RECTOR, Elmer C.: Died 1971

RECTOR, REISCH, BROOKS, ROSEKRANS, WALLACE

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 3/29/2021 at 20:12:40

**Note: Spouse of Bessie Mae Brooks Rector

Educator, Dies Suddenly

Elmer C. Rector, 73, longtime school teacher and school administrator, was stricken with a heart attack Friday might during the Fairfield-Centerville basketball game in the college fieldhouse, and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Jefferson County Hospital.

He had been in his usual health and his death was sudden.

Funeral services will be Monday at 1:30 p.m. at the United Methodist Church with the Rev. Wilson Hyde officiating. Burial will be in Troy Cemetery. The body is at the Weston Behner Funeral Home. He was a member of the church.

After retiring in June, 1969, Rector accepted the superintendency of the Urbana Consolidated School District for the for the present school term. The district is located between Cedar Rapids and Waterloo, and it was in the same district where he held his first position as superintendent. He continued to maintain his home in Fairfield.

Elmer C. Rector was born July 24, 1898, at Floris, the son of Frank and Kate Reisch Rector. His marriage to Bessie M. Brooks took place Aug. 11, 1921 and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in August this year. Mrs. Rector survives.

Rector attended Coe College two years and earned his bachelor's degree at Parsons College. He also attended the University of Iowa.

He began his teaching career in a rural school near Bloomfield in Davis County. He also taught in Henry and Story County Schools, and served as superintendent in Urbana and Troy before moving to Libertyville in 1947 as superintendent.

In 1956 he was named principal of the Washington School in Fairfield and the couple moved to their present home at 1007 E. Jefferson in 1961. Rector served as an American Red Cross field director during World War II.

Shortly after his retirement in June this year which ended a 50 year career in the teaching field, he accepted the position he held at the time of his death.

In addition to his wife, Rector is survived by one son, Ivan Rector, Sergeant Bluffs, and a daughter, Mrs. Donald Rosecrans, Fairfax, and six grandchildren.

He is also survived by three brothers, Lloyd Rector, Bloomfield, Harry Rector, Vinton; James Rector, Sioux City, and two sisters, Mrs. Leona (Slycord/Slywood), Ottumwa, and Mrs. Paul Wallace, Audubon.

He was preceded in death by two sisters.

Source: "The Hazel Stanford Obituary Collection", Pg. 160, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA