Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Owens, Gordon James October 1918 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nan Wheaton wheaton1624@yahoo.com December 30, 2013, 2:33 pm Ionia Sentinel-Standard - Fri. Oct. 10, 1918 FUNERAL FOR GORDON OWENS Very Large Attendance, and Business Places Close As Fitting Testimonial. The funeral service for Corporal Gordon Owens, attended from the Baptist church this afternoon, taxed the seating capacity of the church. As a further evidence of sorrow for the parents and of respect for the splendid character of the young man, the business places of the city were closed during the hour of the funeral service. The profusion of flowers were wondrously beautiful. The casket was not taken into the church, remaining in the funeral car outside during the church service. Rev. Branch spoke very briefly on the subject of sacrifice through love for one's country and one's ideals as exemplified in the instance of the young soldier. The feeling throughout all that he said was simply the unfolding of the idea expressed in the text, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend." We can not always understand why we are called upon to give the supreme sacrifice, when we deplore the idea of war and all that it means, but when we look to the ultimate end and realize that it is in the workings of a beneficent and far-seeing Providence that these things must be. Gordon was born in Carson City, and came when a mere lad with his parents to Ionia, his father at the time having charge of the Wagar power house and dams up the river. The family later moved to Ionia where Mr. Owens finally became manager and is now the president of the Ionia Water Power Electric Company, and Gordon naturally became a competent electrician. A few years ago he went to Howell where he was superintending electrician for the Howell Electric Motor Company. Last March he decided to enlist, and was sent to San Antonio aviation field, where he remained until he was transferred to Florence aviation field in Omaha, Nebraska, where he had made an enviable record. The remains were placed for a time in the Wagar vault in Highland Park cemetery. Mrs. Wagar had draped the sides of the vault with the American flag and the casket will rest against a background of beautiful flowers. On the door will hang a wreath with a golden star, symbolizing his life given in the service of his country. Ionia commandery of the Knight Templar acted as escort and furnished the carriers; Sir Knights: H. H. Robb, Fess O. Eldred, Fred Buck, Alfred R. Locke, Alex. Minty, Lee Bull and the blue lodge conducted the ritual service at the vault. W.W. Knapp and wife, C.F. Norton, H.H. Wines and wife, T.O. Newcomb and daughter, Max Spencer, and R.P. Newcomb, all of Howell- the gentlemen all connected with the motor works with which the deceased was connected when he was called into the service: Mr. and Mrs. R.H. Dockeray of Rockford, and E.C. Cummins of Carson City, Carl Johnson of Grand Rapids, Mr. and Mrs. M.P. Lenhard of Clarksville, were among the many out-of-town friends who were present at the funeral. THE EVENING VERSE BUY A BOND If you think you're patriotic, Buy a bond. When everything's chaotic, Buy a bond. Buying bonds will make you wiser, Put grit 'neath the soldier's vizor And will help him kill the Kaiser; Buy a bond. Would you help the boys in France? Buy a bond. Though there's patches on your pants, Buy a bond. Buy them greatest, buy them least, Buy them preacher, buy them priest: You can help to kill the Beast, Buy a bond. Would you break the famous "line?" Buy a bond. Drive the Hun across the Rhine? Buy a bond. If you would the Hun defeat, Have a victory complete, Make for him a winding sheet, of a bond. - Ira M. Mourson Additional Comments: Funeral: Fri. 10 October 1918 Highland Park Cemetery #1-3 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/o/owens23437nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 4.3 Kb