Obituaries Wheatcroft-Wilkey
Selected Webster County Obituaries
Surnames Wheatcroft to Wilkey
The Providence Journal-Enterprise
1948 - 1961
Information has been received regarding the death of Irving H. WHEATCROFT, founder of the town of Wheatcroft, on September 27 at his home in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Death was caused by a heart attack. Mr. Wheatcroft built the first railroad through Webster county 1901-1905, from Blackford to Dixon and from Wheatcroft to Providence. He founded the town of Wheatcroft which was named for him and owned and operated mines there which later were sold to West Kentucky Coal Company. After he left Wheatcroft he moved to Oklahoma City where he operated banks and was extensively engaged in oil and refining in the state of Oklahoma. In recent years he had lived in Toronto and had been operating a string of tank cars in the United States hauling crude oil and gasoline. He is survived by his second wife, her daughter, Sylvia, and a son, Irving H. Wheatcroft, jr., by his first marriage. Information concerning the death was sent by E.C. RUFF who formerly lived in Dixon and Wheatcroft and worked for Mr. Wheatcroft for nineteen years. He now lives in Shelbyville. A stop on the railroad just out of Providence, known as Ruff was named for Mr. Ruff. Another station on the railroad, Jolly, between Providence and Dixon where Highway 41 crosses the old railroad bed was named for a dog owned by Mr. Wheatcroft which bore that name. The big dog, older residents of Wheatcroft recall, was a favorite of the children of the town and was often seen hitched to a small wagon carrying groceries or on other errands.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, October 23, 1952. Compiler's note: According to Robert M. Rennick's book "Kentucky Place Names", Irving Horace Wheatcroft, an Englishman, was the probable founder of the town of Wheatcroft. In 1899 he laid out and founded the town on land acquired from Elijah CULLEN, opened one or more area coal mines, and built the Kentucky Western Railway from nearby Blackford to Dixon.
Leonard WHEATLEY, 29, of Marion, was killed instantly Thursday afternoon when a truck he was driving collided with one operated by Alvin O'NEAL, Crittenden county, on Ky. Highway 85 between Providence and Clay. Sheriff Winfred MELTON said it was reported to him that the crash occurred when one of the trucks attempted to pass another vehicle. Mr. O'Neal was injured and was taken to a hospital. Mr. Wheatley's body was taken to Marion for funeral and burial. He is survived by his wife, Gladys.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, September 25, 1947.
Chesten WHEELER, 27, formerly of Providence, was killed in an accident at Franklin at 1 p.m. Monday. The truck he was driving overturned and he was pinned underneath. Survivors are the wife, Hilda, of Franklin; his mother, Mrs. Alice Wheeler, Providence; two sons, Roy Lee, Providence, and Billy, of Evansville; and one brother, Don Wheeler, Providence. Funeral services were conducted Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the home of his mother near Shamrock, with the Rev. Porter COLE officiating. Burial was in Lakeview cemetery.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, December 6, 1945.
Junious Alexander WHELAN, 69, died suddenly at 9:30 a.m. Sunday of a heart attack at his home near Clay. Mr. Whelan was in Clay Saturday afternoon and seemed as well as usual. He moved from Union county to the SUGG farm near Clay thirteen years ago and had made many friends in this county. Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Lona WILLETT, of Eddyville, Mrs. Karthryn WOODRING, of Pride, and Miss Rosa Whelan, at home; seven sons, Richard, Ernest, Leroy, Charles and LaMarr Whelan, of Clay, Alton Whelan, of Louisville, and Garland Whelan, of Central City; and grandchildren. Funeral services were held at Sacred Heart church at St. Vincent at 9 a.m. Tuesday, with Father HIGGINS officiating. Burial was in St. Vincent cemetery.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, August 21, 1947.
Mrs. Sally WHELAN, 94, died suddenly at 3:30 p.m. Thursday in the home of her son, J.A. Whelan, near Clay. Mrs. Whelan was born and reared in Meade county. She moved to this county with her son from Union county about twelve years ago. Survivors besides the son are ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Martin's church at Flaherty in Meade county, with Father RUSSELL officiating. Burial was in the adjacent cemetery.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, October 31, 1946.
