PARDUE, Penny Sue
Source: Kingman Star Friday, December 2, 1949
Marshall, Ind.—A young mother’s effort to rekindle a waning fire in her humble home early Thanksgiving morning brought death to her and her three children.
The victims of the tragedy were Mrs. Pauline Evelyn Pardue, 20, George Lee Pardue, Jr., 4, Pauline Patricia Pardue, 2 ½, and Penny Sue Pardue, 4 months.
The log cabin home, located two miles north of Turkey Run State Park, was completely destroyed by fire following an explosion when Mrs. Pardue threw gasoline on embers in a heating stove.
Her husband, George Lee Pardue, 24, jumped through a window in his night clothing and drove to the home of a neighbor, William Milam, who summoned the Marshall Fire Department.
The father was not seriously burned. He was taken to the office of a Wallace physician where his injuries were dressed. However, he was suffering so badly from shock that he could not tell a coherent story of what happened. It was believed he was asleep when the explosion occurred.
State Police and Parke County Coroner, H. S. Branson, in investigating the tragedy, said the explosion occurred between 5 and 6 a.m. It was believed that Mrs. Pardue had awakened to feed the baby and discovered the fire was low.
Mrs. Pardue’s body was found near the front door of the four room cabin. Nearby was the body of Penny Sue.
The bodies of the two older children were found in the bed they occupied together.
The family moved here from Indianapolis about two years ago. Mr. Pardue has been employed as a ditcher by Tom Henley, on whose farm the cabin was located.
All four bodies, badly burned, were taken to the Branson Funeral Home in Rockville, where the coroner’s inquest was completed.
The bodies were taken to the George Herman Funeral Home, 1505 South East Street, Indianapolis, where funeral services will be conducted. Mrs. Pardue is survived by her father, Harry Hendrickson of Indianapolis, her mother, Mrs. Clara Hendrickson, of Waveland, a sister, Mrs. Maxine James, of Indianapolis, and a brother Fred (story incomplete). – thanks to S&E – so sad