Hi: Could you add the below story and obituary to her biography? Thanks! Dave Smith
from the Republican for October 17, 1940:
Auto Crash Friday, Claimed Pittsboro Young People
Three Are Dead and One Injured
Car Runs Wild After Striking Railing of Bridge on Old Lebanon Road
An automobile accident took the lives of three young people here, last Friday night. The dead are Miss Frances Walter, age 19, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Walter, of near Pittsboro; John William Walter, age 17, son of Mrs. Nora Walter; and Ernest Leo Gephart, Jr., age 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Leo Gephart, also of Pittsboro. Roberta Walter, sister of John William Walter, was also in the car and was seriously injured. She is in the Methodist hospital and is expected to recover.
The automobile, in which the four young people were riding, sideswiped the railing of a steel bridge across Little White Lick creek, a mile and a half north of Danville, careened down the road for several feet and then rolled down an eight-foot embankment into a field. Marks on the car and in the field show the car, a 1935 Plymouth coach, turned over five and one-half times, throwing the victims out as it rolled. The bodies of the Gephart boy and Frances Walter were thrown more than one hundred feet beyond the car into the garden of the Raymond Thompson home. John William Walter was found near the car and Roberta Walter was thrown several feet away.
Mrs. Raymond Thompson was looking out the window of her home and saw the car rolling over. However, she said she did not see the car leave the road. Mrs. Hurcel Disney heard the crash and was one of the first to arrive at the scene. Two of the victims were dead when help arrived and the other died in a few moments, according to the report of the coroner.
The cause of the accident has not been determined. The car was evidently traveling at a high rate of speed when the crash occurred. The driver evidently attempted to right the car after sideswiping the bridge but was unable to do so. Roberta Walter, the lone survivor, testified that she and Frances Walter were riding in the rear seat and she thought the car was traveling approximately fifty miles per hour. She said that she did not remember the car leaving the road and regained consciousness in the field several minutes later. Miss Roberta suffered a crushed leg and several severe lacerations.
Dr. Mount E. Frantz, county coroner, and Deputy Sheriff Oscar Bradford investigated the accident. Dr. Frantz reported the three victims died of skull fractures and multiple fractures.
The Junior class of the Pittsboro high school had scheduled their annual class play for Friday evening, and the boys had come to Danville to take the girls to the play. The accident occurred about 5:30. Because of the accident, the play was postponed, and a fish fry scheduled by the Union-Middle Townships Conservation clubs to be held in Pittsboro, was also cancelled.
Ernest Leo Gephart was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Gephart. He was a senior in the Pittsboro high school; a member of the basketball and softball teams and had always taken an active part in school athletics. He was also treasurer of his class organization. The funeral services were held at the Pittsboro Methodist church, Sunday afternoon, with the burial at Pittsboro. Survivors are the parents, two brothers, Billy and Jimmy; and two sisters, Betty and Judith Carol.
from the Republican for October 17, 1940:
Auto Crash Friday, Claimed Pittsboro Young People
Three Are Dead and One Injured
Car Runs Wild After Striking Railing of Bridge on Old Lebanon Road
An automobile accident took the lives of three young people here, last Friday night. The dead are Miss Frances Walter, age 19, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Walter, of near Pittsboro; John William Walter, age 17, son of Mrs. Nora Walter; and Ernest Leo Gephart, Jr., age 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Leo Gephart, also of Pittsboro. Roberta Walter, sister of John William Walter, was also in the car and was seriously injured. She is in the Methodist hospital and is expected to recover.
The automobile, in which the four young people were riding, sideswiped the railing of a steel bridge across Little White Lick creek, a mile and a half north of Danville, careened down the road for several feet and then rolled down an eight-foot embankment into a field. Marks on the car and in the field show the car, a 1935 Plymouth coach, turned over five and one-half times, throwing the victims out as it rolled. The bodies of the Gephart boy and Frances Walter were thrown more than one hundred feet beyond the car into the garden of the Raymond Thompson home. John William Walter was found near the car and Roberta Walter was thrown several feet away.
Mrs. Raymond Thompson was looking out the window of her home and saw the car rolling over. However, she said she did not see the car leave the road. Mrs. Hurcel Disney heard the crash and was one of the first to arrive at the scene. Two of the victims were dead when help arrived and the other died in a few moments, according to the report of the coroner.
The cause of the accident has not been determined. The car was evidently traveling at a high rate of speed when the crash occurred. The driver evidently attempted to right the car after sideswiping the bridge but was unable to do so. Roberta Walter, the lone survivor, testified that she and Frances Walter were riding in the rear seat and she thought the car was traveling approximately fifty miles per hour. She said that she did not remember the car leaving the road and regained consciousness in the field several minutes later. Miss Roberta suffered a crushed leg and several severe lacerations.
Dr. Mount E. Frantz, county coroner, and Deputy Sheriff Oscar Bradford investigated the accident. Dr. Frantz reported the three victims died of skull fractures and multiple fractures.
The Junior class of the Pittsboro high school had scheduled their annual class play for Friday evening, and the boys had come to Danville to take the girls to the play. The accident occurred about 5:30. Because of the accident, the play was postponed, and a fish fry scheduled by the Union-Middle Townships Conservation clubs to be held in Pittsboro, was also cancelled.
Ernest Leo Gephart was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Gephart. He was a senior in the Pittsboro high school; a member of the basketball and softball teams and had always taken an active part in school athletics. He was also treasurer of his class organization. The funeral services were held at the Pittsboro Methodist church, Sunday afternoon, with the burial at Pittsboro. Survivors are the parents, two brothers, Billy and Jimmy; and two sisters, Betty and Judith Carol.
