Funeral services for Mrs. Natalie Bash, young matron who lost her life in Lake El Dorado two weeks ago today shortly after she left her home, here will be held at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the Byrd Funeral Home it was announced this afternoon. The services will be conducted by Rev. J. W. Abel, pastor of the Methodist Church. Burial will be in the West Cemetery.
The service will be public, but it was announced the casket will not be open. The complete lists of both active and honorary pallbearers had a not been completed this afternoon but they will be announced later.
Body Found Yesterday
The body of Mrs. Bash was found floating on the surface of the lake about noon yesterday by Jasper Grisby, a lookout employed by the city. The search for Mrs. Bash who disappeared from her home on April 9, after saying she was going for a motor car ride had centered at the lake. Scores of persons took part in the hunt. The body was found about 300 feet northeast of the north end of the spillway and about 100 feet from the shore. As soon as it was towed to shore by Mr. Grisby and Ben Cumberledge, another lookout, it was brought to the Byrd Funeral Home.
It is the opinion of most of those who have investigated the case that Mrs. Bash waded into the lake at the point where her parked and locked motor car was found. This place was about a quarter of a mile southeast across the lake from the point where the body was discovered. Being a good swimmer, Mrs. Bash is believed to have swum and fought her way a considerable distance into the lake and then drowned. The point where she is believed to have gone down is only a short distance from an old creek channel which is near the north side of the lake and on which the body of water was constructed. It is thought that the under current in the channel caused the body to drift to the north side of the lake and finally come to the surface.
Physicians who examined the body of Mrs. Bash late yesterday reported that no marks of violence were found on it. The body was in excellent condition considering the amount of time it had been in the water. Dr. G. E. Kassebaum, county coroner, said this afternoon that no inquest will be held. Mrs. Bash had suffered from a nervous disorder for a number of months.
Born in the South
Mrs. Bash was born on May 20, 1902 at New Albany, Miss. She resided at that place until 1909, when she moved with her parents to Okmulgee, Oklahoma where she resided until 1922 when she came to El Dorado to make her home. She was working for the Skelly Oil Company until the spring of 1933, when she went to work in the offices of the El Dorado Refining Company. She was employed by that concern until April 1, 1935 when she resigned. During all her connections with the company, Mrs. Bash was known for her efficiency and high standard of work. She was in daily contact with many persons all of whom mourn her death.
Mrs. Bash was married to David A. Bash, a production manager for the Empire Oil and Refining Company, on December 25, 1925 at Hominy, Oklahoma. Mrs. Bash was a member of the Methodist Church.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Bash is survived by a six month old son, David A. Bash, Jr., her parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. N. Dalton of Okmulgee, Okla., five brothers, J. H. Dalton of Oklahoma City, Okla., R. L., Charles and W. C. Dalton of Okmulgee and R. R. Dalton of Okeman, Okla., and two sisters, Mrs. W. L. Jarvis of Wewoka, Okla., and Mrs. Ernest Megenity of Okmulgee, Okla. (El Dorado Times, April 23, 1936)
A crowd which filled the chapel of the Byrd Funeral Home and overflowed to the porch attended funeral services yesterday for Mrs. David A. Bash who met death by drowning in Lake El Dorado more than two weeks ago.
The crowd was so large that it was necessary to use the public address system so that all might hear. A huge floral-offering testified to the love and respect in which the El Dorado woman was held by all who knew her.
Rev. J. W. Abel, pastor of the Methodist Church, left a comforting message with friends and relatives and paid high tribute to the character of Mrs. Bash. He took his text from the 18th verse of the 14th chapter of St. John, "I will not have you comfortless."
Included in the huge-crowd which attended services were members of the Philithes Class of the Methodist church, the Business of Professional Men's Baraca Class at the church and women employees of the El Dorado Refining Company and K-T Oil Corporation with whom Mrs. Bash had been associated during her life.
