PVT RALPH MERVIN POTTORFF
Pvt. Ralph M. Pottorff Killed in Action Feb.
Mrs. Ralph Pottorff, of Fort Scott, Kan., received official notification Monday of the death of her husband, Pvt. Pottorff, on February 7, 1945. Pvt. Pottorff, who had been overseas since January 5, was serving with Patton's Third army.
Pvt. Pottorff, 25 years of age and the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Pottorff, of this city, moved with his parents to Mount Ayr when seven years of age. He entered the armed forces in July, 1944, and received his basic training at Camp Hood, Texas.
Besides his wife and parents, he is survived by two daughters, Mary Louise, four years of age, and Mevina Joyce, two years old; one brother, Clarence Pottorff, of Sioux City; two sisters, Mrs. Dick [Clara] Mickael, of Davis city (sic), and Mrs. Orva [Mary Corintha] Fletchall, of Grant City, Mo.
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Military Services Held for Pvt. Ralph M. Pottorff
Military graveside services for Pvt. Ralph M. Pottorff were held Thursday afternoon, July 25, at [illegible] o'clock at Rose Hill cemetery at Mount Ayr, officiated by the Rev. Frank A. Moore, pastor of the Methodist church, and Ringgold Post No. 172 American Legion.
Ralph Mervin, the youngest son of Charles and Eda Pottorff, was born December 13, 1919, near Napier, Neb., and died February 7, 1945, in Germany, while in the service of his country.
He received his elementary education in the Mount Ayr schools, and was a faithful attendant at the services of the Christian church. Later he moved with his parents to Fort Scott, Kan., where he attended high school and the First Christian church.
On August 16, 1939, he was united in marriage with Gwendolyn Graves and the home was established in Mount Ayr. Two daughters, Mary Louise and Mervina Joyce, came to gladden their home.
Following his enlistment with the armed forces in July, 1944, he left August 16 for his basic training at Camp Hood, Texas. After only four and one-half months of training in the States, he was sent overseas in January, 1945. He paid the supreme sacrifice while serving in Patton's Third Army in Germany.
Left to cherish his memory are his daughters, Mary Louise and Mervina Joyce, and their mother, Mrs. Earl Smith, of Wichita, Kan.; his father and mother, of Mount Ayr two sisters, Mrs. Dick Mickael, of Mount Ayr, and Mrs. Orville Fletchall, of Grant City, Mo.; a brother, Clarence Pottorff, of Sioux City; a number of other relatives and a host of friends.
Relatives from a distance who attended the services included Mrs. Earl Smith and daughters of Wichita, Kan., Mrs. William Graves, Miss Leota Graves and William and Louis Graves, of Fort Scott, Kan., his aunt, Mrs. Elizabeth Avery, and Clarence Pottorff and children, Luella, Margaret and Ellis, of Sioux City.
Source: Mount Ayr Record-News, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa,
1945 dates clipped off
NOTE: Pvt. Pottorff and his regiment were taking a point on the Siegfried Line and were taking cover in their foxholes when a mortar shell exploded, killing Pvt. Pottorff instantly. He was interred in the U.S. Army Cemetery. A memorial stone was placed at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Iowa.