Hi: Could you add the below story and obituary to her biography? Thanks! Dave Smith
from the Republican for October 17, 1940:
Auto Crash Friday, Claimed Pittsboro Young People
Three Are Dead and One Injured
Car Runs Wild After Striking Railing of Bridge on Old Lebanon Road
An automobile accident took the lives of three young people here, last Friday night. The dead are Miss Frances Walter, age 19, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Walter, of near Pittsboro; John William Walter, age 17, son of Mrs. Nora Walter; and Ernest Leo Gephart, Jr., age 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Leo Gephart, also of Pittsboro. Roberta Walter, sister of John William Walter, was also in the car and was seriously injured. She is in the Methodist hospital and is expected to recover.
The automobile, in which the four young people were riding, sideswiped the railing of a steel bridge across Little White Lick creek, a mile and a half north of Danville, careened down the road for several feet and then rolled down an eight-foot embankment into a field. Marks on the car and in the field show the car, a 1935 Plymouth coach, turned over five and one-half times, throwing the victims out as it rolled. The bodies of the Gephart boy and Frances Walter were thrown more than one hundred feet beyond the car into the garden of the Raymond Thompson home. John William Walter was found near the car and Roberta Walter was thrown several feet away.
Mrs. Raymond Thompson was looking out the window of her home and saw the car rolling over. However, she said she did not see the car leave the road. Mrs. Hurcel Disney heard the crash and was one of the first to arrive at the scene. Two of the victims were dead when help arrived and the other died in a few moments, according to the report of the coroner.
The cause of the accident has not been determined. The car was evidently traveling at a high rate of speed when the crash occurred. The driver evidently attempted to right the car after sideswiping the bridge but was unable to do so. Roberta Walter, the lone survivor, testified that she and Frances Walter were riding in the rear seat and she thought the car was traveling approximately fifty miles per hour. She said that she did not remember the car leaving the road and regained consciousness in the field several minutes later. Miss Roberta suffered a crushed leg and several severe lacerations.
Dr. Mount E. Frantz, county coroner, and Deputy Sheriff Oscar Bradford investigated the accident. Dr. Frantz reported the three victims died of skull fractures and multiple fractures.
The Junior class of the Pittsboro high school had scheduled their annual class play for Friday evening, and the boys had come to Danville to take the girls to the play. The accident occurred about 5:30. Because of the accident, the play was postponed, and a fish fry scheduled by the Union-Middle Townships Conservation clubs to be held in Pittsboro, was also cancelled.
Ernest Leo Gephart was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Gephart. He was a senior in the Pittsboro high school; a member of the basketball and softball teams and had always taken an active part in school athletics. He was also treasurer of his class organization. The funeral services were held at the Pittsboro Methodist church, Sunday afternoon, with the burial at Pittsboro. Survivors are the parents, two brothers, Billy and Jimmy; and two sisters, Betty and Judith Carol.
from the Republican for October 17, 1940:
Auto Crash Friday, Claimed Pittsboro Young People
Three Are Dead and One Injured
Car Runs Wild After Striking Railing of Bridge on Old Lebanon Road
An automobile accident took the lives of three young people here, last Friday night. The dead are Miss Frances Walter, age 19, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Walter, of near Pittsboro; John William Walter, age 17, son of Mrs. Nora Walter; and Ernest Leo Gephart, Jr., age 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Leo Gephart, also of Pittsboro. Roberta Walter, sister of John William Walter, was also in the car and was seriously injured. She is in the Methodist hospital and is expected to recover.
The automobile, in which the four young people were riding, sideswiped the railing of a steel bridge across Little White Lick creek, a mile and a half north of Danville, careened down the road for several feet and then rolled down an eight-foot embankment into a field. Marks on the car and in the field show the car, a 1935 Plymouth coach, turned over five and one-half times, throwing the victims out as it rolled. The bodies of the Gephart boy and Frances Walter were thrown more than one hundred feet beyond the car into the garden of the Raymond Thompson home. John William Walter was found near the car and Roberta Walter was thrown several feet away.
Mrs. Raymond Thompson was looking out the window of her home and saw the car rolling over. However, she said she did not see the car leave the road. Mrs. Hurcel Disney heard the crash and was one of the first to arrive at the scene. Two of the victims were dead when help arrived and the other died in a few moments, according to the report of the coroner.
The cause of the accident has not been determined. The car was evidently traveling at a high rate of speed when the crash occurred. The driver evidently attempted to right the car after sideswiping the bridge but was unable to do so. Roberta Walter, the lone survivor, testified that she and Frances Walter were riding in the rear seat and she thought the car was traveling approximately fifty miles per hour. She said that she did not remember the car leaving the road and regained consciousness in the field several minutes later. Miss Roberta suffered a crushed leg and several severe lacerations.
Dr. Mount E. Frantz, county coroner, and Deputy Sheriff Oscar Bradford investigated the accident. Dr. Frantz reported the three victims died of skull fractures and multiple fractures.
The Junior class of the Pittsboro high school had scheduled their annual class play for Friday evening, and the boys had come to Danville to take the girls to the play. The accident occurred about 5:30. Because of the accident, the play was postponed, and a fish fry scheduled by the Union-Middle Townships Conservation clubs to be held in Pittsboro, was also cancelled.
Ernest Leo Gephart was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Gephart. He was a senior in the Pittsboro high school; a member of the basketball and softball teams and had always taken an active part in school athletics. He was also treasurer of his class organization. The funeral services were held at the Pittsboro Methodist church, Sunday afternoon, with the burial at Pittsboro. Survivors are the parents, two brothers, Billy and Jimmy; and two sisters, Betty and Judith Carol.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
