by Rev. Ollie Odle.  Mr. Kingsley died July 22 at a nursing home in Clarinda.  Interment was at Fairview Cemetery, Bedford.

David James Kingsley, son of Frederick [William] and Mary [Ann Beatty] Kingsley, was born at Cascade, Iowa on November 21, 1881.  He spent his boyhood in Cascade, moving to Sharpsburg, Iowa with his parents as a young man in 1907.  In 1908 they moved to Bedford and he lived the remainder of his life on the same farm.

On December 28, 1915 he was united in marriage to Ethel Ovinda [Trumbo] Kingsley.  They spent their entire happy married life of 50 years on the same farm 2 ½ miles east of Bedford, and to their union two daughters were born.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, one sister and one granddaughter.

He is survived by his wife, Ethel; two daughters, Doris Morrison and husband, Cecil of Corning, Iowa and Dorothy Reed and husband Ernest of Hazelton, Idaho; five grandchildren; six great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

Dave has always been very proud of his grandchildren and his great grandchildren.

Dave was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bedford for 60 years, and during that time had several church offices, including 24 years as deacon.  He loved the church and he was happy when he could be of service to it.  He and his wife attended faithfully and supported the church in many ways.

Dave was always generous and never expected anything in return.  He was a kind, loving husband and father and will be sadly missed by his family and friends.

[Utter, Thomas Morgan]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    October 14, 1954

Thomas Morgan Utter

Thomas Morgan Utter, son of Joseph Alexander and Catherine Henry Utter, was born May 12, 1874, in Morrow County, Ohio, and died Sept. 27, 1954, after a short illness, at his home in Gravity.

He was one of a family of five children.   When eight years old he came to Iowa with his parents.  He lived the remainder of his life in Iowa, except for eight years spent in Michigan.

On Sept. 23, 1896, he was united in marriage to Carrie Marie Rogers at Gravity.  This union was blessed with seven children, four boys and three girls.  He was preceded in death by one brother, Arthur, one half-brother, Clarence, a son, Gail, in 1932, a grandson, Robert Moore, in 1944.

Those left to mourn his passing are his faithful companion, Carrie, three sons, Melvin of Dansville, Mich., Harold of Plymouth, Mich., Wayne of Holt, Mich.; three daughters, Mrs. Verla Moore, Gravity, Mrs. Pauline Gibson, Holt, Mich., Mrs. Osie Briggs, Michigan Center, Mich.; thirteen grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Rosa Steel, Kansas City, Mo.; a half-brother, Alex, Cairo, Mich.; several nieces and nephews.

He has been a member of the Christian church of Gravity many years and also a member of the IOOF and Rebekah Lodge of Gravity.

He and Mrs. Utter celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary quietly at their home Thursday, September 23.

Funeral services were conducted from the Christian church in Gravity Sept. 30, by Mr. Clyde Kelly, pastor of the Christian church, Gravity, Iowa.  Music was by Mrs. Vera Gold and Mrs. Ina Borden, with Mrs. Claude Gray, accompanist.  Pallbearers were W. O. Fulton, Claude Gray, Charles Grayson, W. L. Brown, Clarence Grayson and Paul Greeley.  Burial was in Washington cemetery at Gravity.

[Dukes, Fred Lee]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    May 19, 1966    p. 7

Last Rites Held Here For Fred Lee Dukes

Funeral services for Fred Lee Dukes, 78, long time resident of Sheridan, Mo., held May 13 at Shum-Novinger Funeral Home on State Street, were conducted by Carl Cummings.  Mr. Dukes died May 10 at Thogmartin Care and Keep Home in Bedford.  Interment was at Hopkins Cemetery, Hopkins, Mo.

Included in the services was the following obituary:

Fred Lee Dukes, son of Joseph [Allen] and Candacy [Long] Dukes, was born Nov. 12, 1887 in Nodaway County, Mo.

