The Western Star, October 9, 1936.
The entire community was deeply saddened Thursday morning when the word reached here of the death of Junior and Ralph Pendergraft, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Charley Pendergraft.The Pendergrafts left here in August and are located at Salem, Oregon. They are living in their trailer house and are camped near a river.
The particulars of the tragedy have not been received at this writing.
The sympathy of the entire community goes out to the bereaved parents and the relatives.
Ralph and Junior are grandsons of Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Pendergraft of this city and of Mrs. J. P. Griffin.
The Western Star, October 16, 1936. FUNERAL SERVICES HELD FOR PENDERGRAFT BOYS
The bodies of Junior and Ralph Pendergraft were brought from Salem, Oregon to Wilmore where funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon in the Baptist church with Rev. J. P. Woods of Ness City in charge. Maxine Barber and Marjorie DeMoss sang "Sometime We'll Understand," "Does Jesus Care" and "Safe In the Arms of Jesus." Mrs. Elza Archibald sang "Jesus, Blessed Jesus." Mrs. Walter Ewell of Topeka read the obituaries.
Casket bearers for Ralph were Ivan Booth, Robbie Wood, Vernon Horney and Gene Wood.
The casket bearers for Junior were Harold Fausett, Junior Hayes,
Junior York , Gerald Lott, Herman Hall and Robert McCorkle.A very large crowd attended the funeral to pay their last respects to two brothers, who had won the hearts of many friends. There were many beautiful floral offerings.
Interment was in Wilmore Cemetery.
The sympathy of the entire community goes out to the bereaved parents and relatives in this hour of deepest sorrow.
Obituary. Charles Arnold Pendergraft Jr. was born Nov. 12, 1922 at Wilmore, Kans. and departed this life at Salem, Oregon Oct. 7, 1936 at the age of 13 years, 10 months and 25 days.
His younger brother, Ralph Wayne, was born Feb. 4, 1930 at Coldwater, Kansas and was taken to his heavenly home Oct. 7, 1936 at the age of 6 years, 7 months, 29 days.
Junior and Ralph were always faithful to their Sunday School work, Junior accepted Jesus as his Savior while Rev. Dorsett was in Wilmore a few years ago but as yet had not united with the church.
Junior had spent his entire life at Wilmore with the exception of a short time which was spent at Topeka and Protection, Kansas. He was well loved by all of his classmates and he leaves a place that can never be filled. At home and at school he was always cheerful and dependable.
Ralph, lovingly called partner by all his friends, was always busy with work or play and will be missed by all who knew him.
Junior and Ralph have gone to join their little brother Jack, who was taken home in Sept. 1928.
They leave to mourn their departure their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Pendergraft and a brother, Robert Lee, their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Pendergraft and Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Griffin, three great grandmothers, a host of other relatives and friends.
My Lord has need of these flowerlets gay
The reaper said and smiled
Dear Tokens of the earth are they
Where he was once a child.They shall all bloom in field of light
Transplanted by his care.
And saints upon their garments white
These sacred blossoms wear.And the mother gave in tears and pain
The flowers she most did love
She knew she should find them all again
In the fields of light above
O, not in cruelty not in mirth
The reaper came that day.
TWO LITTLE BOYS
Dear little lads with eyes so gay,
Why oh why were you taken away,
Leaving our hearts so sad and torn,
It seems you had just gone out to play.The years may come and years will go,
Leaving our home, so lonely oh!
Your presence so bright and your cheery song
In memory they follow
The whole day long.
God chose two flowers so fine and fair
He planted them in his garden there
So sure as a magnet to a pole
Twill draw us up to the heavenly goalFor since we know you
Are waiting there
T'will make of heaven more wondrous fairBy a friend, Mrs. G. C. Deyoe
'Twas an angel that visited the green earth
And took the flowers away.LONGFELLOW
Charles Arnold Pendergraft, father of Junior and Ralph Pendergraft.
Helen Margaret (Wood) Pendergraft, mother of Junior and Ralph Pendergraft.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news articles to this web site!
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