Obituary: July 1943, Franklin Parish, LA Submitters name listed with obit ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** The following obituaries are listed below: J. E. Fore John Gunn Elmer E. Hilbun William Hamilton Hodges Ernest Richard Kiper Sergeant James Martin William McCarta Billy Bob Muckelrath Mrs. J. C. Osborn Ray Aubrey Polk Anna Joiner Rife Dora Thomas Ida Mae White H. C. Whitehead Mrs. Clara Grace Winters ************************************************ ************************************************ The Franklin Sun Winnsboro, LA July 15, 1943 Submitted November 2008 by: Glenda Warner Boyd J. E. Fore Heart Attack Fatal To Winnsboro Man J. E. Fore, 75, died Saturday, 6:30 a.m., following a severe heart attack. Funeral services were conducted Sunday at 5 p.m., the Rev. C. B. Hall and the Rev. Dana Terry officiating. Interment was made in the New Winnsboro cemetery. Mr. Fore is survived by his wife, two sons; Sergeant Willie Fore, with the army in New Guinea, and Donnie Fore, also with the army; three daughters, Mrs. Ida Tillery, Crosby, Mrs. Emma Lee, Shreveport, and Miss Claudine Fore, Shreveport; and a grandson, Buie Smith, in the army. -------------------------------------------------- The Franklin Sun Winnsboro, LA July 22, 1943 Submitted November 2008 by: Glenda Warner Boyd John Gunn Former Winnsboro Resident Succumbs John Gunn, 65, former Winnsboro resident, died at his home in Tallulah following a heart attack. Interment was made in the Old Winnsboro cemetery. Mr. Gunn is survived by four sons: Jesse, Oswald, and Lee, of Tallulah, and Harvey, of West Monroe. -------------------------------------------------- The Franklin Sun Winnsboro, LA July 15, 1943 Submitted November 2008 by: Glenda Warner Boyd Elmer E. Hilbun Elmer E. Hilbun Killed in Africa The war department has notified Mrs. Mary E. Hilbun of Baskin that one of her three soldier sons, Sergeant Elmer E. Hilbun, died in the African area June 28. No other information was available. Sergeant Hilbun volunteered in February of 1941 with another Baskin youth, Rufus Jackson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Jackson. The two boys were sent to England together and from there to Africa, where they saw plenty of action. In one of the latest letters to his mother, young Hilbun said, "Don't worry, Mother, I'll make it through the war allright. You've been through many harder fights than I am making now." Sergeant Hilbun is survived by his mother; one sister, Mrs. Earl Polk of Winnsboro, and six brothers; Lt. J. L. Hilbun, Colorado; Charles A. Hilbun, San Antonio, Texas; Mayo Hilbun, Roanoke Va.; Pfc. Gerald Hilbun, Camp Swift, Tex., Curtis Hilbun, Wisner and Gordon Hilbun, Winnsboro. --------------------------------------------------- The Franklin Sun Winnsboro, LA July 1, 1943 Submitted November 2008 by: Glenda Warner Boyd William Hamilton Hodges Brother of Local Woman Expires William Hamilton Hodges, 64, a man who declined to run for Louisiana's governorship, died at a Shreveport hospital Sunday morning following a long illness. Hodges was a brother of Mrs. W. M. Snyder. Hodges served as conservation commissioner under Governor Sam Jones until failing health forced his retirement. Twice he himself had been suggested for the office of governor, but he refused to run. In 1920 and 1924 he was a delegate to national Democratic conventions and in 1932 he was a member of the delegation from Louisiana which failed, by a small vote, to gain recognition on the convention floor. Hodges was a member of the committee which selected the site for the new Louisiana State university in 1920 and the following year was a delgate to the constitutional convention. Mr. Hodges was one of the organizers of the Red River Valley Improvement association and served as its president until his death. The late Campbell B. Hodges was his father and his mother, Luella Sockwell Hodges, now 85, survives him. William Hamilton Hodges was born May 27, 1879 on the plantation which became his lifelong home. It had been established by his grandfather, John L. Hodges, who came to north Louisiana from Georgia about 100 years ago. Funeral services for the former conservation commissioner were held Monday afternoon and the body sent to Dallas, Tex., for cremation. The ashes were buried in the Hodges family plot of Mt. Zion cemetery in Bossier parish. Surviving, besides his mother, are two brothers; Major General Campbell B. Hodges, president of L.S.U., and Joseph Hodges of Phoenix, Ariz.; three sisters, Mrs. W. M. Synder of Winnsboro; Mrs, J. H. Mercer of Taylortown and Miss Mary Hodges of Elm Grove. -------------------------------------------------- The