Beckham County, OK - Deaths: William Lester King, 1926 27 August 2008 Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell) ********************************************************************* USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ********************************************************************* KING, WILLIAM LESTER (25 Mar 1926, Elk City News Democrat, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK): Lester King's Death a Mystery. Body Brought Here For Burial. It was with much sadness that this community heard the news of the sudden death of Lester King, son of Mr. and Mrs. George C. King, of Elk City, which occurred at Stillwater, Oklahoma, where Lester was a student at A. & M. College. To editor Irvin E. Hurst of "O'Collegian" of Stillwater for the unfortunate story of Lester's death. The O'Collegian says: Funeral services for Lester King, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. George C. King, Elk City, who died suddenly some time Sunday night at his room, 104 Duck Street, will be conducted at the Strode Funeral home, 610 Duncan street, at 7:45 o'clock this morning and the body will be shipped to Elk City for burial on the 8:50 o'clock train, it was announced last night. King's parents, an aunt, Mrs. R. B. King, and a brother-in-law, Ray Walter, a graduate of Oklahoma A. & M. college drove to Stillwater Monday, after being advised over telephone Monday morning by County Attorney C. C. Suman of the young man's sudden death. They arrived here at six o'clock and approved the funeral arrangements. Sunday School Class Pallbearers. Members of the Good Fellowship class of the Trinity Methodist church, with which King was affiliated, A. Beeson, class teacher, and pallbearers, attended the funeral in a body. Dr. M. A. Beeson, class teacher and pallbearers were King's classmates. The services will be directed by Rev. Herbert Gatti of that church. Prof. A. C. Cobb, representing the college, an instructor of King in the shops department, will accompany the body to Elk City while the relatives will return by motorcar. "Death of an unknown cause" was the verdict of physicians who examined King's body after being called to the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. I. Bunyard, with whom he roomed, early Monday morning. Rooming alone, King had been dead four or five hours before his body was discovered about 4:30 o'clock. King was last seen alive on Sunday night between 9 and 10 o'clock. With Glenn Case, Paden, a fellow student and roomer, he had attended services, the two went to town and purchased a pint of ice cream and small cakes. According to Case, King ate most of the cake while he ate most of the ice cream, since King was more fond of cake than cream. Shortly afterwards King retired, setting his alarm clock near the bed to awaken him at 3:30 o'clock, the time he was accustomed to start on a milk route for the Payne County Milk Producers Cooperative association. At 4:30 when King had failed to report for his duties at the college creamery, R. E. Morris, with whom he worked, came by to awaken him. Found Dead At 4:30 o'Clock. Morris called twice for the student, Mrs. Bunyard said Monday, but failed to get a response. Mrs. Bunyard then arose and went to call King for Morris. When he failed to answer her calls, she opened his room, went to his bed and shook him. It was then that she learned he was dead. She called for Mr. Bunyard, and telephoned Dr. L. A. Mitchell. After a brief examination, Doctor Mitchell notified County Attorney Suman and Dr. D. F. Janeway, county physician. The body was removed to the Strode Funeral home about 6 o'clock, the doctors being convinced that death had been due to natural causes. Although King has been a student at the college for three years, he was enrolled only as a special. He was taking most of his work in the shops department. In addition to his parents and his sister, Mrs. Walter, a graduate of the college, he is survived by three brothers. OBITUARY William Lester King was born seven miles Southwest of Elk City on April 19, 1904, and departed this life at Stillwater, Oklahoma, March 22, 1926. Age 21 years, 11 months and 3 days. Lester was converted at the early age of eight years and united with a rural church near the family home. On March 28, 1920, the family transferred their membership to the Methodist Episcopal Church South in Elk City. Lester carried his membership to the Trinity Methodist Church in Stillwater on October 9, 1924, where his name appears today. He was enlisted in the activities of the Sunday School and Epworth League of that church. He was always alert to every opportunity to influence his fellows to a better life as was evidence by an incident of some weeks ago when his roommate was converted. This fellow student soon started for his home which was not a religious home. The parting conversation centered about the Christian life, and Lester was careful to offer words of advice which was calculated to help the young fellow to live a consecrated life. Lester leaves a father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. C. King; one sister, Mrs. Roy Walter; three brothers, Everley, Edgar and Wesley, and a host of relatives and friends to mourn his departure. Funeral services were held at the Broadway Methodist Church March 24, 1926, at 2:30 P.M. Rev. E. C. Webb officiating. Burial was made in West Fairlawn cemetery. Pall bearers were: George Peeler, Coleman Hewlett, Tom Johnson, Clifford Jones, Charley Hilgenberg and Victor Hunter. --------------------------------------------------- Return to Beckham County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/beckham/beckham.html