Isle of Wight-Southampton County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Bulls and Gwaltney, 1937 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ WILLIAM BULLS AND KENNETH LEE GWALTNEY "The Smithfield (VA) Times," Vol. 18, No. 22, Aug. 19, 1937, p. 1, col. 8 TWO MEN DROWN ON FISHING TRIP FIND GWALTNEY NEAR RESCUE THINK GWALTNEY FELL GETTING UP ANCHOR Body of Kenneth Gwaltney Recovered; Searchers Seek William Bulls. Kenneth Gwaltney, 33, and William Bulls, 30, prominent young men of Isle of Wight County were drowned Monday afternoon in the James River near Morgart's Beach, the body of Gwaltney being found near Rescue Tuesday morning by a Mr. Martin who was looking after his fishing nets. Gwaltney and Bulls borrowed a boat Monday afternoon from Charles Conklin of Morgart's Beach and were seen as late as 4 o'clock. When they failed to come in that night, the matter was reported by their families, and a general search was instituted. Parties went out on the James River from Morgart's Beach, Smithfield and Burwell's Bay. Early Tuesday morning the empty boat was located near Rushmere and in it was found the clothing worn by William Bulls. Later the body of Kenneth Gwaltney was found floating on the river near Rescue. Gwaltney's watch was stopped at 4:30 and it is believed that he must have lost his balance trying to pull in the anchor, and not being able to swim, Bulls went to the rescue and both men lost their lives. The body of William Bulls had not been found as we go to press Wednesday noon. Kenneth Gwaltney, who was a Merchant in Bethany Community and rural carrier of the Virginian Pilot on Sunday in Isle of Wight County is survived by his wife, and an infant daughter, Sarah Gwaltney; his parents Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Gwaltney; a brother, Horace Gwaltney, all of Isle of Wight; four sisters, Mrs. Smith Turner, of Newport News, Mrs. Carson Delk, Mrs. Lawrence Thacker and Miss Grace Gwaltney, of Isle of Wight County. Funeral service will be held at Bethany Methodist Church in which Mr. Gwaltney held a membership, Thursday at 2:00 o'clock. ****************************************************************************** "The Smithfield (VA) Times," Vol. 18, No. 23, Aug. 26, 1937, p. 1, col. 7 KENNETH LEE GWALTNEY Funeral Held for Kenneth Gwaltney Thursday, Aug. 19 Burial Held At Bethany M.E. Church For Drowning Victim Funeral services for Kenneth L. Gwaltney, 34, who was one of two victims of a tragic accident early last week were conducted Thursday afternoon at 3:00 O'clock in Bethany Church by Rev. W.W. Norris. Burial was in the church Cemetery. Active pallbearers were, Ryland Scott, Linwood Scott, Stanley Gwaltney, Ryland Gwaltney, Clyde Gwaltney and Cecil Gwaltney. Friends of the family served as honorary pallbearers. The casket was covered with many beautiful floral tributes made by the numerous friends of the deceased and family. The Hymns, "The Land Where We Never Grow Old" and "Safe in The Arms of Jesus" were beautifully rendered by a quartet consisting of Carl Gwaltney, Talmadge Gwaltney, Rev. F.B. Oglesby and Joe Holloway. "Rock of Ages" was sung at the Grave. Mr. Gwaltney is survived by his wife and an infant daughter Helen Gwaltney, his parents Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Gwaltney; four sisters, Mrs. Lawrence Thacker, Mrs. Carson Delk, Mrs. Smith Turner and Miss Grace Gwaltney; a brother, Mr. Horace Gwaltney. [...] WILLIAM BULLS Funeral services for William Bulls, second victim of the double drowning in James River near Smithfield were held Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the grave in Central Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. The body was located earlier in the day floating near the James River bridge. Mr. Bulls is survived by his