Caroline Margaret Koehler Fordyce Obituaries
1928


MRS. CAROLINE FORDYCE KILLED AT DAYTON BY TRUCK SATURDAY.

Well Known Piqua Resident Meets Death at Street Corner While Crossing Thoroughfare With Life Long Friend Whom She Was Visiting.

Mrs. Caroline Fordyce, aged 71 years, of 438 South Main street, well known Piqua woman, was almost instantly killed when struck by an automobile delivery truck at Dayton last Saturday afternoon. Mrs. Fordyce was visiting in Dayton with her life long friend, Mrs. Emma R. Skillman, of 113 South Robert boulevard and the two were on their way to the Skillman home after attending a picture show downtown when the fatal accident occurred.

The two women were walking west across Perry street at Third and the truck driven by Daniel Stoppleman, Jr., 17, of 323 Bowlander avenue was operating south on Perry street. Mrs. Skillman failed to notice the oncoming truck but Mrs. Fordyce seeing it coming attempted to jump back out of the way just at the same time that the driver swung wide to pass them.

The Piqua woman was struck by the front fender of the truck and carried a few feet until Stoppleman could stop the vehicle when she fell to the pavement. Mrs. Skillman is said to have been unaware of the accident until a passing woman exclaimed, "Oh, that lady was knocked down," and she glanced around to see Mrs. Fordyce lying on the street.

Although still alive when picked up, Mrs. Fordyce died in the police ambulance on the way to a hospital, death being caused from a broken neck, according to Coroner J. F. Torrence of Dayton. Mrs. Dayton had gone to Dayton on Friday for a short visit with her friend before going to Council Bluffs, Iowa to spend the winter with her niece, Mrs. A. A. Johnson.

The body of the unfortunate woman was brought here Sunday and was taken to the home at 438 South Main street to await funeral services and burial. Stoppleman, driver of the offending truck was questioned by Dayton police immediately following the accident and was released with orders to make a sworn statement of the circumstances before the trafic bureau today.

Mrs. Fordyce was born in the same brick house where her body now lies in state awaiting the last rites and where she lived practically her entire life. She was born on April 7, 1857 and except for the few years of her married life when she lived with her husband, the late George N. Fordyce, at Urbana, had always been a resident of Piqua. Her husband, a Civil War veteran, died approximately twenty years ago.

Following her husband's death, Mrs. Fordyce returned to Piqua where she secured employment at the Orr Felt & Blanket company and for more than a decade served as a forelady in that factory. She retired three years ago. She was an active member of the Wayne Street M. E. church and of the Women's Relief Corps.

Three nieces and two sisters-in-law are the only surviving relatives including Mrs. S. C. Philbrook of 938 Caldwell street; Mrs. Della Eldridge of Richmond, Virginia; and Mrs. Mary Johnson of Council Bluffs, Iowa. The sisters-in-law are Mrs. Emma Fordyce of East Ash street and Mrs. Margaret Wilson of the Presbyterian Home at Sidney. Dr. and Mrs. A. A. Johnson of Council Bluffs and their young son were to arrive this morning to attend the funeral services.

Short funeral services will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at the late home, 438 South Main street following which the body will be removed to the Wayne St. M. E. church for regular services at two o'clock in charge of the Rev. A. L. Wellemayer. Burial will be made at Forest Hill cemetery.

Piqua Daily Call, November 26, 1928 (Miami COunty, OH)


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