Hodgkin - Ruth Lavern - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Go to content

Hodgkin - Ruth Lavern


Source: Crawfordsville Journal, June 30, 1923

Ruth Laverne Hodgkin, daughter of RH and Clara Hodgkin, born near Waveland June 24, 1899, passed from this life suddenly in a railroad crossing accident in Crawfordsville June 21, 1923 - age 23 years, 11 months and 27 days. She is survived by father, stepmother, four sisters, Mrs. Ethel Stilwell, Mrs. I.C. Deere, Mrs. Mary Burgess and Mrs. Neila Wheat, and one brother, Earl and a host of friends.

She completed the public school course in Montgomery County, graduating from the Waveland High School at sixteen years of age. She graduated from DePauw University in 1920 and in the three following years she taught in the high schools in Oakland and Casey, Ill.

She was a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority and the Eastern Star. She professed her faith in Christ at an early age and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Waveland. After completing her college course it was her choice to serve the Lord in her Church schools either in the needy and destitute places of the home land or in foreign fields; but in the providence of God her labors were directed in other schools.

Ruth Hodgkin was endowed with several distinctive and valuable traits of character which placed her above the ordinary.

She had a pleasing personality; was intellectually bright; was cheerful and friendly; made many friends, and was able to keep them; for she was loyal to them, as she was also to home, Church, school and country.

She was faithful in all things she reckoned as her duties even in untoward and displeasing conditions. And in the latter circumstances the virtues of patience and perseverance sustained her until the hoped-for change should come. She was ever obedient to her parents and respectful to their wishes in any choice of action. These outstanding virtues, readily recognized in her character, commend themselves to other lives; and in this mysterious providence of God they may appeal more effectively in the absence than in the presence of this noble young woman: for, she being dead, yet speaketh."

Nothing is wasted in the marvelous scheme of the All-Wise. So this life will live large in the abode of the redeemed because it lived nobly in the brief abode of the children of God on earth. - kbz
===============

Source: Waveland Independent newspaper, Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana, June 29, 1923

Ruth Laverne Hodgkin, daughter of R. H. and Clara Hodgkin, born near Waveland June 24, 1899, passed from this life suddenly in a railroad crossing accident in Crawfordsville, June 21 1923, age twenty three years, eleven months and twenty-seven days. She is survived by her father, stepmother, four sisters, Mrs. Ethel Stilwell, Mrs. I. C. Deere, Mrs. Mary Burgess and Mrs. Nelia Wheat, and one brother, Earl. She completed the public school course in Montgomery County, graduating from the Waveland High School at sixteen years of age. She graduated from DePauw University in 1920, and in the three following years she taught in the high schools of Oakland and Casey, III. She was a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority, and of the Eastern Star. She professed her faith in Christ at an early age, and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church at Waveland. After completing her college course it was her choice to serve the Lord in her Church schools either in the needy and destitute places of the homeland or in foreign fields, but in the providence of God her labors were directed in other schools. Ruth Hodgkin was endowed with several distinctive and valuable traits of character that placed her above the ordinary. She had a pleasing personality, was intellectually bright; was cheerful and friendly; made many friends, and was able to keep them; for she was loyal to them, as she was also to home, Church, school, and country. She was faithful in all things she reckoned as her duties even in untoward and displeasing conditions. And in the latter circumstances, the virtues of patience and perseverance sustained her until the hoped-for change should come. She was ever obedient to her parents and respectful to their wishes in any choice of action. These outstanding virtues, readily recognized in her character, commend themselves to other lives; and in this mysterious providence of God they may appeal more effectively in the absence than in the presence of this noble young woman, for, she "being dead, yet speaketh." Nothing is wasted in the marvelous scheme of the All-wise. So this life will live larger in the abode of the redeemed because it lived nobly in the brief abode of the children of God on earth. Funeral services were held at the Hodgkin home on Saturday afternoon. The large attendance and the many floral offerings were mute expressions of the deep sympathy of the community with the stricken family. Rev. U. G. Leazenby was in charge of the services, assisted by Dr. J.T. Boyer and Rev. Mr. Howard. Burial was at Maple Ridge Cemetery. -- typed by kbz
-----------
Source: Waveland Independent Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana May 14, 1915
Graduates HODGKIN, Ruth Parents: Mr. & Mrs. RH Hodgkin, Waveland. DePauw Univ. next fall.

Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal, June 22, 1923

Miss Ruth Hodgkin will be buried from the home of parents in Waveland. The funeral service for Miss Ruth Hodgkin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Hodgkin of Waveland, who met instant death in the motor bus crash here early Thursday evening, will be held from the home of her parents in Waveland Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. The Rev. U.G. Leazenby of this city will preach the funeral service and burial will be made in the Maple Ridge Cemetery at Waveland. Miss Hodgkin was a very popular member of the Waveland younger set. She had been teaching in the west and had been home but a few days. Her tragic death has cast a pall over her home community and the funeral service Saturday will probably be one of the most widely attended ever held there. -- kbz

Source: Waveland Independent Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana June 29, 1923

On Tuesday evening last just after the Independent was off the press occurred the most horrifying of accidents that has touched Waveland in years. The Good Bros. bus which leaves Crawfordsville at 5:55 was a few minutes later struck at the Grant Avenue crossing of the Big Four by a freight train from the east and totally demolished. It is a miracle that all the passengers were not instantly killed. The driver, Richard Glaze had slowed down for the crossing as is his custom but not seeing or hearing any train started on. Rev. JB Johnson, pastor of the ME Church here was sitting on the west side of the bus - the seats run length wise and saw the train. He called out and the driver "stepped on" the gas but did not clear the track, the bus being struck back of the center and thrown across the bank. The top and wheels were torn off. Miss Ruth Hodgkin was sitting on the east side of the bus. When she heard the alarm, she sprang up screamed and ran to the rear of the bus. She was instantly killed, her body being cut entirely in two. Rev JB Johnson was badly injured about the pelvic region at first reported fatally. EM Hobbs, a fertilizer drummer from Indianapolis had several broken ribs. Miss Glady Evans was seated just back of the driver escaped with severe bruises. The driver was not seriously injured. The Grant Avenue crossing is a death-trap and has been the scene of many accidents. The view both ways is obstructed. A watchman is maintained by the Big Four but he goes off duty at 5:30 just at the time when the auto traffic is heaviest. The obstructions are such that the train whistle is often not heard over the car noise, especially from the east. It is certainly up to the city of Crawfordsville and the Big Four to make this crossing safe as it is the way from the south. Safety gates might solve the problem. A bell would not. An all time watchman who would keep awake is needed. Coroner Griffith exonerates the drivers and the train crew but censures the Big Four for maintaining and the city of Crawfordsville for permitting such a dangerous crossing. -- kbz
Back to content