Fairfield Ledger
August 13, 1943

Lightening Kills Local Farmer While Working Yesterday Afternoon

Ralph Adler was driving team of mules, one animal also killed.

Ralph A. Adler, life-time resident of Jefferson County, was instantly killed yesterday afternoon when a bolt of lightening struck him while working in a field on the Joe Ball farm three and a half miles northwest of Fairfield.
Adler was driving a team of mules hitched to a manure spreader and working in a field south of the farm home. His step-daughter, Opal Hubbs, was taking a coat to him and was opening the gate nearby when he toppled from the wagon. The bolt also killed one of the mules, while the other apparently was not hurt.
The Lightening struck Adler during the severe electrical storm which swept over Fairfield and Jefferson County about 4:00 p.m. yesterday.
Reports stated that the bolt apparently struck Mr. Adler on the back of the head. He also had several bad burns on other parts of his body. When the lightening struck him, it threw him from the seat into the back of the manure spreader and the seat on which he was sitting was splintered.
Coroner Jack Raymond was called to the scene. He stated this morning that there would be no bequest.
Ralph Alvin Adler was born in Jefferson County on April 14, 1898, and had lived in this community all of his life. He was a veteran of the first World war. The family lives on the Joe Ball farm.
He is survived by his wife and the following children: Mrs. Mildred Jackson, Myrtle, Caroline, and May Adler, all of Ottumwa, and Jerrel Adler, whose home is in Alabama. He is also survived by two two step-daughters, Opal and Oma Hubbs, both at home.
Other survivors are his father John Adler, Fairfield; two sisters, Mrs. Lonnie Stone, Fairfield, and Mrs. Grace Calhoun, New London, four brothers; William Adler, California; Ed, Jake, and Merl, all of Fairfield, and six grandchildren.
His mother, two brothers, and two sisters preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday at the Hoskins funeral home in charge of Dr. E. A. Piper. Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery.
Lightening has been severe in this community this summer. Several homes in Fairfield and in rural communities nearby have been struck, while several head of livestock have been lost. A number of barn burned after being struck by lightening in recent weeks.