Mrs. Phillis Miller Locke and Miss Lois Moore sang "Going Home," "The Old Rugged Cross," and "When They Ring," and "These Golden Bells for You and Me," accompanied by Miss Frances Ambrose.
Pallbearers were Dr. J. H. Johnson, R. E. Fisher, C. S. Warren, N. M. Hutchinson, George F. Berry, and J. D. Waddell. Honorary pallbearers were Mrs. J. H. Johnson, Mrs. J. d. Waddall, Mrs. Paul Bartholow, Mrs. George Barry, Mrs. C. S. Warren, Mrs. Virgil Morse, Miss Alvis Bowdre, and Mrs. N. M. Hutchinson. Interment was made in West Cemetery.
Funeral services for Mrs. Bash close another tragic chapter in El Dorado's history. The well known and highly respected El Dorado woman disappeared on April 9 and all indications pointed toward the fact that she had taken her life in the waters of Lake El dorado. A search was immediately started and continued unsuccessfully for almost two weeks. The tireless hunt finally came to an end shortly before noon on Wednesday of this week when the body was found floating on the top of the water after having been submerged for 14 days. (El Dorado Times, April 25,1936)
EXPERT FAILS TO FIND MRS. BASH
Atchison Man Unable to Pick Up Trace of Woman At Lake El Dorado
Missing for ten days, the search for Mrs. David A. Bash, young El Dorado matron, continued today, with the center of the hunt still being at Lake El Dorado, the last place she was seen. It was announced that the search for the woman would continue over the week-end in the hope that at least some slight clue might be found as to her whereabouts.
Joe VanHorn his son, Clarence and Clarence Sowers, all of Atchison, who were brought to El Dorado yesterday by the city to help in the search at the lake, returned to their homes last night. The elder VanHorn is an expert at recovering bodies from water, but he had no success here. He and his son, Mr. Sowers and some volunteers dragged the deeper portions of the lake and the spot where Mrs. Bash is believed to have entered the water yesterday afternoon and until darkness descended last night. They did not pick up a clue that the woman might be in the water. The dragging of the visitors was similar to that which has been done at the lake the past few days. It was done slower, however, and with more hooks on a line.
Has To Return To Work
Mr. VanHorn said when he left last night that he could not see how he missed the body if it is in that portion of the lake he dragged. He also said that he would like to remain in El Dorado another day to aid in the work, but he has a sawmill at Atchison and he had to return home to get it in operation again. This is the peak of his busy season and shutting the mill down yesterday caused several carpenters and others to be thrown out of work for the day he said.
According to Mr. VanHorn there is little undercurrent in the lake and it is not believed a body would be carried much from the place where it would go down. It is the opinion of Mr. VanHorn that if Mrs. Bash was drowned in the lake that the body should come to the surface almost at any day now. When the water is as cold as it has been the past few days, it takes longer for a body to come to the surface than when it is warm.
Many Persons Watch
A large number of persons watched the operations of the Atchison men yesterday afternoon. All hoped that some trace of the woman would eventually be found.
Little dragging was being done at the lake this morning because of the roughness of the water. Lookouts are watching the shore line, however, and will continue to do so indefinitely. If the lake becomes smoother, dragging operations will be resumed at once. (El Dorado Times, April 18, 1936)
Search for some trace of Mrs. David A. Bash, young El Dorado matron who has been missing for 13 days is being slightly abandoned at Lake El Dorado where it has been centered most of the time since the woman was reported to have disappeared from her home. The last time Mrs. Bash was seen was at the lake by Charles Pratt, caretaker. Her parked and locked motor car also was found at the body of water.
The announcement was made this morning by F. E. Schide, city Manager, that for the next few days only the shore of the lake will be patrolled in the hope that if Mrs. Bash did drown in the lake and her body rises to the surface that it will be seen and can be recovered. Ever since the search has been centered at the lake, scores of persons have dragged the waters but without result. It was decided yesterday afternoon to abandon the dragging operations at this time. Most of the equipment including the boats, grappling hooks, etc., was moved to El Dorado late in the day. But one boat was left at the lake in case it is needed by patrolmen.
