Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 8, Number 23, DeMotte, Jasper County, 5 May 1938 — HOWARD ROWEN KILLED BY AUTO [ARTICLE]

HOWARD ROWEN KILLED BY AUTO

LAST SATURDAY WHILE RIDING A BICYCLE. Howard “Buddy’’ Rowen lost his life last Saturday afternoon at two o’clock when he was struck hv an automobile while riding a bicycle on the pavement in front of the H. Swart residence north of town. The tragedy which snuffed out the life of this beloved youngster was one of those unavoidable accidents in which the driver of the car was in no way to blame. Buddy had been “taking turns” with his brother Bill on Marge Konovsky’s bike and he was going north on the pavement when a truck, driven by Harry Gulbranson, of Wheatfield approached him from the rear. At the same time a passenger car, driven by Thomas Fullenton, and with him Wm. Fullerton and Maurice Cerda, Purdue U. students, who were also going north on their way home to Chicago, started to pass. The driver of the Fullerton car apparently never saw the lad on the bicycle and as he went around the truck, he blew' his horn. It is probable that Buddy thought it was the truck signaling, and he started toward the left side of the road, which would have let the truck go right on down,the right side of thq road. The Fullerton car was, of course gathering speed and Buddy wheeled his bike directly into its oath. In a split-second decieio i Mr.' Fullerton pulled his car sharply towards the left, in a frantic) attempt to miss the lad. The rear fender of the car gave him a blow, causing a fracture of the skull and according to Coroner W. J. Wright brought almost instant death. Mr, Fullerton’s car left the pavement, turned over and was badly damaged. The driver suffered a fractured shoulder, but his companions escaped injury. Buddy’s "brother Billy, and other playmates witnessed the tragedy from a distance. The lad was not run over by the car. Surviving are the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Orville Rowen, two brothers William Leslie and James, two sisters, Barbara Jean and Alice Ruth; the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Clark, and Charles Rowen, of Rensselaer several uncles and aunts and cousins, and many, many friends. Buddy was a member of the M. E. church Sunday school and Epworth League, serving the past two years as League president. He w r as a member of the Boy Scouts and w r as a regular attendant at each meeting. Funeral services were held here Monday from the American Reformed church, w'hich offered the use of their building. In full measure all DeMotte and many from Rensselaer expressed the depth of their love for the little boy. Many, many floral tributes from organizations and individuals, with sympathetic words, acts of kindness, and tears. Rev. D. M. lies had charge of the services. He was assisted by Rev. Theodore Schaap, and by Rev. McFall, of the Crown Point M. E. church, who had been a friend and companion through two summer sessions of the M. E. Battle Ground camp. The auditorium of the church was filled with relatives and friends. Buddy's fellow-members of the M. E. League acted as flower-bearers. The

pall bearers were U. H. Henriehs, Ralph DeKock, Otto DeYoung, Jr., J. B. Cox, Herb Nine and William Sw'art. In a beautiful ceremony, w’hieh the three minister conducted, tribute was paid to Buddy, and comforting words given the relatives and the many friends. Burial was made in the Weston cemetery, at Rensselaer.