The infant of Capt. and Mrs. Charles WHITAKER, formerly of Dixon, stillborn Saturday in Memphis, Tenn., was buried Monday morning at Oak Grove cemetery, Dixon. Survivors besides the parents are a brother, Bobby, and a sister, Peggy. Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, January 24, 1946.
Mrs. D.T. WHITE, 90, of Blackford, widow of Dr. D.T. White, died at 10 p.m. Thursday in the Sturgis hospital following a short illness. Mrs. White, the former Miss Eusibbie J. RUDD, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Henry Crockett Rudd, was born in Webster county November 8, 1864, on the day Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States for the second term. Mrs. White spent her entire life in this county and was married to Dr. White February 25, 1885. Dr. White died almost 16 years ago. Mrs. White lost her mother at the age of three weeks and her father when she was seven years old. She was reared in Clay by an uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. John NASBITT, and attended school in Clay. She lived in Blackford in the same house for 69 years. She always rendered first aid to the suffering that called at her home when her husband, who was a practicing physician for 54 years, would be away on a call. Mrs. White was a member of the Methodist Church in Clay. Surviving are two daughters, Miss Mina White, Blackford, and Mrs. J.D. FARRIS, Lexington; a son, Dr. John H. White, Blackford; five grandchildren, John H. White, jr., of Chicago, David White of Memphis, Tenn., Mrs. L.W. BIRMINGHAM III of Jackson, Tenn., Hansford W. FARRIS of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Dr. Duncan Farris of Atlanta, Ga.; and 13 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at Franklin and Edwards Funeral Home in Clay at 3 p.m. Saturday, with the Rev. Dudley L. FISH officiating. Pallbearers were the four grandsons and Travis COMBS, near Clay, and Neil McDOWELL, near Blackford. Flower bearers were members of the Young Adult Sunday School class of the Methodist Church, and other friends. Burial was in Blackford cemetery.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, June 9, 1955.
Mrs. Edith FIKE WHITE, 32, of Detroit, formerly of Providence, died at 10 a.m. Thursday in a Detroit hospital. Death was attributed to a heart attack. She had been ill since the birth of a son on November 29, and three weeks ago she was accidentally burned. She was admitted to the hospital where she remained until her death. Mrs. White was born and reared in Providence and had lived in Detroit the past eleven years. She had been a member of the Christian Church since 1934. Surviving are the husband, James R. White; two sons, Ronald Edward, 6, and David Ragon, eight months; the parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Fike, of Detroit; sister, Mrs. Charles VICK, Dearborn, Mich.; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. W.T. CLAYTON of Providence and Mrs. R.A. Fike of Detroit; two nephews and a niece. Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the Christian Church in Providence, with the pastor, the Rev. James DIAL, officiating. Burial was in Star Hope cemetery. Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, July 30, 1953.
Mrs. Goldie WHITE, 66, died at her home in Sebree early Saturday. Survivors are the husband, W.T. White; two sisters, Mrs. Lula BECKER of Evansville and Mrs. Sallie BURTON of Henderson; and two brothers, Bud HOLLIS, Madisonville, and Henderson Hollis, Sebree. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Sebree General Baptist church, with the Rev. W.W. OAKLEY of Poole officiating. Burial was in Springdale cemetery, Sebree. Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, January 17, 1946.
Mrs. Viola Virginia WHITE, 77, died at 6:30 a.m. Monday at her home in Providence following a long illness. A daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John F. MURPHY, she was a lifelong resident of Webster county. She was a member of the Providence Christian Church. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Cora ROBINSON of Clay rural route, and Miss Lora White of Providence; four sons, John of Providence, Eura and Raymond White of Los Angeles, Calif., and Carmen White of Mishawaka, Ind., 13 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a brother, John F. Murphy of Evansville. Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Christian Church, with the pastor, the Rev. James DIAL, officiating. Burial was in the Murphy cemetery.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, August 13, 1953.