Four Men on the Job
Four men have been employed to watch the shore line. Two of them will work from 5 o'clock in the morning until noon and the other two from 1 o'clock in the afternoon until 7 in the evening. The men are Jasper Grigsby, Rayl Eckstein, Ben Cumberledge and Fritz Niodemus. They will be kept on the job indefinitely, Manager Schide said.
While the search for Mrs. Bash is being slightly halted at the lake, the hunt for her is being extended in other directions. Every rumor that reaches those who have been in charge of the search is being investigated for all it is worth. It is hoped by those in charge of the search and the hundreds of friends of Mrs. Bash and her relatives that the next few days will yield some clue as to her whereabouts. (El Dorado Times, April 21, 1936)
Woman Attired in Same Clothes As When She Left Home With the Exception That Hat Is Missing; Car Keys Tied to Her Polo Coat
The body of Mrs. Natalie Bash, aged 33 years, well known El Dorado matron, who disappeared from her home, 625 North Emporia Street, late the morning of April 9, saying she was going for a motor car ride, was found floating on the surface of Lake El dorado shortly before noon today.
The body was discovered by Jasper Grigsby, one of two lookouts employed by the city during the morning hours. The body was found about 300 feet northeast of the north end of the spillway and about 100 feet from the shore. Mr. Grigsby called Ben Cumberledge, another lookout, who summoned, Charles Pratt, caretaker at the lake, to the place. They secured a boat and Mrs. Grigsby and Mrs. Cumberledge hurried to the body and succeeded in towing it to the shore in a few minutes.
Body To El Dorado
The body was at once brought to the Byrd Funeral Home by Clarence Wilke and Harry Harris. No funeral arrangements had been made this afternoon.
The point where the body was found is about a quarter of a mile to the northwest across the lake from the place where Mrs. Bash's parked and locked motor car was found about two hours after she left home. The last time Mrs. Bash was seen alive was while she was standing at the water's edge, almost directly north of her car, which was only 30 feet from the shore line. She was seen there by Mr. Pratt shortly after she entered the lake property.
The body was fully clothed. It had on the clothes Mrs. Bash wore when she left home with the exception of a hat. The keys to her motor car were found tied with a piece of string to the right lapel of her polo coat. The body is in splendid condition considering the almost two weeks it has been in the water.
Had Nervous Disorder
Mrs. Bash disappeared after she had suffered from a nervous disorder for some time. Her condition was not considered by David A. bash, her husband, and a production engineer for the Empire Oil & Refining Company and an attending physician to be serious, however.
Shortly after Mr. Pratt found Mrs. Bash to be missing from her car, he started to summon Mr. Bash. The latter however, had been home at noon and when Mrs. Bash failed to appear he started to search for her. One of the first places he went was the lake, knowing that Mrs. Bash often motored to that place. Mr. Bash arrived at the parked car just as mr. Pratt started to summon him.
Believing that Mrs. Bash walked into the icy waters of the lake, the center of the search for her had been at that place. For a number of days, scores of persons helped drag the waters, but no trace of her was found. The dragging was stopped the first of this week and four lookouts were employed to watch the shore line during the day time. Mr. Grigsby and Mr. Cumberledge were employed from 5 o'clock in the morning until noon and Fritz Nicodemus and Ray Eckstein from 1 in the afternoon until 7 in the evening.
In Charge of Rayburn
While the main search was being conducted, most of the operations were in charge of Don rayburn, who practically lived at the lake for a number of days. He was given valuable assistance by a number of other men. Women also helped with the work. At one time, as many as 16 boats were employed. A diving suit also was brought here, from Wichita to aid in the hunt. Joe VanHorn of Atchison, an expert at recovering bodies from water, also was employed by the city to aid in the work.