Franklin Sun Winnsboro, LA July 1, 1943 Submitted November 2008 by: Glenda Warner Boyd Ernest Richard Kiper Kiper Funeral Held in Gilbert Ernest Richard Kiper, 62, prominent Monroe and Wisner merchant died in a Monroe hospital early Monday morning. He had been removed to the hospital four days ago. The funeral was held at the First Methodist church in Gilbert, of which he had served as member of the board of stewards, Tuesday at 10 a.m. Interment, directed by the Davis-Lawhead Funeral home, Monroe, was made in Oakley cemetery, Gilbert. Mr. Kiper was born in Clayton, Catahoula parish, July 11, 1880. He attended school in that parish and for a time was conductor of the Missouri Pacific railroad. He then operated a general merchandise store in Gilbert up to January 1, 1927 when he removed to Monroe and established the E. R. Kiper Hardware and Supply company. Mr. Kiper also operated a second store as the E. R. Kiper Hardware and Lumber company at Wisner, which was established in 1923. He was married to Miss Luella Huggins of Gilbert some years ago. She survives, together with four sons who are as follows: E. Asa Kiper, Wisner; Corporal R. Leslie Kiper, Camp Butner, N. C.; Lieut. Ralph O. Kiper, Fort Benning, Ga., and Don G. Kiper, now engaged in the operation of the Monroe business; two grandchildren; and three brothers, T. B. Kiper, Fort Worth, Tex.; E. V. Kiper, Ruston, and L. O. Kiper, Ruston. ----------------------------------------------------- The Franklin Sun Winnsboro, LA July 1, 1943 Submitted November 2008 by: Glenda Warner Boyd Sergeant James Martin Memorial Services Held for Sgt. Martin Memorial services were conducted by the Rev. John Campbell at the Wisner Baptist church Sunday night, June 27 for Sergeant James Martin, son of Mrs. Cora Martin, who died as a Japanese prisoner in the Phillipines June 11. The Rev. Campbell was asisted by the Rev. Mr. Carroll of the Winser Methodist church. ----------------------------------------------------- The Franklin Sun Winnsboro, LA July 15, 1943 Submitted November 2008 by: Glenda Warner Boyd William McCarta William McCarta Dies in Winnfield William M. McCarta, 54, resident of Franklin parish the past 24 years, died suddenly Monday, July 12, in Winnfield. Funeral services were conducted Thursday, July 15, at the Lone Cedar Baptist church, the Rev. Mr. Trapp officiating, with interment in the adjoining cemetery under the direction of First National Funeral home. The deceased is survived by his wife, Mrs. Blanche McCarta of Winnsboro; two sons-Clifford of Winnsboro and Lois S. in the Southwest Pacific; two daughters-- Miss Gladys McCarta, Monroe, and Miss Eton McCarta, Corpus Christi, Texas; and two sep-daughters, Mary Allen and Arabella Bruce, Winnsboro. He is also survived by two brothers: T. J. McCarta, Boyce, and J. W. McCarta, Lake Providence, two sisters; Mrs. Dora Butler, Raleigh, Miss., and Mrs. Mae Viddler, Berkeley, Calif., and one grandchild. -------------------------------------------------- The Franklin Sun Winnsboro, LA July 29, 1943 Submitted November 2008 by: Glenda Warner Boyd Billy Bob Muckelrath Youthful Prank Results in Death Of Two-Year-Old Billy Muckelrath Steps on Live-Wire Two-year-old Billy Bob Muckelrath, son of Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Mickelrath (sic Muckelrath) of Minden and formerly of Winnsboro, was electrocuted last Wednesday afternoon when he stepped on a live-wire under the house. According to deputy coroner S. M. Richardson of Webster parish, a group of neighborhood boys found a live-wire running to an abandoned electric pump and hooked it to every fence and clothesline of three or four adjoining houses. At the Muckelrath home, they ran one from a clothes line fastened to the side of the garage to some barbed wire which they pulled under the house and tied to a pipe of a hand water pump. Mr. and Mrs. Muckelrath are employed by the shell plant and work on the same day-time shift. In their absence, a young white girl had been taking care of the two Muckelrath children. Billy Bob and two other children around three years of age went outside to play. Five minutes later one child ran back and told the young girl Billy was dead; the other child ran to his mother saying, "Billy crawled under the house and has gone to sleep." The young girl rushed out to save the child and was shocked in the attempt. Her screams attracted a neighbor, T. D. Nave, who arrived just in time to save the three and a half year old daughter of Mrs. Jesse Jones, another neighbor, who was about to catch the wire Billy was on. Nave snatched the child's arm and threw her from under the house, then pulled Billy Bob