W.H. WHITFORD, 83, of Earlington, husband of the former Mrs. Edith WOODSON of Providence, died at 1 p.m. Friday in Hopkins County Hospital in Madisonville. They had been married since December 19, 1946. Surviving are the wife; a daughter, Mrs. Kenneth NISBET, Washington, D.C.; a son, Jack Whitford, Dawson Springs; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Harry M. STEWART, Providence; a brother, Martin Whitford, Madisonville; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one step-grandchild; and two step-great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Earlington Christian Church, with the Rev. F.N. WOLFE officiating. Masonic rites were conducted at the grave in Oakwood cemetery.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, April 7, 1955.
Funeral services for Alvah G. WHITLEDGE, 79, were held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Church of Christ in Poole, with Joe CLARY officiating. Burial was in Shady Grove cemetery, Poole. Mr. Whitledge died at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at his home near the Webster-Union county line. Surviving are three sons, Lola of Robards, Carvill of Evansville, and Ila of Morganfield; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, November 24, 1954.
Mrs. Amelia Frances WHITLEDGE, 73, widow of the late Marion Whitledge, died at 11:30 p.m. Sunday at her home in Clay following several weeks' illness. Surviving are two sons, Rudy Whitledge, Clay, and Noble Whitledge, Evansville; three sisters, Mrs. Betty WOMACK and Mrs. Arch PEMBERTON of Madisonville, and Mrs. Buck HUNTER of Nashville, Tenn.; four brothers, Noah and Lem DAY of Evansville, Joe Day of Chicago, and Richard Day of Onton; one grandchild and three great-grandchildren. Mrs. Whitledge was a member of Fairview Church of Christ near Dixon. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church in Clay, with the pastor, the Rev. G.R. ABERNATHY, officiating. Burial was in I.O.O.F. cemetery, Clay.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, September 30, 1954.
Bennie James WHITLEDGE, 20, World War II veteran, died at 11:45 a.m. Friday at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Whitledge, in Clay. He had been in ill health since before he was discharged from the Army. Surviving are the wife, Mrs. Patricia FRASER Whitledge; the parents; two brothers, Jack and Billy Whitledge; two sisters, Patsy and Ida Jo Whitledge; and grandmother, Mrs. Kenneth Whitledge, all of Clay. Funeral services were conducted at 2:45 Sunday afternoon in the General Baptist church in Clay, of which he was a member. The pastor, the Rev. C.H. HOWARD, officiated. Burial was in I.O.O.F. cemetery, Clay.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, February 24, 1949.
Mrs. Cora WHITLEDGE, 80, died at her home near Dixon at 7:40 Friday
night. Survivors are three daughters, Mrs. Wilbur MELTON of Sebree,
Mrs. Herman MARKS of Providence, and Mrs. Clarence ALLEN of
Evansville; two sons, Tony Whitledge of Chicago, and Colley Whitledge
of Mishawaka, Ind.; eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at three o'clock Sunday afternoon at the
Baptist church in Poole. Burial was in Shady Grove cemetery, Poole.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, June 18, 1942.Compiler's note: Cora Gentry Whitledge was born in 1861, a daughter of Garland C. GENTRY and Sarah THORNBERRY. She married Marion C. Whitledge December 7, 1882 in Webster County. He died in 1938 and they are both buried at Shady Grove Cemetery. Their son Cosby Whitledge of Mishawaka, Indiana, is misnamed in Cora's obituary as Colley Whitledge.
Larry Kenneth WHITLEDGE, two-and-a-half-months old son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Loyce Whitledge, of Evansville, died at 8:30 p.m. Thursday in Riley Hospital in Indianapolis, Ind. Survivors besides the parents are grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Leslie HUGHES, of Providence, and Mrs. Kenneth WHITLEDGE, of Clay; and great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. James Hughes, Providence. The mother is the former Miss Wanda Hughes of Providence. Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the home of the grandparents in Providence, with the Rev. Carrol YARBROUGH officiating. Burial was in I.O.O.F. cemetery, Clay.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, November 17, 1949.
