Gunkle - Lulu
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, 19 November 1897
Lulu Pearl Gunkle, daughter of C. G. and Ellen Gunkle, was born July 13, 1878, and was called from this life November 12, 1897. A twin sister died in infancy and just as Lulu was passing from the innocence of childhood her mother was taken from her. Her older sisters were all married and had homes of their own, so without the assistance of an older sister or the loving advice of a mother, the child was left alone to keep house and care for the wants of her father. In addition to this the care of a little daughter of a widowed sister was soon put upon her, and amid these cares she lived until just entering into the age of womanhood, when her life was cut short.
No young person in the community was more more highly respected nor more loved by her associates than she,—always jovial, meeting everyone with a smile, or merry joke. She was continually attracting the admiration of her friends, and even by her most intimate acquaintances she was never heard to complain that her cross was more than she could bear. Exposure was due, perhaps, partly for her death, for she walked over a mile every day to school through the grassy pastures, and this, together with her other work had so weakened her constitution that she was unable to throw of the dreadful disease. She might have recovered from the typhoid fever, but pneumonia set in and rent asunder the few remaining threads that held her spirit here. The funeral occurred Sunday. A short service was held at the house, conducted by Rev. O. M. McGaughey, in which he likened her life to the growing of a small plant but was frosted by the cold breath of Death ere it reached maturity. The floral designs, numerous and beautiful, only went to prove the high esteem and affection bestowed upon her while living by her many friends. No more pathetic incident occurred during the ceremony than when the girls of her own age, and with whom she had been so long and so intimately connected, gathered around the casket to bid her a last farewell. After the ceremony the body was taken to the Harshbarger cemetery where, while the rain was falling gently, as tear drops from Heaven, with a short prayer her body was consigned to the earth from whence it came. Some of the flowers were buried with her and the rest were placed on the grave.
Thus were the last manifestations of the love we bore to a dear girl, innocent in her youth, beautiful in her innocence, devoted to her duties and constant in her affections. One of the floral designs prepared by her girl associates and nearest friends bore the impressive stanza: Farewell, farewell, dear Lulu, Until that glorious day When we shall all meet in heaven, And Christ bids us "welcome, stay!" Whitesville, Ind. A FRIEND - typed by k
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 19 November 1897
Lulu, daughter of C. G. Gunkle, of Whitesville, died Friday at 1:30 p.m. of typhoid fever. Her illness was one of short duration, she having been in the school room ten days before her death. She was 19 years of age, a devoted daughter, a faithful friend and very popular with her schoolmates. The funeral occurred from the family residence Sunday at 11 a.m. Interment was at Myers’ Cemetery. - typed by s
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 19 November 1897
The silent messenger has again visited our peaceful community and after a warning of one brief week and a half has called from us one of the most beloved and most jovial of our members. For the first time in the experience of the generation just emerging from its ‘teens was called Sunday to minister the funeral rites to the moral remains of one of its own members and assemble around the grave to see her take up her abode in the silent city of the dead.
Lulu Pearl Gunkle, daughter of C. G. and Ellen Gunkle, was born July 13, 1878, and was called from this life November 12, 1897. A twin sister died in infancy and just as Lulu was passing from the innocence of childhood her mother was taken from her. Her older sisters were all married and had homes of their own, so without the assistance of an older sister or the loving advice of a mother, the child was left alone to keep house and care for the wants of her father. In addition to this the care of a little daughter of a widowed sister was soon put upon her, and amid these cares she lived until just entering into the age of womanhood, when her life was cut short. No young person in the community was more highly respected nor more loved by her associates that she,--always jovial, meeting everyone with a smile, or merry joke. She was continually attracting the admiration of her friends and even by her most intimate acquaintances she was never heard to complain that her cross was more than she could bear.
Exposure was due, perhaps, partly for her death; for she walked over a mile every day to school through the grassy pastures, and this, together with her other work had so weakened her constitution that she was unable to throw off the dreadful disease. She might have recovered from the typhoid fever, but pneumonia set in and rent asunder the few remaining threads that held her spirit here.
The funeral occurred Sunday. A short service was held at the house, conducted by Rev. O. M. McGaughey, in which he likened her life to the growing of a small plant but was frosted by the cold breath of Death ere it reached maturity. The floral designs, numerous and beautiful, only went to prove the high esteem and affection bestowed upon her while living by her many friends. No more pathetic incident occurred during the ceremony than when the girls of her own age, and with whom she had been so long and so intimately connected, gathered around the casket to bid her a last farewell.
After the ceremony the body was taken to the Harshbarger Cemetery where, while the rain was falling gently, as tear drops from Heaven, with a short prayer her body was consigned to the earth from whence it came. Some of the flowers were buried with her and the rest were placed on the grave. -s