Obituaries
submitted by: Julia Johnson - julia.johnson63@gmail.com

[Ellis Clayton Dowlin]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    February 21, 1935    [p. 1]

E. C. Dowlin, 74, Succumbs Sunday

E. C. Dowlin, 74, died at his home in Bedford early Sunday morning, Feb. 17, after a short illness.  The funeral services were held at the Baptist Church Tuesday afternoon conducted by Rev. Clark M. Crowell.  Burial was in the Fairview cemetery.

Ellis Clayton Dowlin was born near Jefferson, Greene County, Penn., Dec. 6, 1860.  He was one of a family of six children and with his family came to Bedford in November 1868.

Feb. 12, 1890, he was married to Mattie I. John.  To them were born three daughters, Mrs. Helen E. Beauchamp of Sioux City, Mrs. Hilda G. Simpson of Bedford, and Mrs. Kathryn Kidder of San Diego, Calif.

Surviving with the wife and daughters are two granddaughters, Patricia Simpson and Marilyn Kidder; one brother, Will C. Dowlin, of Corvallis, Ore., one nephew and four nieces.

[Leonard Lewis Moore]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    February 15, 1979    p. 13

Last Rites Held February 9 For Leonard Moore

Funeral services for Leonard Lewis Moore, 87, of Bedford, retired Bedford businessman, held February 9 in Shum-Novinger Funeral Home in Bedford, were conducted by Carl Cummings.  Mr. Moore died February 6, 1979, in a nursing home in Emmetsburg, Iowa.  Interment was at Bedford Cemetery, Bedford, Ia.

Leonard, son of Aetna F. Moore and Martha Miller, was born April 24, 1891, at Zearing, Iowa.  He lived and grew to maturity in Zearing where he attended the public schools and later graduated from Drake University in Des Moines.  He then coached and taught in the Bedford school system.

On August 16, 1916 he was united in marriage to Della Keith and they lived two years in Aspen, Colo.,  and two years in New Providence, Iowa, where he continued his career in Education.  In 1921 they moved to a farm near Bedford.  In 1931 Leonard successfully ran for the office of County Treasurer.  Two terms in that office were followed by two terms as Representative in the Iowa legislature.

During World War II he worked as a carpenter in war plants in Nebraska and Kansas.

Returning to their home in Bedford in 1945, he entered the insurance business, serving as secretary of the Farmers' Mutual for many years.  He then opened his own office from which he retired when he was 81 years of age.  Leonard was a devoted active member of the Christian Church.  He was the tenor in a quartet which sang all over the countryside at funerals.  Also receiving his support and leadership were the Republican Party, Boy Scouts and the Red Cross.  He was a good man, a quiet man, a true gentleman with high ideals and a deep faith in God.

He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, three brothers and three sisters.

Left to cherish his memory are his two daughters, Mary Lois Farlow and husband Francis and Josephine Root and husband Lee Moore, two sisters, Iva Rosen and Nellie Manning; seven grandchildren: Beverly Farlow, William Farlow, Virginia Portillo, Virgil Farlow, Jeri Dell Meyer, Sharon Clark, Jeffrey Root; and seven great grandchildren.

[Dean Newkirk]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    March 29, 1979    p. 13

Dean Newkirk, 54, Final Rites Were Held March 23

Funeral services for Dean Newkirk, 54, of Bedford, were held March 23 in Shum-Novinger Funeral Home in Bedford, conducted by Rev. Ward Campbell and Rev. Alfred Hunter.  Mr. Newkirk died March 21, 1979 in Clarinda, Iowa.  Interment was at Rose Hill Cemetery, Blockton, Iowa.

Dean Newkirk, son of Carl Dudley and Jennie Greeley Newkirk, was born at Bedford, Ia., January 22, 1925.

He lived in Taylor County and grew to maturity in Conway and Blockton where he attended the public school and the Methodist Church.

On January 3, 1949 he was united in marriage to Rose Marie Campbell.  To this union five children were born:  James Carl, Luella Kay, Rosella May, Timothy Claire and Michael Dean.

On June 19, 1967 he was united in marriage to Velda Mae Hall at Hopkins, Missouri, and they lived at Athelstan, Iowa.  To this union three children were born, Albert Datis, Brenda Lee and Carl Dean.

He was in the farming and fence building trade.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents Carl and Jennie Newkirk, and by a son.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Velda Mae; children Albert Datis, Brenda Lee and Carl Dan Newkirk; two step-children Barbara Jo and Markus Leon Hall; also children James Carl, Luella Kay, Rosella May, Timothy Claire and Michael Dean; a brother, Cecil and his wife, Dorothy [Matheny] of Bedford; a twin brother, Dale, of Athelstan; a sister Jean Ellen and her husband Joe Vance of Leavenworth, Kansas; and a sister, Anna Lee, and her husband, Edgar Meek, of Blockton; also, seven nieces and nephews.  Also, the deceased son of the first marriage, Robert Richard, is the sixth child.

He surrendered his life to Christ early in his illness and was a faithful witness for Him the remaining days of his life.

[John Harold Baxter, Sr.]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday   May 17, 1979    p. 7

Services Held For John Baxter, 86

Services were held May 14, 1979, at Shum-Novinger Funeral Home for John Harold Baxter, 86.  Mr. Baxter died May 11 at the St. Francis Hospital, Maryville.  Rev. Dwayne Madsen and Rev. Carl Cummings officiated.  Interment was at Fairview Cemetery, Bedford, Iowa.

John Harold Baxter, Sr., son of Charles W. and Mary [Frances] Shellabarger Baxter was born near Shannon City, Iowa, on January 24, 1893.

He lived near Shannon City until he was six years old, then lived the rest of his life in Taylor County.  He had been a member of the Methodist Church since childhood.

On December 24, 1917, he was united in marriage to Pearl Derrickson at Bedford.  They were privileged to have 61 years together.  To this union three sons and two daughters were born.

He was engaged in farming until his retirement.  After retiring they moved to Bedford in 1967.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, three sisters, and a daughter-in-law.  Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Pearl, the five children, John Harold Jr., and his wife, Doris, Omaha; Mildred Davidson and husband, Dwight of Bedford; Homer and wife, Betty, Britt, Iowa; Dean and wife, Nancy, Denver, Colorado and Betty Bilek of Tulsa, Oklahoma; also a sister, Beulah Mahaffey of Bedford.  There are 16 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.  He especially enjoyed his family.  He had a great appreciation of music.  His life's occupation as a farmer gave him an opportunity to conserve the soil as he loved the land and enjoyed nature.  He will always be remembered by his family and friends for his great wit and dry humor.

He was a kind and considerate husband and father, and will be missed by all who knew him.