Kathy Bowlus Butler County Genealogy Trails Kansas

INJURIES FATAL TO EL DORADO GIRL

Kathryn Ann Bowlus Dies in Oklahoma Hospital

Kathryn Ann Bowlus, 15 year old El Dorado High School sophomore, who was critically injured Friday in a car truck crash near Wynne Wood, Okla., died shortly before 11 a.m. today at Roberson Shirley Simmering Hospital in Wynne Wood.

The death of Miss Bowlus, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Burton R. Bowlus, 301 North Orchard was the third in the tragedy which struck when a group of high school students was enroute to Mexico for a Christmas vacation. It creates a wave of sorrow in this town, where the popular young El Doradoan was active in school and church affairs.

Miss Bowlus died of head chest and kidney injuries.

Funeral arrangements which are pending, will be announced by the Kirby Funeral Home.

Two other students, Pamela Ann Harrell, 15 and Richard N. Langford, 17, both of Wichita, were killed in the accident, which occurred on U. S. Highway 77 near Wynne Wood.

Three other Wichitians were injured.

Donna Jean Kogler, 15 was reported in “grave” condition at the hospital in Wynne Wood. She suffered severe chest injuries and had not recovered consciousness Friday night.

Also injured in the car were Beth Ann Hembree, 16 and Richard Edward Barnes, 22 year old instructor of Spanish at Wichita Heights High school. Miss Hembree, who suffered a fractured pelvis, and Barnes, who sustained broken ribs, were also hospitalized at Wynne Wood.

The card driven by Barnes and also occupied by the five students, went out of control on a rain slick bridge. The auto slid into the opposite lane and was struck broadside by a pickup truck driven by Lee Roy Layton, 56 of Wynne Wood. He was admitted to the hospital in Wynne Wood with head injuries and multiple cuts and was reported in serious condition.

Another El Dorado High School student, Miss Tomi Jo Lee, 15 year old daughter of Mrs. Thelma Lee, 1223 West Olive, was a passenger in another of the automobiles in the three car caravan.

The car involved in the accident with the truck was the last vehicle in the caravan, headed for Mexico on a sight seeing tour for first and second year Spanish students. A Wichita North High School student was included. The auto in which the victims were riding skidded more than 250 feet before the crash. Its right side was crumpled.

The accident occurred at about 10 a.m. according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Wynne Wood is located about 60 miles south of Oklahoma City where the group of 14 Wichita and El Dorado high school students had spent Thursday night. With instructors and chaperones, the group had planned to stay Friday night in Dallas, Texas, and arrive this weekend in Monterry, Mexico.

The trip was cancelled and the other students and instructors were expected to remain at Wynne Wood until the weekend or until highway conditions improved.

Willis Harrell, father of Pamela Harrell, suffered a heart attack at his home when he learned that his daughter had been killed. Harrell and his wife, who suffered shock, were hospitalized at Wichita.

Mr. and Mrs. Bowlus, upon learning of the accident, left Friday for Oklahoma.

Miss Bowlus was an El Dorado High School debater and was active in school organizations. She was also an active member of the United Presbyterian Church. She was a Girl Scout and played the piano.

Survivors in addition her parents, include her brother, Jim a freshman student at the University of Kansas Lawrence. (El Dorado Times, December 21, 1963)

Death of Kathy Bowlus Blow to many Friends

All El Dorado was saddened Saturday when the news came that Kathy Bowlus, fifteen year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Burton R. Bowlus, 301 North Orchard, a sophomore in El Dorado High School, had died that morning in the Robinson Shirley Simmering Hospital at Wynne Wood, Okla., where she and other students had been hospitalized since Friday when the car in which they were riding went out of control on a rain slick bridge. She did not regain consciousness after the accident.

Kathy and Miss Tomi Lee, 1223 West Olive, El Dorado and several students of Spanish in Wichita’s West Heights high school were enroute to Mexico on a holiday vacation tour.

Miss Lee, riding in another of the three car caravan, was not injured. After the accident, the tour was cancelled.

Two young Wichita students sustained fatal injuries in the crash, Pamela Harrell 15 and Richard Langford, 17. Another of the students, Donna Jean Kogler, 15 of Wichita still was listed as critical at the hospital in Wynne Wood Monday night. Richard Barnes, an instructor at Wichita Heights and driver of the car, was released from the hospital Monday and Beth Hembree 16, also of Wichita was improving in Wesley Hospital.

Kathy’s warm gracious personality and her high ideals endeared her to her classmates and other associates. Her friends recall that she was thoughtful of others, never failing to have a word of special praise for those who attained scholastic or other honors, or word of encouragement for those whose efforts did not achieve the highest goal. She was a member of the First United Presbyterian church and a regular attendant at the Sunday School. Her affiliations also included the Debate club, pep club, Kayettes and Rainbow Girls.

