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

[William Crawford Dowlin]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    December 30, 1937    [p. 1]

Will C. Dowlin Dies In Oregon

Will C. [rawford] Dowlin, a resident of Bedford for many years, died suddenly at his home in Corvallis, Oregon, Monday, Dec. 6, according to word received in Bedford by Mrs. E. [llis] C. [layton] Dowlin [Mattie John].  He had been in ill health for several years, although his death came unexpectedly.

He was the youngest and last surviving child of Joseph and Elizabeth [Davis] Dowlin, the date of his birth being April 22, 1868.

He was married May 7, 1891, to Miss Hannah V. [andyke] Fowler.  They were the parents of three children, Reade Dowlin of Portland, Oregon, Rita Dowlin Carpenter of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Doris Dowlin Smith of Portland.  The wife and three children survive.

The Dowlin family resided on a farm at the four-mile corner west of Bedford before moving to Oregon twenty-three years ago.

[Ethel Clara Beery Kimpton]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    November 18, 1937    [p. 1]

Mrs. Snyder's Mother Dies

Mrs. John Kimpton [Ethel Clara Beery], 52, mother of Mrs. Lex Snyder [Vida] of Bedford, died at her home northwest of Gravity, Tuesday, Nov. 16.  She is survived by four daughters and two sons.

The funeral services will be held Friday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Mr. Bissinger of Gravity.  Burial will be in the Guss cemetery.

[Martha Wysong Johnson]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday   November 18, 1937    [p. 1]

Obituary - Mrs. Joe Johnson

Martha Wysong, daughter of William A. and Eliza Wysong, was born in Coles County, Ill., April 30, 1853, and passed away at her home in Bedford, Iowa, Thursday morning, Nov. 11, 1937.

At the age of two years she moved with her parents to Iowa, and spent most of her life near Lexington, moving to Bedford eleven years ago.

She was married to Jasper Johnson, Jan. 8, 1871.  To them were born seven children, four of whom preceded their mother in death.  The other three are Fred Johnson of Albee, Ore., Charles Johnson of Vancouver, Wash., and Harry Johnson of Bairly, Wash.  Mr. Johnson died several years ago.

Surviving with the three sons are nine grandchildren.  They are Mrs. Bertha Lewis and Glen Johnson of Bedford; Hulett Johnson of Albee, Ore.; Edith and Josephine Johnson of Vancouver, Wash.; Gladys, Neva, Margaret and Wanda Johnson of Bairly, Wash.  Also nine great grandchildren and a niece, Mrs. Edna Payne Buckman of Santa Cruz, Calif., whom Mrs. Johnson reared from infancy; a sister and two brothers, Mrs. Clay Singleton of Bedford, Charles Wysong and Elza Wysong of Oklahoma City, Okla.

Mrs. Johnson was a wonderful neighbor and friend.  She was always first to help and offer assistance where anyone was sick or in trouble.

She united with the Bedford Church of Christ when 17 years of age and was still a member at the time of her death.

The funeral services were held at the Wetmore Funeral Home at 10:30 o'clock Saturday forenoon, Nov. 13, conducted by Rev. W. F. Overhulser.  Burial was in the Lexington cemetery.

[Rosenbery B. Widner]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     December 17, 1936    [p. 1]

R. B. Widner, 71, Former Resident, Dies

R. [osenbery] B. Widner, 71, a resident of the Bedford and Conway community for many years, died at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Joe Fischer, in Pinehurst, Wash., on Thursday evening, Dec. 10.  Funeral arrangements are not known by relatives here.

Mr. Widner was born in Prince William County, Virginia, May 11, 1865.  He was the son of Henry and Mary Litteer Widner and moved to Bedford with his parents in 1877.

On Jan. 9, 1889, he was married to Viola Herron at Conway.  They were the parents of seven children, six of whom survive.  There are also several grandchildren.  Mrs. Widner died several years ago.

Surviving are also one sister, Mrs. C. [laude] B. Frantz [Ruth] of St. Joseph, Mo., and one brother, L. [ytle] C. Widner, of Bedford.

[Matilda Chapman Swearingen]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    September 19, 1907   [p. 1]

Death of Mrs. Geo. W. Swearingen.

Miss Matilda Chapman was born near Maysville, W. Va., May 12, 1825, and died at her home in Bedford Monday, Sept. 16, 1907.

When a child she attended the Women's Seminary at Steubenville, Ohio, and while at school she became converted and united with the Presbyterian Church.

On May 12, 1845, she was married to Mr. George W. Swearingen, at Navarre, Ohio, where they lived for about five years, after which they resided at Hanoverton and Manervia, Ohio, and in the spring of 1873 they moved to Bedford.  Six children have preceded her to the other side and also her life companion [of] forty years, the latter dying May 18, 1885.  Five children still remain.  They are Mrs. F. F. Conser, of Kensington, Ohio; Mrs. Anna N. Wilmoth, of Bucklin, Mo.; Mrs. Wm. Ramsay, of Burlington, Iowa; W. C. and R. S. Swearingen, of Bedford, all of whom were present at her side during her last illness, except Mrs. Conser, who was unable to be present.  The grandchildren are George Conser, Frank Conser, Nellie Graff, George Graff, Cora King, Mrs. Zoa Townsend, Glen Calhoun and Helen McCorkle.

Her's has been a most earnest Christian life, a beautiful example of charity and kindness for all who knew her, and a constant worker for her church until prevented by ill health and old age.  During all her illness, pain and suffering, she uttered not one word of complaint but prayed that "Thy Will Be Done."

The funeral services were held at the late residence Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock, conducted by her pastor, Rev. S. E. Henry, and interment was in Fairview cemetery.  The pallbearers were A. G. Guthrie, B. F. Bailie, David Bailie, John Graff, H. W. Parrish, and Jacob Cole.

The sympathy of all is extended to the bereaved in their great loss.