loose and started immediately with him to Richardson's clinic wher stimulants and artificial respiration were given. S. G. Gibson of the Minden fire department started using the parish respirator almost immediately in an effort to save the child, who showed no signs of life after arriving at the clinic. According to Shreiff O. H. Hayes, the group of boys said they had rigged up the system to have fun shocking people. Efforts are being made to turn the boys over to authorities. Religious services were held in the Oak Grove Baptist church with interment in the New Winnsboro cemetery Friday at 10 a. m. The child is survived by his parents, a four-year-old brother, Ronnie, and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. P. V. Muckelrath, of Winnsboro, and Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Lummus, of Kannett, Texas. ----------------------------------------------------- The Franklin Sun Winnsboro, LA July 8, 1943 Submitted November 2008 by: Glenda Warner Boyd Mrs. J. C. Osborn Mrs. J. C. Osborn Dies in Wisner The funeral of Mrs. J. C. Osborn, 81, who died in Wisner Saturday night, was held at the Wisner Methodist church Sunday at 4 p.m., with interment in Oakley cemetery. The Rev. W. H. Carroll officaited, with the First National Funeral home of Winnsboro in charge. Active pallbearers were R. S. Roach, A. J. Ensminger, W. A. Tucker, C. H. Foster, Jr., Carl Shipp, W. C. Knotts, Fred Gilbert, W. B. Huggins, and R. A. Brown. Honorary pallbearers were: Dr. H. E. Jones, Dr. W. A. Mecom, Dr. V. H. Mecom, H. W. Gilbert, D. R. Knight, J. N. Risher, J. G. Mitchell. E. B. Knotts, J. M. Major, W. S. Knotts, E. A. Kiper, M. P. Colson, H. B. Womble, J. C. Brewer, Sr., C. W. Sherrouse and R. M. Ward. Mrs. Osborn was born at Union Church, Miss., December 31, 1861, and has lived in Louisiana for the past twenty years. Her husband died several years ago. She was a member of the Methodist church in Wisner, until her health failed her some two years ago, she was very active in church affairs. She enjoyed the respect and admiration of all the people in her community for her ever cheerful disposition and having a good word for every friend and neighbor in spite of the fact that her failing health was a handicap. She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Nellie O. Segrest of Wisner and Mrs. John A. Wilsdorf, Jr., of Old Hickory, Tenn., one son, Sam I. Osborn of Greenwood, Miss., and three sisters, Mrs. J. A. Vardeman, Brookhaven, Miss., Mrs. Mary B. Clark, Jackson, Miss., and Mrs. Irma Knapp, Hamburg, Miss. ----------------------------------------------------- The Franklin Sun Winnsboro, LA July 29, 1943 Submitted November 2008 by: Glenda Warner Boyd Ray Aubrey Polk Dies In Pacific (Photo accompanies memorial on page one) Seaman Second Class Ray Aubrey Polk, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Claude Polk of Winnsboro, who died of wounds received in action somewhere in the Pacific. The 19-year-old youth had been in navy nearly eighteen months. ****** The Franklin Sun Winnsboro, LA July 22, 1943 Submitted November 2008 by: Glenda Warner Boyd Ray Aubrey Polk Memorial Tribute To Ray Aubrey Polk Memorial services for Seaman Second Class Ray Aubrey Polk, who died of wounds received somewhere in the Pacific war theatre, will be held at the Winnsboro First Baptist church Sunday morning, July 25, the Rev. C. B. Hall, pastor, has announced. Young Polk, son of Mr. and Mrs. Claude Polk of this city, joined the navy November 29 and was only 19 years of age. *** The Franklin Sun Winnsboro, LA July 15, 1943 Submitted November 2008 by: Glenda Warner Boyd Ray Aubrey Polk Ray Aubrey Polk Dies of Wounds Received in Battle Ray Aubrey Polk, seaman second class, died of wounds received in action somewhere in the Pacific war theater, Rear Admiral Randal Jacobs, chief of navel personnel, has wired his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Claude Polk of Winnsboro. The telegam, received Friday, contained the following information: "The navy department deeply regrets to inform you that your son, Ray Aubrey Polk, seaman second class, U. S. naval reserve, died of wounds following action in the service of his country. The department appreciates your anxiety, but details are not now available and delay in receipt thereof must necessarily be expected. "No information available at present regarding disposition of remains, but by reason of existing condidtions, burial at sea or in locality where death occured highly probable. If further information is received you will be promptly notified. "To prevent possible aid to our enemies, please do not divulge the name of his ship or