Born in El Dorado on October 27, 1948, Kathy had lived here all her life, a beloved daughter, sister and friend.

Mrs. Bowlus, Kathy’s mother who is studying for her Master’s Degree in University of Wichita has been doing practice teaching in the Wichita Heights School. She is the former Margaret Corson.

In addition to her parents, Kathy is survived by her brother, Jim Bowlus, a freshman in University of Kansas at Lawrence; and her grandmothers, Mrs. B. J. Bowlus of Coffeyville, and Mrs. H. R. Corson who lives at 409 North Taylor in El Dorado.

Rites were held at 10 o’clock Monday morning at the Kirby Funeral Home, the Rev. James Fulton Clark, minister of the First United Presbyterian church officiating. Mrs. Charles e. Heilmann sang The Lord’s Prayer, with Mrs. L. W. Newcomer as accompanist. The casket bearers were Judge Charles E. Heilmann, K. W. Green, Stanley Young, Charles W. Cooke, Richard Miller and Kenneth Springs.

Beginning at 4 o’clock in the afternoon services were held in the Highland cemetery in Iola where interment was made. (El Dorado Times, Dec. 26, 1963)

SAY A PRAYER FOR KATHY

Kathy was fifteen, Kathy looked to the future, Kathy was full of enthusiasm, Kathy was the sparkle in our lives, Kathy was the “apple of our eye.”

Today she is gone and we miss her. We do not understand why the Lord chose to take her from this earth. But we are sure there is a divine reason and there is a good and substantial reason.

We live but a few years on this earth whether we live a full quota of life or only for a few youthful years. Life does have meaning and we must make the best use of our allotted time.

Perhaps our only function is to encourage others to lead better, purer lives. We ourselves may be only stepping stones to fulfill the lives of others. Perhaps the tragedy of Kathy and many other Kathy’s is to make us aware of our own shortcomings to strengthen our faith.

Then: Please say a quiet prayer for Kathy. If we remember her unblemished youth, we are in her debt as an inspiration to better our lives.

By Her Mother and Father

(Mr. and Mrs. Burton R. Bowlus) (El Dorado Times, December 24, 1963)

BURNS FATAL TO MRS. C. J. HUDSON

Woman Dies this Morning Following Fire Of Week Ago; Third to Succumb

Burns sustained in the tragic fire which claimed the lives of her two small daughters, proved fatal this morning for Mrs. Charles J. Hudson.

Since the blaze, which trapped four members of the family in their small frame dwelling, Mrs. Hudson had been in a critical condition and little hope had been held for her recovery. She suffered burns on the face, chest and arms.

The tragedy occurred shortly after midnight on the morning of March 18 when the house caught fire after a burning log supposedly fell out of a stove and ignited newspapers on the floor.

The dwelling, located on the Dunkle Lease, eight miles northwest of El Dorado was in flames within a short time and Mr. Hudson, who was working on an oil well approximately a quarter of mile east noticed the blaze and rushed home. He carried Mrs. Hudson, his son, Charles Russell and a daughter Helen, to open air but was unable to return for the other daughter, Blossom, who burned to death.

Despite severe burns, Mr. Hudson drove to the Allen Memorial Hospital where the fire victims where Helen succumbing a few hours later. Mrs. Hudson was in critical condition and her death was expected momentarily.

Two of the Family Survive

The death of Mrs. Hudson leaves but two members of the original family of five. Charles the 4 year old son was only slightly burned and was dismissed from the hospital several days ago and Mrs. Hudson who sustained burns on the face and hands; was allowed to leave only yesterday.

The family had resided on the Dunkle Lease, which is operated by Robt. H. Hazlett, Robert Bradford and D. B. Golden, since last fall and previous to that time had lived in El Dorado and community.

Mrs. Hudson who was 28 years old, was born at Hamilton, Mo., on August 12, 1906, and before coming to El Dorado resided at Inman and Howard. She was married to Mr. Hudson at El Dorado. Mrs. Hudson was a member of the Latter Day Saints Church.

Besides her husband and small son, she is survived by her mother and stepfather, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Spunaugle, of El Dorado; three brothers, W. L. Coy and James Stokes; two half-brothers, Daniel and Charles Spunaugle and two half sisters, Mrs. Ed Myers and Miss Dorothy Spunaugle.

Funeral services will be held at the Byrd Funeral Home tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 and interment will be made in West Cemetery. Rev. A. E. Stoft, of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ, L. D. S. of Wichita will officiate. (El Dorado Times, Monday, March 25, 1935)