wife. ****************************************************************************** "Willie" William Washington BULLS, farmer, Southampton Co. native, drowned 16 Aug 1937, James R., off Morgart's Beach, age ca. 30, interred in Central Hill*, 18 Aug 1937, "The Smithfield (VA) Times," Thurs., Aug. 19, 1937, p. 1, col. 8; "The Smithfield (VA) Times," Thurs., Aug. 26, 1937, p. 1, col. 7 *Additional information: Willie does not appear on the cemetery list; unmarked? Isle of Wight County Historical Society {IWCHS} Grave Site Survey Task Force {GSSTF} Central Hill report #56: http://www.iwchs.com/Cemetery-Reports.html Birthplace &c. from D.Cert. 20304 (Newport #21), which gives age 30, son of Joseph & Evelyn [sic] (Johnson) Bulls, husband of Mary [sic] (Edwards) Bulls. The family appears in the 1910 Census on Rented Farm #50, Old Vicksville Rd., Jerusalem Dist., Southampton Co. - Willie, age 2. His parents' marriage - Joseph H. Bulls, 30, s, So.Co., Surry Co., Va., s/o Louis/Lewis and Martha K. Branch Bulls, Farmer m. 01-27-1902 Wakefield, Va. by Rev. C.H. Green Unice [sic; Eunice] J. Pond [sic; Johnson], 24, s, So.Co., So.Co., d/o [James Robert &] Sallie Ann Pond [Johnson] (Southampton Co. MB10:598; transcribed & annotated by Bruce Saunders: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/vitals/mb10pt.txt) Joseph Henry BULLS, of Capron R.F.D. #1, son of Lewis BULLS, d. 25 Jun 1938, in Franklin. D.Cert. 14956 (Franklin #6) gives undertaker W.J.M. Holland, but gives no details on burial. Eunice (JOHNSON) BULLS, dt/o Robert & Sally Ann (POND) JOHNSON, is buried in Cypress Chapel Christian Church Cemetery. Cypress Chapel list, an extension of the SCHS Cemetery Project: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/cemeteries/cypress.txt Willie, age 21, m. Mae Lucille EDWARDS 8 Jan 1934, in Isle of Wight Co. Mae 2m. Clarence Leroy CORNETT, in Suffolk (IoW. #96); they are buried in Oak Grove Methodist Church Cemetery, Surry Co. Willie's bro Levy B. BULLS (1903-1980) is buried in Southampton Memorial Park. SCHS Cemetery Project, Southampton Memorial Park list (Masonic I, Plot 75): http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/somempk.txt ****************************************************************************** Kenneth Lee GWALTNEY, Bethany merchant, b. 8 Feb 1903, Isle of Wight Co., drowned 16 Aug 1937, James R., off Morgart's Beach, interred in Bethany Methodist Church Cemetery*, 19 Aug 1937, "The Smithfield (VA) Times," Thurs., Aug. 19, 1937, p. 1, col. 8; "The Smithfield (VA) Times," Thurs., Aug. 26, 1937, p. 1, col. 7 *His parents, James Lee & Effie (SCOTT) GWALTNEY, are also buried there. Isle of Wight County Historical Society {IWCHS} Grave Site Survey Task Force {GSSTF} report #32: http://www.iwchs.com/Cemetery-Reports.html Birthdate &c. from D.Cert. 20305 (Newport #22), which gives son of Jim & Effa (Scott) Gwaltney, husband of Pattie (Murphy) Gwaltney. His widow 2m. 7 Feb 1959 Philip C. MARCH, in Nansemond Co. (Suffolk #13) Pattie is also buried in Bethany; Philip is buried with his parents in Holly Lawn Cemetery. Holly Lawn list, an extension of the Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/cemeteries/hollyln.txt Kenneth was appointed Postmaster of Comet, 29 May 1929, but was replaced by James H. CROCKER in Nov 1929. His store was replaced by one run by Carson A. DELK. News item ("Smithfield Times," Sep. 9, 1937, p. 1) posted with DELK's obit ("Tidewater News," May 21, 1987, p. 12A) at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/isleofwight/obits/d420c1ob.txt Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Carolyn Keen (VAHistoricHouses@aol.com) & Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), and re-formatted by File Manager Matt Harris. file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/isleofwight/obits/b420w3ob.txt