RHEA, William F. 1862-1942

RHEA, WILSON

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 2/13/2022 at 21:33:09

William Rhea Found Dead In Bed Saturday

William Rhea was found dead in bed at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Herman Barfels, at Reinbeck Saturday morning. He had apparently been in good health before his death and was looking well and happy when he bid the family good night before going to bed Friday evening. He had been dead several hours when the family found him in the morning. A sudden heart attack is believed to have been the cause of his sudden death. He was 79 years old.

Funeral services were held at the Coffman funeral home in Grundy Center Monday afternoon. The services were conducted by Rev. Oliver Stevenson, pastor of the Presbyterian church. Burial was by the side of the wife in the Morrison cemetery.

The surviving children are: Roy and Mrs. Foster Weibly, of Los Angeles; James of Blair Mills, Penn; John of Fort Pierce, Fla.; Bryan and Robert of Sumner; Mrs. Herman Barfels of Reinbeck; and Mrs. William Hostetter of Grundy Center. Fifteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. One brother, Edgar, of Tavares, Florida, also survives him.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 5 February 1942, pg 1

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Obituary

William Franklin Rhea, eldest son of James D. and Catherine Shumaker Rhea, was born at Blain, Penna., Sept. 2, 1862, where he grew to manhood and Sept. 27, 1881, was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Wilson of Blain. They lived in Pennsylvania until 1914, when the family came to Iowa, locating on a farm near Sumner.

In 1924 they moved to Morrison where they had the pleasure of celebrating their golden wedding anniversary in 1931. Mrs. Rhea died in 1932.

William Rhea was born at the beginning of the Civil War and his first memories were that of watching for his father's return from the war. Three sons saw service in the first World War, and he now has a grandson in the U.S. Army.

William Rhea was the father of five sons and four daughters, all but one of whom survive him, Mrs. Dessie Weibly, who died in 1932.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 26 February 1942, pg 8