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Obituaries
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submitted by: Julia Johnson - juliajoh@usc.edu
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Bedford Times-Press Thursday March 31, 1983 p. 4 Morton Koser, 75 Last Rites Held in Iowa City Funeral services for Morton Koser, 75, a former University of Iowa basketball and baseball player and a long-time city councilman in North Liberty, Iowa, were held March 28 in George L. Gay Funeral Home in Iowa City officiated by Rev. Hal Green, United Methodist Church, Des Moines, and Rev. Charles Kellog, United Methodist Church, North Liberty. Mr. Koser died March 25 in University Hospital, Iowa City, Ia. Interment was at Oak Hill Cemetery, Coralville, Iowa.His wife, Ruth, is the former Ruth Meikle, a Bedford native and daughter of Roy and Madge Meikle, long-time Bedford residents. Mr. Koser was a 1932 graduate of [the] University of Iowa where he lettered in baseball and basketball. He coached baseball and track and taught industrial arts and government in Erie (Ill.) Community High School. He returned to North Liberty, Ia., in 1950 where he owned the Koser Grocery until he retired in 1974. He was a member of the United Methodist Church, North Liberty, Iowa City Masonic Lodge IV, AF and AM, Yorkrite, 32 degree, Kaaba Shrine in Davenport, Delta Upsilon Fraternity, Optimist International, University of Iowa Letterman's Club, University of Iowa Alumni Association, Johnson County I Club and for 25 years served as North Liberty councilman and city treasurer. He was a member of the Volunteer Fire Department and the Johnson County Planning and Zoning Commission. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Ruth; two sons: Robert of Lacey, Wash., and Stephen of North Liberty; a daughter, Karen, of Detroit, Michigan; four grandchildren: Robert Morton Koser, Lacey, Wash., Stephanie Ruth Freeman, Detroit, Keri Lynn Koser, North Liberty and Kort Allen Koser, North Liberty; one brother and two sisters.
Bedford Times-Press Thursday December 8, 1983 [p.] 8 Claude Thompson Last Rites Were Held In Bedford Funeral services for Claude Howard Thompson, 74, of Bedford, will be held at 10 a.m., Thurs., Dec. 8, in Shum-Novinger Funeral Home in Bedford, conducted by Robert Richardson. Mr. Thompson died in his Bedford home December 5. Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery, Bedford.
Bedford Times-Press Thursday December 15, 1983 [p.] 4 Claude Thompson Final Rites Were Held in Bedford Funeral services for Claude Howard Thompson, 74, of Bedford, held December 8 in Shum-Novinger Funeral Home, were officiated by Rev. Carl Cummings. Mr. Thompson died December 5, 1983, in his Bedford home. Interment was at Fairview Cemetery, Bedford. Claude Howard Thompson was born June 14, 1909, to Elmer and Belle Wells Thompson on a farm near Bedford and lived in Taylor County all his life. He attended Bedford High School after completing his grade schooling in the country. He was united in marriage on December 17, 1930, at Osceola, Iowa, to Margaret Elfie Duncan of Bedford. Two sons were born to bless their home, Richard of Dublin, Ca., and Robert of Davenport, Ia. They lived most of their married life on a farm [in] and around Bedford. He was employed by Bedford Oil Co. and the Blockton Oil Co. and drove a school bus for 14 years, combining the three jobs until retirement at 65. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Ronald, and Doyle, and one sister, Opal. He is survived by his wife, Elfie of the home: sons: Richard and wife, Mary [Lee Williams], Robert and wife, Mary [Lee Herring]; five grandchildren: Michael, Linda, Teresa, Kathryn and Cheryl; six great grandchildren; one brother, Paul Thompson of Bedford; sisters: Aileen Rosenthal of St. Joseph, Mo., Naomi Thomas of Bedford and Wilma Thomas of Bedford; nieces; nephews; as well as a host of friends and other relatives.
