Whitford, Lovira Sylvia (Sanborn) 1867 - 1955

WHITFORD, SANBORN, CRAIG, HUMPHRY, SPRAGUE, APPELMAN

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 12/29/2024 at 00:03:00

Clayton County Register, 02 June 1955.

Lovira Sylvia (Sanborn) Whitford was born at Lime Springs, Iowa, on Dec. 15, 1867, and died May 27, 1955, at the age of 87 years, 5 months and 12 days. She was one of eleven children born to Lucius and Mary Jane Sanborn. She received her education in the rural schools of Howard county and came to Volga in her teens to make her home with Dr. and Mrs. J. H. Craig, Mrs. Craig being her eldest sister. It was here that she met and married Henry Whitford with whom she lived for fifty-five years and five months, their marriage taking place Jan. 11, 1888, at the Craig home, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. J. G. Whitford.

To this union were born seven children, four boys and three girls, the eldest of the sons dying at birth. The first born, Eva (Mrs. Clinton Humphry) and the second son, Guy, live at West Union. The others are Lura (Mrs. John Sprague), Fredericksburg; James of Volga; Henry Eugene, Volga; and Marjorie (Mrs. Lucian Appelman), Clermont.

Mrs. Whitford joined the Methodist church at an early age and she was at one time a teacher in the Sunday school. She was a member of the Aid society and in the Woman's Society of Christian Service. In May, she was one of the honored guests at a special service and luncheon for those in her church who had been married for fifty years and over, and she was honored also for being the eldest mother present at the Mother and Daughter banquet in this same month.

Mrs. Whitford was preceded in death by her husband, who died August 18, 1943, and survivors include the six of her children above named, thirteen grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted in the Methodist church in Volga, Sunday, May 29, at 2:00 p.m. with the pastor, the Rev. Frank C. Greene, officiating. The singers were Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Kohls of Strawberry Point, and the accompanist was Leo H. Grether of Elgin, all former active members of the Volga Methodist church and held in esteem by Mrs. Whitford.

Pallbearers were Ervin Baumgartner, Allen F. Robinson, Arthur Staack, Walter Roys, Glen Moats and Cecil Duff. Flower bearers were Mrs. Blanche Jennings, Mrs. Cella Gernand and Mrs. Loretta Duff.

Interment was made in Hillcrest cemetery at Volga.