SUNDAY’S OBITUARY ~ Helen Marion Lindhorst 1916-1994

Published in The Belleville News-Democrat (Illinois) 24 Jan 1994, page 10

Helen Marion Lindhorst is my maternal 1^st cousin twice removed.  She is the only known descendant of my maternal grand uncle Raphael (aka Ralph) Hunter.  Ralph had 8 siblings, seven sisters and one brother.  I’ve researched this family for many years.  I have photos of six of the seven sisters, but not a single one of Ralph or his brother Clyde.  I’m ever hopeful that someday I will find a distant cousin with family photos.  This is why I write blog posts about cousins that may be once, twice or three times removed.  Do they have descendants out there?  If so, perhaps my blog posts will encourage them to contact me.

I have transcribed Helen’s obituary which was published in The Belleville News-Democrat (Illinois) on 24 Jan 1994, page 10.

Helen Marion Lindhorst, nee Hunter, 77, of Dupo, Ill., born Oct 27, 1916, in St. Louis, Mo., died Sunday, Jan 23, 1994 at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Belleville, Ill.

Mrs. Lindhorst was a member of First Baptist Church of Dupo, Dupo, Ill., and V. F. W. Auxiliary Post 6368 in Dupo, Ill.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Lucy nee Siler, Hunter; a son, Carl Edwin Lindhorst and a sister, Elsie Beal.

Surviving are her husband, Edwin E. Lindhorst of Dupo, Ill.; a son and daughter-in-law, Col. Joseph R. and Judy Lindhorst of Freeburg, Ill.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan 26 at Dashner Funeral Home in Dupo, Ill., with the Rev. Darrell Atkins officiating.  Burial will be in Evangelical St. Paul Cemetery, Columbia, Ill.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and from 8:30 a.m. until the time of service Wednesday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Dupo, Dupo, Ill.

Helen’s mother Lucy was married prior to her marriage to Ralph Hunter and had a son and daughter.  This means Lucy had two step siblings and they are enumerated in the household in the 1920 census.  By 1930 her step sister, Elsie had left the household. I have not yet been able to learn anything about Elsie’s life after leaving her parent’s household. 

I do however, know that Helen’s step brother Joseph Jackson Heathcock died in a diving accident at the age of 25, on 2 Aug 1938.  I believe he had married prior to his death to a lady named Louise, but I am still trying to locate more information about them.

This leads us to Helen.  She married Edwin Lindhorst about 1936.  They had two sons.  Their first, Carl Edwin Lindhorst was born 24 Jul 1937 in Illinois.  He sadly died in a vehicle accident at the age of 17 yrs. I wrote about his death here ANCESTORS IN THE NEWS ~ Carl E. Lindhorst, age 17–Dead in a car crash, 1954, Illinois

This means that there is only one known descendant of Edwin Lindhorst and Helen Hunter.  A son, Joseph R. Lindhorst, born about 1949. It appears, based on a newspaper article (The Columbia Star, 28 Mar 1968, page 4) that Joseph joined the U.S. Army.  In many future references to him, I see him referred to as Colonel Joseph R. Hunter.  I believe he married Judith A. Kobylinski in about 1968. 

Since I have not located an obituary or other notice of death for Col. Joseph Lindhorst, I am assuming he may still be alive.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if I could make contact with him and learn more about his mother, Helen?  Perhaps he has photos of her.  And, oh my, could he have photos of his grandparents, Ralph & Lucy Hunter? 

If you are related to or a descendant of any of the people I listed in this blog post, I’d love to hear from you.  Let’s exchange information.

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2023   Diane Gould Hall
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

 

ANCESTORS IN THE NEWS ~ Carl E. Lindhorst, age 17–Dead in a car crash, 1954, Illinois

Carl E. Lindhorst was the son of Edwin Lindhorst (1912-1996) & Helen Marian Hunter (1917-1994).  Carl is my maternal 2nd cousin once removed.

Carl was born 24 Jul 1937 in Illinois.  He is the only recorded child I have for Edwin & Helen.  How very difficult this must have been for them.  I had basic information in my database about Carl, until doing more research while writing this post.

First though, here is the article about Carl’s death in an accident between a car & a truck, on 12 Aug 1954.  Both Carl and another young man, Michael Mernick were killed in this tragic accident.

St. Louis Dispatch 13 Aug 1954, page 14A

Transcription:

2 Dupo Youths Killed as Auto, Truck Collide – Carl Lindhorst and Michael Mernick, Dupo(Ill) youths, were killed and two other persons were injured last night in a head-on collision between a truck and an automobile on Illinois Route 3 near Columbia, 15 miles south of St. Louis.

Lindhorst, 17 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Lindhorst, was driving the automobile.  Mernick, 15, son of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Mernick, was a passenger. 

The injured – Stanley Hudson, 16, and DeWayne Davis, 17, both of Dupo also were riding in the dar driven by Lindhorst.  Hudson suffered injuries of the neck and wrist, Davis cuts.  They were taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in East St. Louis.

Paul R. Miller of Charleston, Mo., driver of the truck was not injured.

I was able to locate his high school annual on MyHeritage and found a photo of him with his basketball team in 1953.

Carl Lindhorst in the front row - 3rd from left

Then I located an entire page in the Dupo High School yearbook from 1955, dedicated to Carl and a bio about him.  He sounded like a promising young man with many friends.  Like the death of anyone at age 17, you wonder what his future would have been.

1955 Dupo High School yearbook - Honoring Carl Lindhorst

Transcription:

We, the members of the class of 1955 of D.C.H.S. dedicate this page of our yearbook in loving memory of Carl Edwin Lindhorst, who was a member of our class until his fatal accident near Columbia on August 12, 1954, had been chosen editor of the 1955 El Tigre. He had been on the annual staff for two years and took part in many other activities.  He played center on the football team, and was student manager in other sports.  Popular and well liked, Carl’s friendly smile is missed in the halls of D.C.H.S.

While Michael Mernick may not be one of my ancestors, I will still honor him today by posting the memorial page from Dupo High School in 1956, the year he would have graduated.

1956 Dupo High School yearbook - Honoring Michael Mernick

I have also located a court case that was filed on behalf of those young men who were killed.  The case alleges misconduct and negligence on the part of the truck driver.  You may read the article here Mernick vs Chiodini - 1956 court case

You may visit Carl’s memorial on FindAGrave here #104355292.

It’s always sad for me to share these stories from our ancestors lives. But, as in our own lives, not everything or everyday is all ice cream and cake.  I share all of their stories to honor & remember them. 

If you are connected with anyone mentioned in this post, please get in touch.  I’d love to hear from you. 

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2020   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION