Karl G. Ehrlich, well-known Coldwater citizen, passed away Monday of last week following a heart attack while on a business trip to Pratt. He was brought to the Comanche County Hospital but expired before reaching there.Funeral services were held in the Presbyterian church in this city on Thursday, June 28, at 2:30 p.m. and were in charge of George Brown, pastor of the Christian church in Poteau, Okla., and a former pastor in Coldwater, and was assisted by Rev. Donald A. Kessler, pastor of the Methodist church in this city.
A male quartet composed of Marvin Plank, Wallace and John White and Gene Dorsey, the latter of Wilmore, sang "Faith of Our fathers" and "Be Still My Soul," accompanied by Mrs. Frances Gregg, organist.
The pallbearers were Raymond and Melvin Parcel, Fred Anderson, James McCay Jr., Walter Maris of Protection and Victor Gates. Masonic services by Comanche Lodge No. 295, A. F. & A. M., were held at Crown Hill cemetery near this city.
Obituary. Karl Gustav Ehrlich, eldest son of Karl and Maria Ehrlich, was born July 15, 1885, in Lehigh, Kans., and passed away June 25, 1951, at Coldwater, Kans., at the age of 65 years, 8 months and 10 days.
His early life was spent in Marion, Kans., where he was graduated from high school in 1904. He engaged in the grain business with his father and brothers for several years until moving to Fredonia, Kans. In 1917, he was married to Miss Freda Elling of that city, who passed away in the flu epidemic of 1918.
Mr. Erlich came to Coldwater in 1920 and on December 22 of that year he was united in marraige with Elizabeth Thomas. To this union was born one son, Karl Albert, of El Dorado, Kans., now a medical doctor on active duty with the Air Force.
During his more than 30 years residence in Coldwater, Karl was in the wheat and cattle business. He was active in church and community affairs and at the time of his death he was the ruling elder of the Presbyterian church, President-elect of the Lions Club, Past Master of the Masonic Lodge, a member of the Scottish Rite Consistory and Midian Shrine of Wichita, and held many positions of honor and responsibility in this community.
For the past four years he had been in declining health. He was preceded in death by his father, two brothers and one sister.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, of the home, and his son, Karl Albert; also by his mother, Mrs. Karl Ehrlich, of Chicago; two brothers, Albert of Tacoma, Wash., and Bernhard of Newport, Ore.; and four sisters, Mrs. Walter C. Ditt and Mrs. Arthur Pankratz of Chicago, Mrs. A. W. Oberfell of South Bend, Ind.; and Mrs. J. S. Butler, of Burdick, Kans.
Mr. Ehrlich was a man of strong convictions and stood for things which he thought were right and for the benefit of his fellow men. He chose to substitute purposeful living for petty thinking.
Had he lived two days longer he would have been installed as president of the Coldwater Lions Club.
The following tribute to Mr. Erlich was delivered at the weekly Lions Club luncheon on Wednesday, June 27, by Frank E. Daily Jr., the incoming president of the club, who took office that day.
Tribute to Karl G. Ehrlich. It is indeed an unfortunate occurrence which has projected me into the position that Karl Ehrlich was elected to hold. We are once again impressed with the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death. Death, even though certain, always causes sadness.
In my judgment Karl Erlich would have made this club one of the best presidents it has ever had. You will recall that he was enough interested in Lionism to attend the National Convention in Chicago. And you will remember from his report that he actively participated in the convention and received inspiration from it.
He was active in the Masonic Lodge, Consistory and Shrine.
He was clerk of the Session and an elder in the church over a long period of years and gave all church activities his active support.
When the Coldwater Country Club was organized he was one of the first to sign up because he wanted to get behind any enterprise benefitting the community.
He was one of the major donors to the County Hospital. He was a tower of strength in any club or activity of which he was a member.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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