Bedford Times-Press Thursday March 8, 1984 [p.] 4 Graveside Service for Howard Dale Newkirk Was Held in Bedford Funeral services for Howard Dale Newkirk, 67, of Hamburg, Ia., were held the morning of March 2 in Rath Funeral Home in Hamburg conducted by Rev. Charles C. Kirtley followed by graveside services in Fairview Cemetery in Bedford, Ia., with Rev. Carl Cummings officiating. Mr. Newkirk died February 29, 1984, in Grape Community Hospital in Hamburg, Ia.Howard Dale Newkirk was born to Roy and Flossie [Thompson] Newkirk in Taylor County, Iowa, on February 9, 1917. He grew up in Taylor County and attended school there. He farmed in Taylor County until 1964 when his health forced him to leave his farming occupation. Howard was united in marriage to Inez Scroggie on May 11, 1946, at Troy, Kansas. To this union one stillborn daughter, Sharon Kay, was born. His parents and daughter, Sharon Kay, preceded him in death. Mr. Newkirk is survived by his wife Inez, one sister, Ethel Mae Hanshaw of Bedford, Iowa, and two brothers, Dwight of Shenandoah, Iowa, and Don of Branson, Missouri; nieces, nephews, and a host of relatives and friends. Bedford Times-Press Thursday March 10, 1983 Final Rites Held In Bedford For Cora Thompson, 94 Funeral services for Mrs. Elbert Troy (Cora Ellen) Thompson, 94, of Bedford, held March 5 in Shum-Novinger Funeral Home here, were officiated by Rev. Carl Cummings. Mrs. Thompson died March 3 in Bethesda Care Center, Clarinda, Iowa. Interment was at Fairview Cemetery, Bedford, Iowa.Cora Ellen Parks Thompson, daughter of John [sic] [Jonathan] David [sic] [Davis] Parks and Rachael Carmichael Parks, was born May 13, 1888 at Eustis, [Frontier County] Nebr. At the age of six years she moved with her parents to Taylor County Iowa and they settled in the Conway area. With the exception of one year in Washington State she had lived the majority of her life near and in Bedford. She moved to Bethesda Care Center in November 1976 when she was no longer able to care for herself. On December 24, 1907 she was united in marriage to Elbert Troy Thompson and they were privileged to spend almost 53 years together. To this union three daughters were born: Hazel Marley, deceased; Gladys Van Camp of Bedford, Iowa and Dorothy Keith of Clarinda, Iowa. After her marriage she became a member of the Berea Church of Christ where she has remained a faithful member and attended as long as health permitted. She was preceded in death by her husband; four brothers; daughter Hazel; son-in-law, Glenn Van Camp; granddaughter, Jana Lynn Keith, and granddaughter-in-law, Caye Keith. She is survived by two daughters: Gladys Van Camp and Dorothy and her husband, James Keith; son-in-law Carl Marley; four grandchildren; Robert and his wife, Pat Marley, of Creston, Iowa; Lois and her husband, Bill Coulter, of Lexington, Mo.; Kenneth Keith of Sioux City, Iowa and Joyce and her husband, Eldon Smith, of Englewood, Colo.; eight great grandchildren: Richard and Steven Marley, Michael and Timothy Coulter, Lisa and Braden Keith, Erik and Stephanie Smith, two great great grandchildren: Barbara and Beau Michael Marley; other relatives and friends. She was a loving wife and mother and a kind and considerate person to all who knew her, and she will be sadly missed by her loved ones and friends. Bedford Times-Press Thursday November 10, 1983 [p.] 4 Ralph T. Smalley, 64, Services Were Held In Bedford Funeral services for Ralph Theodore Smalley, Jr., 64, of Leon, Taylor County native, held October 15 in Shum-Novinger Funeral Home in Bedford, were officiated by Rev. Carl Cummings. Mr. Smalley died October 12, 1983 in Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, Ia. Bedford American Legion Post 164 conducted military honors at Fairview Cemetery, Bedford.Ralph Theodore Smalley, Jr., son of Ralph W. Smalley and Leona Weir Smalley, was born January 27, 1919 in rural Taylor County near Bedford, Iowa. He grew to maturity in the local community where he attended the public school and was graduated from Bedford High School in 1937. On March 20, 1947 he was united in marriage to Myrtle Christine Alexander in Wathena, Kansas, and they lived on a farm in the Bedford area before moving to Clarinda, Iowa where he was a mechanic for Opitz Motor Co. until 1966 when he moved to Leon, Iowa and was employed as a mechanic for the McGahuey Implement Company until ill health caused him to retire November 1, 1982. Two children were born to this union: Robert Thomas and Christine Ann.He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, two children, Robert and Christine Ann and a sister Ruth Whitney. He is survived by brothers and sisters: Nelson Smalley of Phoenix, Az.; Laurel Smalley of Geneva, Illinois; Bethel Adams of Lakewood, Calif.; Jean T. Smalley of Medford, Ore.; Mary Lou Wood of Ouray, Colorado; Patricia Jackson of Walnut, Calif.; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He served his country during World War II, serving in the United States Air Corps in the European Theatre from June 12, 1942 until November 1, 1945. He was a member of the Baptist Church for over 50 years. His last illness was known as the Lou Gehrig disease or A.I.S. Ralph will be remembered as a kind and considerate loved one and friend. |