He was united in marriage to [Olive] Myrtle Auten, Dec. 19, 1909 and to this union were born four sons and three daughters, who are Mrs. Rachel Cox, Mrs. Clara Holker and Fay of Bedford; Mrs. Eva Fine and Rex of Hopkins; Denzel of St. Joseph; and Cleo of Rockport, Mo.

He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, one sister, one brother and one grandchild.

Survivors, besides his children, are two sisters, Mrs. Cordelia Toops, Bedford, Mrs. Pearl Bainum, Maryville, and a brother, George, of Sheridan; 16 grandchildren, three step-grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

He was a kind and loving father and grandfather, and will be sadly missed by the family.

[Vanskyock, Georgianna Freemyer]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    May 19, 1966    p. 7

Mrs. Vanskyock Rites May 9

Funeral services for Mrs. Jonathan (Georgianna) Vanskyock, 81, long-time Sheridan, Mo. resident, were held May 9 at the Isadora Church of Christ, conducted by Rev. James Morrow.  Mrs. Vanskyock died May 7, 1966 at her home near Sheridan.  Interment was as the Athelstan Cemetery.

Georgianna Freemyer, the daughter of Joshua and Senora Foland Freemyer, was born Nov. 23, 1884, in Taylor County, Iowa, near Athelstan.

She spent her girlhood years in the vicinity where she was born.

She was married to Jonathan Vanskyock Jan. 7, 1903, who preceded her in death.  To this union six children were born:  Mrs. Beatrice Adams, Sheridan, Mo.; Leslie W. Vanskyock, Sheridan, Mo.; Wesley R. Vanskyock, Ravenwood, Mo.; Mrs. Audrey Schneider, Blockton; Mrs. Edna Hartley, Vinton, Iowa; and a son, Doyle Victor, who also preceded her in death.

She has eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

She confessed her faith in Christ at an early age and became a member of a Baptist Church.  In later years she transferred her membership to the Church of Christ, Isadora, Mo., and enjoyed services when she could.

She was the last member in a family of 10 children.

She was a great lover of home and enjoyed various types of handwork and spent many happy hours with her flowers.

She is survived by the above mentioned children and grandchildren; one brother-in-law; one sister-in-law; nieces; nephews, and a host of friends.

[Lucas, Maude Estelle Flick]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    May 19, 1966    p. 7

Final Rites in Oelwein For Maude E. Lucas

Mrs. Maude E. [stelle] Lucas died in Chicago on May 5, 1966 with interment in Woodlawn Cemetery at Oelwein, Iowa, on May 7, 1966.

She was the daughter of James P. [atton] Flick and Amanda King Flick and was born in Bedford on March 10, 1872.  She was married on June 4, 1895 to Ray V. Lucas of Bedford.

She is survived by her son, James A. Lucas, of Bedford, attorney; her daughter, Lucile Hottenroth, of Chicago; an adopted daughter, Lucile Harvey, daughter of her deceased daughter, Cora Lucas Hess of Lake City, Florida, who was raised by her in her home; granddaughters, Jeannette Lucas Mishler of Des Moines and Kathleen Lucas Muir of Ames; and eight great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray V. Lucas, former newspaperman in Bedford and Oelwein, and her daughter, Cora Hess, who are buried at Oelwein.

She received her education in the Bedford schools and was a 50-year member of P. E. O. and attended the Methodist Church.

Her alertness of mind, stalwart character and her interest in current affairs were retained by her to the end and were an inspiration to her children and all of those who knew her and endeared her to all of her friends and acquaintances.

[Flick, James Patton]

Times-Republican

Thursday    February 28, 1929    p. 1, 5

Hon. J. P. Flick, Veteran Lawyer, Died Monday

Military Burial Was Held Here This Afternoon

83 Years Of Age

Was Well Known and Highly Honored Citizen of The State

Hon. J. P. Flick, one of our highly honored and respected citizens, passed away at his home in Bedford Monday morning Feb. 25th.