M.G. (Green) WHITLEDGE, 77, died at 1:15 a.m. Thursday at his home near Dixon following a three weeks' illness. Survivors are the wife, Ada; three sons, R.V., of Clay, Elvis of Morganfield, and J.T. Whitledge of Dixon; four daughters, Mrs. Selby RIDEOUT, Henderson, Mrs. Haywood HAYES, of Robards, Mrs. O.E. TAYLOR, of Dixon, and Miss Clara Whitledge, at home; one sister, Mrs. Dera ROWLETT, Houston, Miss.; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday in Free Union church, with the Rev. W.M. FRISBY of Providence officiating. Burial was in Cedar Grove cemetery.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, December 19, 1946.
Roy WHITLEDGE, 61, died suddenly at 5 a.m. Monday, June 30, at his home near Dixon following a heart attack. Survivors are the wife, Bessie; a daughter, Mrs. John Will GRIGGS of Morganfield; and two brothers, Marvin of Morganfield, and Herman of Poole. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, at Walnut Grove Church, with Edwin FINCH of Evansville officiating. Burial was in Odd Fellows cemetery at Boxville.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, July 10, 1952.
Ronnie WHITLOCK, 7, son of Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Whitlock, of Clay, died at noon Saturday in Louisville General Hospital following a week's illness of polio. His was the first case of polio reported in Webster county. Surviving besides the parents are the grandfather, Jim Whitlock, of Murray, and grandmother, Mrs. Lura CLARK, of Murray. Funeral services were conducted at 12 o'clock Sunday at Franklin and Hunt Funeral Home in Clay, with the Rev. Troy G. ROBBINS, pastor of Clay First Baptist church, officiating. Burial was in Murray.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, August 25, 1949.
Jesse Forrest WHITSELL, 72, owner of the Whitsell Funeral Home in Sturgis and Morganfield, died at 7:45 o'clock Tuesday night at his home there. He formerly operated a business in Clay and Providence. He is survived by the widow, Stella; a son, James N. of Morganfield; three sisters, Mrs. Pete MORTON of Morton's Gap, Mrs. Effie NORTHERN of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Mrs. Ida WHITEFIELD of Hopkinsville; one brother, J.D. Whitsell of Madisonville. Mrs. Paul WESTERFIELD of Providence is a niece. Funeral arrangements were incomplete at press time.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, June 23, 1955.
Curtis Marion WILEY, 86, retired farmer died at his home near Slaughters at 8:45 a.m. Friday following an illness of two months. Survivors are the widow, Sophia; five sons, Elmon, Madisonville, Athol and Milford, Ashbyburg, Wesley of Slaughters, and Herman Wiley of Dearborn, Mich.; one daughter, Mrs. Beulah ERWIN, of Rumsey; a half brother, John PARKS of Henderson; nineteen grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday in New Salem church with the Rev. J.E. HARTFORD of Slaughters officiating, assisted by (remainder is unreadable) Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, June 14, 1945.
Gooch WILEY, 74, retired farmer, died at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at his home near Dixon following a heart attack. Survivors are a daughter, Mrs. Verbal GRANT, St. Louis, Mo.; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Mrs. Ella EDENS, Henderson, and Mrs. Bub RIDEOUT, Wheatcroft. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Monday in the General Baptist church in Dixon, with the Rev. E.G. SISK officiating. Burial was in I.O.O.F. cemetery, Clay.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, December 6, 1951.