"I consider the efforts of the city to recover the body of Mrs. Bash have not been in vain," F. E. Schide, city manager, said this afternoon.
"Some of the city officials have devoted many hours to the work and I am glad that the mystery surround the disappearance of the woman, regrettable as it is, has been solved."
When the body reached El Dorado shortly before 1 o'clock, the fire siren at the City Hall was sounded twice at an interval of two minutes as it was said would be done if the body was recovered. Although residents throughout the community knew that the sounding of the siren in this manner meant the body had been found, The Times office, police station and City Hall were deluged with telephone calls. News of the finding reached Wichita in a few minutes and a number of persons called from that place too.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Bash is survived by a five-month-old son. (El Dorado Times, April 22, 1936)
George Ray Binder, 68, of 2417 W. Second in Wichita, a Continental Oil Co. field producer and brother of Ruby Graver and Virginia Cody of Augusta, died Saturday. Services are pending.
Other survivors include his wife, V. Thelma; brothers, Walter of Donna, Texas, Carl of Greensburg; and sisters, Pearl Hurley and Dorothy McCoy, both of Wichita, and Ruth Church of Newton.
Cochran Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. (El Dorado Times, January 9, 1984)
George Raymond "Ray" Binder, 68, Wichita, brother of Ruby Garver and Virginia Cody, both of Augusta, died Saturday at the Veterans Administration Hospital.
His Masonic graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Elmwood Cemetery here.
He was born Oct. 13, 1915 in Leslie, Ark., to George J. and Laura Varina Cook Binder.
He married Thelma V. Nuckolls July 21, 1946 at the Augusta First Christian Church. She survives.
He was an oilfield worker most of his life. He worked for Continental Oil Co., of Genesceo and Aladdin Petroleum Co., in Arkansas City, refuel producer for continental Oil co. Later he was employed by Cardwell Manufacturing Co.
In 1978, he retired from Cessna Aircraft in Wichita where he was a machinist.
Binder was a member of the First Christian Church, the Masonic Lodge of Geneso. He was a World War II veteran.
Other survivors include brothers, Walter of Donna, Texas and Paul of Greensburg; sisters, Pearl Hurley and Dorothy McCoy both of Wichita and Ruth Church of Newton, and several nieces and nephews. (El Dorado Times, January 10, 1984)
Melvin J. Binford, 81, of St. Petersburg, Fla., former junior college coach in El Dorado died Wednesday. Service will be 10 a.m. Friday, garden sanctuary Inc. Cemetery and Funeral Home, Seminole, Fla.
Mr. Binford was formerly a resident of Wichita and Haviland, and had been assistant to the president at Friends University. He was coach and athletic director of Wichita University from 1942-48, and coached at junior college in McPherson and Hutchinson.
He is survived by his wife Doris H.; sons, Charles M. of Sydney, Australia, Dr. Donald of St. Petersburg; brothers, Harold of Gunnison, Colo., Lindley of Portland, Ore., sister, Margaret Edens of Winfield; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. (El Dorado Times, Sept. 13, 1984)
Glenn E. Bish, 73, of 227 Bonnie Brae in Wichita, owner of Acme Lithographers, past president of Printing Industries of Wichita and father of Bonnie Griest of Towanda, died Saturday. Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at Downing and Lahey Mortuary.
Other survivors include his wife, Zora; daughter, Barbara Kice of Wichita; brothers, Howard, Cleo, both of Wichita; sister, Winifred Dean of Rogers, Ark., and four grandchildren.
Memorial has been established with the American Diabetes Association. (El Dorado Times, January 9, 1984)
Fred Bonner, 79, of Kansas City, Mo., father of John Bonner of Augusta, died Monday. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Old St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Kansas City, with burial following at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Kansas City.