Mr. Flick was well known throughout Taylor County and this part of the state, having been a resident of the county since 1856.  During his active life he was one of the best attorneys in this part of the state and a public speaker of much merit.  He was active in politics and a leader in his profession of lawyer.  He held many offices of trust and served the public faithfully and well in these several capacities.  He was a leader in all public matters pertaining to the city and county and a booster for all things worthwhile.  His place will be hard to fill and his many friends will regret the passing of one of our best citizens.

Funeral services were held at the Methodist church at 2:30 this Thursday afternoon, conducted by Rev. M. R. Talley.  Burial services were held at the local cemetery.  The firing squad from the local American Legion Post fired a salute over the grave of Comrade Flick, and "taps" was sounded by John Swap.

The obituary follows:

James Patton Flick

James Patton Flick, the oldest of six children born to Mr. John Flick and Margaret Patton Flick, was born in Bakerstown, Penn., Aug 28, 1845, and died at his home in Bedford, Iowa, Monday morning, Feb. 25, 1929 at eight oÕclock a. m. from infirmities due to his age.  He was 83 years, 5 months and 26 days of age at the time of his death.

The deceased came with his parents to Iowa in 1852, locating in Wapello County, and 4 years later they moved to Taylor County, locating on a farm near Platteville. Passing through the hardships of pioneer life, he helped to blaze the trail for the settlers to follow.  It was no unusual thing for him in his early years to go out and help his father secure the meat for the family from the prairie surroundings.  But as he was nearing his majority he heard the call of Abraham Lincoln for volunteers to help to preserve the Union, and though but a boy of 16 he wended his way to the little town of Quincy, over in Adams County, Iowa, and there enlisted in Co. K, 4th Iowa Infantry.  He served with his company and regiment until mustered out at Atlanta, Georgia, in 1864.

On October 31, 1865, he was united in marriage to Amanda King, and to this union six children were born, five of whom survive.  The children were: Florence, now Mrs. Wilday of Long Beach, Calif.; Cora, now Mrs. Cora Beall of Bedford, Iowa; Maude, now Mrs. Ray Lucas of Oelwein, Iowa; Donald C.[ameron] Flick, who was a Spanish war veteran, and died shortly after his return from the Philippines, on March 23, 1903; and Bruce J. [ames] Flick, practicing law in Des Moines.

Mrs. Flick died April 10, 1882.  While serving in congress, Mr. Flick was again united marriage to Mary A. Griffin, in Washington, D. C., and she has been a most loving and helpful companion ever since. Administering to his every want in later life, there was no sacrifice too great for her, and it has been through her kind and efficient offices that the last days of the deceased were made more comfortable.

On his return from the war Mr. Flick was elected county recorder, which position he filled with his usual ability and integrity.  He was later elected as a member of the legislature, serving in the 17th General Assembly with credit to himself and his constituents.  He was then elected district attorney for this judicial district, and was serving his sixth year in this position when the law was changed to the county attorney plan, thus abolishing the position in which he had so ably served.  Then the people of the eighth district elected him to serve them in congress for two terms, serving in the 51st and 52nd congress.

Retiring voluntarily from congress at the completion of his term he returned to his profession of law in Bedford, and has been actively engaged in it ever since.  Not only has he been the dean of the Taylor County bar, but perhaps the dean of the bar of southwest Iowa.  There are few lawyers in Taylor County who have not at some time gone to him for counsel and advice, and this was always forthcoming.  They knew that whatever he gave them was the result of mature and careful thought and it was considered absolutely sound.  Honest and straight forward to a fault, he was a man of large heart, and no worthy appeal was ever made to him in vain.  His word was as a bond, and he despised hypocrisy and sham.  The good deeds he has performed in this community will never be known in entirety, for his was not of the kind which made ostentation any part of it.  But many a poor and worthy person treasures in their mind the good deeds he has strewn as roses along their pathway of life.  The History of Taylor County says of him: "Faultless in honor, fearless in conduct and stainless in reputation, his record in public and private life is alike above reproach, commending him to the confidence, respect and honor of all with whom he came in contact."  He was truly one of nature's noblemen and there is no doubt that his demise has left one of the keenest felt losses of any citizen of this locality that has occurred in years.