location. "The department extends to you its sincerst sympathy in your great loss. "Signed" Rear Admiral Randall Jacobs, chief of navel personnel." Young Polk entered the navy November 29 as leader, enroute to training station, of a group of 42 men, 28 of these from the Franklin parish area. Shortly after his basic training he was sent out with the Pacific fleet as a gunner. He is a graduate of the Winnsboro High school, where he was active in athletics. Prior to enlistment in the armed forces, the 19-year-old youth was employed by the Missouri pacific railway company here. He is survived by his parents and two younger sisters, Claudine and Bessie. -------------------------------------------------- The Franklin Sun Winnsboro, LA July 29, 1943 Submitted November 2008 by: Glenda Warner Boyd Anna Joiner Rife Local Resident's Mother Succumbs Mrs. Anna Joiner Rife, 84, passed away Monday night at the Baptist hospital in Alexandria, where she had been a patient following an illness of some months. Funeral services were conducted at the Emmanuel Baptist church with interment made in Greenwood Memorial park, Pineville. Mrs. Rife was born in Macon, Miss., June 8, 1859. She married the late James Rife and resided in Clay county. Miss. Seven years ago she moved to Alexandria to reside with a daughter. She is survived by five children and eight grandchildren: C. L. Rife, of Winnsboro; Mrs. R. P. Saunders of Alexandria; Mrs. J. I. Minor of Oxford, Miss.; R. S. Rife, Waterproof; and Sam J. Rife, Sicily Island. ----------------------------------------------------- The Franklin Sun Winnsboro, LA July 29, 1943 Submitted November 2008 by: Glenda Warner Boyd Dora Thomas Mrs. Dora Thomas Buried in Meridain The body of Mr. Dora Thomas 74, who died at her home in Winnsboro Monday noon was sent by morning train by the Mulhearn Funeral home on Tuesday to Meridian, Miss., where religious services were conducted Wednesday at 2 p.m. Mrs. Thomas was survived by her husband, J. H. Thomas, five step-children, Lee R. Thomas and Willie Marvin Thomas of Winnsboro; M. L. Thomas, of Meridain, Miss.; Mrs. C. D. Jones of Winnsboro and Mrs. W. L. Chandler, of El Dorado, Ark.; three brothers, W. H. Ward of Sweet Home, Ark; W. R. Ward of Delville, Ark.; and B. L. Ward of Meridian; three sisters, Mrs. T. M. Chisholm of Winterhaven, Fla.; Mrs. W. D. Harbour of Delville; and Mrs. J. H. Harbour of Meridian; and several grandchildren, nieces and nephews. ------------------------------------------------------- The Franklin Sun Winnsboro, LA. July 8, 1943 Submitted November 2008 by: Glenda Warner Boyd Ida Mae White Ida Mae White, 15, Dies in Shreveport Funeral services for Mis Ida Mae White, 15-year-old daughter of Mrs. Gertrude Richardson, who died Monday in a Shreveport hospital after an illness of about a month, were held Wednesday afternoon at 1 o'clock at the Union church cemetery near Baskin with the Rev. Harmon Dove officiating. Burial was made in the Union cemetery with the First National Funeral home in charge. Besides her mother the girl is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Polly Goeux and Viola and Josie Lee of Winnsboro; and three brothers, Fred, John Henry and Claud, all of Winnsboro. -------------------------------------------------- The Franklin Sun Winnsboro, LA July 22, 1943 Submitted November 2008 by: Glenda Warner Boyd H. C. Whitehead Dies in Wisner H. C. Whitehead, 78, died at his home near Wisner late Saturday. Regular services were conducted Sunday by the Rev. Mr. Phillips in the Oak Grove church and interment made by Mulhearn Funeral home in the Oak Grove cemetery. Mr. Whitehead is survived by his wife, Mrs. May Whitehead. -------------------------------------------------- The Franklin Sun Winnsboro, LA July 8, 1943 Submitted November 2008 by: Glenda Warner Boyd Mrs. Clara Grace Winters Mrs. A. A. Winters Buried in Ogden Last rites for Mrs. Clara Grace Winters, 43, who died Saturday night at her home near here, were held Tuesday morning at 11 o'clock at Ogden cemetery with the Rev. Tom Ratcliff officiating. Burial followed in the Ogden cemetery, under the direction of the First National Funeral home of Winnsboro. Mrs. Winters is survived by her husband, A. A. Winters of Liddieville; three sons, Coy L, Winters of the United States army, and Newt Winters and Roy Winters of Liddieville; two brothers, John Russell and George Russell of Liddieville; and six sisters, Mrs. Lucy Faulk, Mrs. Maggie Searcy and Mrs. Beatrice Housey (sic Hawsey) of Liddieville, and Mrs. Gracie Smith of St. Paul, Minn., Mrs. Bonnie Thomas of Oakdale and Mrs. Ollie Riley of Winnsboro. -----------------------------------------------------