Other survivors include his wife, Virginia, son, Fred Jr., of Derby; daughter Patricia Walters, brothers, B. J. of Kansas City, Mo., and Cleve of Los Angeles, and four grandchildren. (El Dorado Times, September 13, 1984)
Funeral services will be held at 1 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the Cochran Mortuary at Wichita for Merril Gurney Bowlin, 69, of Towanda, who died Saturday. Interment will be in the Whitewater Cemetery.
Merril Gurney Bowlin was born near Whitewater June 28, 1905, the son of John and Lovetta Bowlin. He was married to Frances Anderson at Wichita on March 4, 1925.
Survivors include his widow; two sons, L. Delbert Bowlin of Benton and Melbourne Nelson Bowlin of Towanda, a brother, Homer H. Bowlin of Newton; three sisters, Mrs. Lora Mae Yazel of Cambridge, Mrs. Lena Letitia Bigger of Newton and Mrs. Goldie Mary Harmon of Viola, grandchildren and one great-grandchild. (Augusta Gazette, August 13, 1974)
Funeral services for Merril Gurney Bowlin, 69, were held Wednesday afternoon in the Cochran Mortuary Chapel of Roses, Wichita with the Rev. Floyd Hansen officiating.
Miss Donna Bowlin sang "Beyond the Sunset," and "In the Garden," accompanied at the organ by Mrs. Wayne Brainerd.
Casket bearers were Bill Bowlin, Wayne Bolwin, Rick Cooper, Roland Bigger, Eldon Nelson and Ronald Nelson.
Interment was in Whitewater Cemetery, Whitewater, Kansas.
Merril Gurney Bowlin was born June 28, 1905, in Harvey County, Kansas, and departed this life August 10, 1974, in a hospital in Wichita, Kansas, at the age of sixty-nine years, one month and thirteen days.
A life-long resident of the state of Kansas, he was one of eight children born to John f. and Lou Etta Caldwell Bowlin, all of whom were brought up in a Christian home. He was married to Frances Wilma Anderson on March 4, 1925. To this union were born two sons, Delbert and Melbourne.
Shortly after their marriage they moved to Wichita where he was employed by the Jacob Dold Company until 1940. He then moved his family to a farm near Greenwich, Kansas and engaged in farming until September, 1971. then due to failing health he retired to Towanda, Kansas where he resided at the time of his death.
Survivors include his widow, Frances, two sons, Delbert of Benton, and Melbourne of Towanda; one brother, Homer H. Bowlin, Newton; three sisters, Mrs. A. R. (Lena) Bigger, Newton, Mrs. Harold (Goldie) Harman, viola, and Mrs. Gene (Lora) Yazel, Cambridge, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Hazel and Gladys and one brother and sister-in-law, Earl and Ruth Bowlin. (Whitewater Independent, August 22, 1974)
Raymond W. Bowlin, 82, of Whitewater, died Friday at bethel Hospital in Newton. Mr. Bowlin, a retired farmer, had been in failing health for the past year.
Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday at the Federated Church of Whitewater, with the Rev. William Glenn, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Whitewater Cemetery.
Mr. Bowlin, a former resident of the Furley community, moved to Whitewater 11 years ago.
Survivors include his wife, Rose; one son, Blaine of Whitewater, one daughter, Miss Donna Bowlin of Whitewater, two sisters, Alice Bush of Minneola, Kan., and Mrs. Merle Ryder of Lee's Summit, Mo.; a half-brother, Henderson Bowlin of Worth, Mo.; two half-sisters, Mrs. Wilma Garret of Worth and Mary Pickering of Wichita; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. (El Dorado Times, November 3, 1984)
Robert J. Bowman, 54, of Augusta, a Boeing Military Airplane Co. employee, died Friday. Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday at Dunsford Funeral Home in Augusta.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara J., son, Dale, daughter, Connie Hummel, and mother, Hazel Bowman, all of Augusta; brothers, Ronald and Alan, both of Augusta, and Myron of Winfield, sisters, Phyllis Kidd of Greensburg, Ky., Melba Gamble of Seattle and Delores Peterman of Ellsworth and one grandchild. (El Dorado Times, Nov. 12, 1984)
Funeral services are pending at the Jackson Mortuary at Wichita for Mrs. Lillie M. Chambers, 45, of Wichita, who died Wednesday.