Mr. Flick was a member of Taylor Lodge A. F. & A. M., Triangle Chapter No. 68 and Creston Commandery, No. 29, Knights Templar.

[Flick, Bruce James]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    December 13, 1945    [p. 1]

Bruce J. Flick Dies In Des Moines

Bruce J. [ames] Flick, prominent Des Moines attorney, died at his home in Des Moines Tuesday night.  He is survived by his wife, two daughters, Margaret and Frances, and by one son, Robert.

Funeral services are pending word from the daughters, both of whom reside in New York.  There will be short services at the Dunn Funeral home in Des Moines, after which the body will be brought to Bedford for services and burial.

[Flick, Bruce James]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    December 20, 1945    p. 10

Bruce J. Flick

Bruce James Flick, a member of one of Taylor County's pioneer families, was born in Bedford on July 16, 1879, the son of James Patton Flick and Amanda King Flick.  He grew to manhood in Bedford where he attended the local school and received his higher education at Iowa University and the Drake Law School.  He began law practice in partnership with his father in Bedford, where he carried on his profession until 1921.

On June 3, 1907 he married Alice Dunning of Bedford, and their home was here until in 1921, when Mr. Flick went to Des Moines as assistant to the attorney general of Iowa.  In 1924 he became a member of the firm of Havner, Flick, and Powers, in which association he continued until 1937, when he entered the legal department of the City of Des Moines.

His death on December 11, 1945, came after a long illness.  He is survived by his wife, two daughters, Mrs. Robert Sands Clark [Margaret] of Flushing, New York, and Miss Frances Flick of Syracuse, New York, one son, Robert Flick of Des Moines; a granddaughter, Charlotte Clark; and four sisters, Mrs. Orville Wilday [Florence] of Long Beach, California, Mrs. R. [ay] V. Lucas [Maude] and Miss Nelle Flick of Oelwein, Iowa, and Mrs. Cora Beall of San Pablo, California.  His only brother, Donald Flick, died in Bedford in 1903.

Mr. Flick was a life long member of the Methodist church, and until his illness, was very active in Grace Methodist church in Des Moines, on whose official board he served for many years.  Other organizations of which he was a member were the Iowa State Bar Association, the Polk County Bar Association, Delta Theta Phi legal fraternity, and Taylor Lodge of the Masonic order.  Although he lived away from Bedford for many years, Mr. Flick kept up his Bedford friendships and business associations.

[Beall, Cora May Flick]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    September 20, 1962

Final Rites For Cora M. Beall Held Here Tues.

Funeral services for Mrs. Cora M. Beall were held at the Shum-Novinger Funeral Home, Madison Street, at 2:00 p.m. last Tuesday with Rev. J. Milton Kinney officiating.  Interment was at the family lot in Bedford cemetery.

Cora M. [ay] Beall was born at Bedford on Feb. 1, 1870, and passed away in San Jose, Calif., on Sept. 13, 1962, the daughter of James P. [atton] Flick and Amanda King Flick.

She was united in marriage to Charles B. Beall who for many years was engaged in business in Bedford and who predeceased her in 1921.  To this union were born two daughters, Maude Beall and Beatrice Johnson of San Jose, Calif., and a son, Frank, who died in infancy.

She was one of six children, all of whom have predeceased her except a sister, Maude E. [stelle] Lucas of Chicago, Ill., who survives.  She attended public schools in Bedford and for 17 years served as librarian for the City Library.

She was a member of the Methodist Church of Bedford and the P. E. O. Sisterhood.  She received her [word missing] year pin recently.