Kenneth R Williams (1919-1934)

WILLIAMS, LUNDEEN, HUDEK

Posted By: jane austin (email)
Date: 6/12/2021 at 21:05:24

News of the tragic death of Kenneth Williams, a member of this year's sophomore class of the local high school, came as a terrible shock to this community on Monday morning.

Less than two weeks ago he left here with a friend to visit relatives In New Ross, Indiana. On their way home Sunday night the boys fell asleep in the train yards at Des Moines. Shortly after midnight the engineer of a switch engine found Kenneth lying critically injured and unconscious near the tracks. It is believed that a passenger train coming through there at about 11 o'clock struck him. The coroner's jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

Kenneth was the second child and only son of Mr. and Mrs. Haskell Williams. He was born at Estherville on the 30th day of September 1919. When he was a few months old the family moved to Garner, Iowa where tho boy spent his childhood years and attended the grade school. In 1927 Mr. Williams was employed by the local telephone company and moved with his family to Hartley. Here the boy entered high school in 1933. He was a good student, and his cheerful disposition won him many friendB among his classmates and among the employers and patrons of the Fick Bros, grocery store where he was omployed during the summer.

His tragic death is mourned by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Haskell Williams; three sisters, Geraldine, Dorothy and Loretta; the two grandmothers, Mrs. Francis Ann Williams at New Ross, Ind., and Mrs. Nora Lundeen at Pocahontas, Iowa; eight uncles, Cleo W., Byron, Daniel, Otis and Oscar Williams, all of New Ross, Ind., and Melvin, Edward and Elmer Lundeen of Pocahontas, Iowa; three aunts, Mrs. Otis Williams and Miss Jeanette Williams of New Ross, Ind , and Mrs. Ada Hudek of Pocahontas; and a number of other relatives and friends.

Kenneth Williams died on Monday morning at Broadlands hospital at Des Moines, where he was taken after the accident and an operation performed in an attempt to save his life. He reached the ago of 14 years, 10 months and 27 days.

Funeral services were hold on Wednesday afternoon at 1:45 at the home, and at 2 o'clock at Trinity church. Three classmates, Vera Adolph, Ruby Adolph and Marie Budy sang several hymns. They were accompanied at the piano by Mrs. Harrison Pike. Six high school students, Virgil Lage, Paul Jones, Clayton Tuttle, Dale Fick, Weldon Adolph and James Davis acted as pall bearers. Interment was In Pleasant View cemetery at Hartley.

Hartley (Iowa) Sentinel, 30 Aug 1934, p1