Survivors include two sons, Bobby L. Kirk of Wichita and Carl Kirk of the home; seven daughters, Mrs. Jocie M. Hayden, Mrs. Velma Withers, miss Lillie Mae kirk, Miss Ione Chambers, Miss Varnella Kirk and Miss Twila Chambers, all of Wichita and Mrs. Learna Posey of Germany; her father, Les Nelson of Towanda, two brothers, Leonard Nelson of Towanda and Jimmy Nelson of Phoenix, Ariz., and three sisters, Miss Norma Nelson of Wichita, Mrs. Iris Reynolds of Phoenix and Mrs. Dorothy Battle of San Diego, Calif. (El Dorado Times,1974)
Pete Custer, of Alton Mo., brother in law of an El Doradoan, died Friday morning at his home in Alton following a lengthy illness. Mr. Custer and his wife who survives had visited in El Dorado on numerous occasions. He was a brother in law of Troy Bunyard, 308 West Fourth. Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Alton. Burial will be at Alton. (El Dorado Times, July 13, 1963)
Charles Duane Hopkins infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Hopkins (Toni Osburn) of Potwin, died Monday at Axtell Hospital a few hours after he was born. He is survived by his parents and his brother, Michael Lee, all of the home; maternal grandmother, Mrs. Donna Osburn of Whitewater, paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Claude Hopkins of Potwin, great-grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Harold Frerking of Whitewater and Mr. and Mrs. John Hopkins of Nevada, Missouri.
Funeral services will be held today (Thursday) at Lamb Mortuary Chapel and burial will be in the Whitewater Cemetery. The Rev. Ken Tubbesing will officiate at the service. (Whitewater Independent, September 5, 1974)
Services for the Rev. Ralph Micahels, 61, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church who died Monday at Allen memorial Hospital from injuries received in an auto accident on the Kansas Turnpike, July 10, will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in St. Joseph Catholic Church at Wichita.
The Rosary will be recited at 7 and 8 p.m. Wednesday at the church.
Additional services will be in Kansas City. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church.
Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Kansas City.
Father Michaels was born Dec. 20, 1901, in Kansas City. He was professed in the Redemptorist Order August 2, 1922 and was ordained June 17, 1927 at Oconomowoc, Wis. He came to Wichita in 1958 from Grand Rapids, Mich. To be pastor of St. Joseph's Catholic Church.
Survivors include his mother, Mrs. Gertrude Michaels, and a sister, Marie Louise Michaels, of Kansas City.
Flanagan-Hunt Mortuary has charge. (El Dorado Times, July 14, 1963)
Arthur Miller, 63, passed away at Larned on August 20. Graveside services were held at the Peabody cemetery Monday morning at 10 o'clock.
Years ago, Mr. Miller resided in Whitewater and worked in the Whitewater post office.
He is survived by three sons, one daughter and a grandson. Other survivors include a sister, Mrs. Gerthal Hinnen of Potwin.
Among those attending the service at Peabody Monday morning were George Reeves of Littleton, Colorado, Joe Lambert, Dick Atkinson, Elwood Moore, Bernadine Gronau and Hazel Breising.
Mrs. Gronau and Mrs. Breising also called on Bertha Breising while they were in Peabody. (Whitewater Independent, August 29, 1976)
Services for Mary A. (Mrs. W. H. Miller), 53, will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Dietz-Carlson Funeral Home, El Dorado, Kan. She died Sunday. Survivors include her widower, a son, Thomas L., Gaithersburg, Md., and a daughter, Mrs. C. Sue Atichison, Baltimore, Md. (El Dorado Times, Tuesday, July 9, 1974)
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