Last rites for Cp. William H. Taves who lost his life in the service of his county in Italy, in July 1945 were held Saturday in Santa Fe, N. Mex., followed by interment in the Santa Fe National cemetery.Rev. W. E. Moore of the First Christian church conducted the service. He used the theme taken from the poem by James Whitcomb Riley. "He is not dead, he is just away." This was followed by military services at the graveside.
William Henry Taves was born in Denver, February 1, 1911, the son of William J. and Maude Cobb Taves. When quite young, he moved with his parents to Greensburg, Kans., where he attended grade school. At the age of eleven he became a member of the Christian church. In 1923 he went with his parents to Alamosa where he attended high school, and later engaged in the electrical contracting business with his father. In 1939 he was married to Louise M. Cooper in Taos, N. Mex. In April 1942, he enlisted in the army with seven other Alamosa boys and receive training in N. Carolina and Camp Beauregard, Alexandria, La. He went overseas in 1943 and served through the campaigns in North Africa and Italy.
Taves was killed in a vehicular accident on July 12, more than three years ago while on the way to a rest camp in Rome. Survivors are his parents, and his brother, Harold, of Ridgecrest, Calif., his grandmother, Mrs. Mamie A. Taves, and other relatives.
Relatives attending the services beside his parents and brother and wife were Mr. and Mrs. Roy Smith and daughter, Mary, of Wilmore; Mr. and Mrs. Verne Cobb and son, Tommy, of Jetmore, Kans., Mrs. John Cobb of El Paso, Tex., and Mrs. Carlton Northup of China Lake, Calif., Mr. and Mrs. C. Paxton, of El Paso, Tex. Among the friends who attended were Mr. and Mrs. George Behler.
Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Taves, Harold and William lived northwest of Wilmore on a farm several years ago. Mrs. Taves is a sister of Mrs. Roy Smith of Wilmore.
TAVES, WILLIAM H.; CPL.; VETERAN SERVICE DATES: Unknown; DATE OF BIRTH: 02/01/1911; DATE OF INTERMENT: 07/30/1948; BURIED AT: SECTION U, SITE 338; SANTA FE NATIONAL CEMETERY; 501 NORTH GUADALUPE STREET; P. O. BOX 88 SANTA FE, NM 87501. (505) 988-6400.
The Family of William Romulus & Mary Ashanna (Messenger) COBB
Surnames: Bollinger, Cobb, Douglass, Ferrin, Gallagher, Hanks, Hinsley, Ihloff, Mahaney, Messenger, Murray, Northrup, Paxton, Rodick, Smith & Taves.
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