Howard WILHITE, 37, Nebo route two, an employee of the state highway maintenance department in Madisonville, was accidentally shot and killed by his son, George Wilhite, 18, at 1:30 p.m. Sunday while they were rabbit hunting. At an inquest conducted by Coroner S.T. HARRIS a jury held that the shooting was accidental. Wilhite died in an ambulance enroute to Hopkins County Hospital. Wilhite and his son, who live five miles north of Nebo, were a mile from home when the accident occurred near the home of R.K. BROOKS, who called the ambulance. Coroner Harris said evidence at the inquest disclosed that the elder Wilhite had just shot at a rabbit and missed it. The younger Wilhite then put his shotgun to his shoulder to fire at the rabbit, but as he pulled the trigger and the weapon was discharged the father stepped into the line of fire. The charge struck Wilhite in the right side. He died thirty minutes later in the ambulance. Surviving are the widow, Mrs. Zadie Lee Wilhite; two sons, George Wilhite and Darrell Wilhite; and parents, Mr. and Mrs. Burley Wilhite, all of Nebo rfd 2. Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Star Hope church with Elder J.D. SHAIN, Madisonville, officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, November 30, 1950.
Mrs. Sallie WILHITE, 81, of Clay died Friday afternoon in Western State Hospital in Hopkinsville following a stroke several days earlier. Surviving are two sons, J.E. Wilhite of Detroit and Gordon Wilhite of Clay; one brother, Jesse ALDRIDGE of Evansville; three sisters, Mrs. Nannie RICH of Clay, Mrs. Tommie WINTERS of Henderson, and Mrs. Georgia HATLEY of Evansville; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. The body was brought Friday night to Franklin Funeral Home in Clay and funeral services were held there at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The Rev. D.A. DUFFER, pastor of Clay General Baptist church, officiated. Burial was in I.O.O.F. cemetery, Clay. Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, July 19, 1951.
Mrs. Elizabeth Rue WILKERSON, 42, of Evansville, formerly of Webster county, died Saturday in an Evansville hospital. Surviving are the husband, Lee; a son, Jackie Gene; two brothers, Willie JONES and George Jones, of Sebree. Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Mt. Lebanon church, with the Rev. Goebel PHILLIPS, of Evansville, and the Rev. W.W. OAKLEY officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, September 23, 1948. Compiler's note: Rue Jones Wilkerson was the daughter of John William "Jack" Jones, 1856-1924, and Mary Jane BRIDWELL, 1866-1946, both of whom are also buried at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery. Contributed by Carole Jones Palmer
Lee L. WILKERSON, 92, of Louisville, Ky., formerly of Evansville, died Sunday at Meadows East Nursing Center in Louisville. He was a member of First Southern Baptist Church in Dixon, Ky., Masonic Lodge 911 and Scottish Rite. Surviving are a niece, Crystal TOWNSEND of Louisville; and a nephew, Carl Townsend of Louisville. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Alexander Funeral Home East Chapel, the Rev. Donald MOORE officiating, with burial in Mount Lebanon Cemetery in Dixon. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home, where Masonic services will be at 7 p.m. Evansville (IN) Press, October 6, 1996. Compiler's note: Lawrence Lee Wilkerson was born December 12, 1903 in Webster County, the son of Eugene R. Wilkerson and Louetta WINSTEAD. Contributed by Carole Jones Palmer
William H. WILKERSON, 84, died at 9:30 p.m. Sunday at his home in Dixon following an illness of several months. Surviving are the wife, Escar; four daughters, Mrs. Clarence MITCHELL of Memphis, Tenn., Mrs. W.H. HANCOCK, Mrs. Chalmus GREY, and Mrs. Moina MOORE, of St. Louis, Mo.; two sons, Ernest L. and Basil, both of St. Louis; 14 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Tapp Funeral Home in Dixon, with the Rev. E.G. SISK officiating. Burial was in Townsend cemetery.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, June 21, 1951.
Mrs. Mattie CLARK WILKEY, 83, widow of the late W.J. Wilkey, died at
5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Frank GIANNINNI,
in Princeton. Mrs. Wilkey, whose home was in Dixon, had spent the
past several months with her daughter because of ill health. Mrs.
Wilkey had long been a loyal member of the Missionary Baptist church
in Dixon, and one of its most ardent workers. Survivors are four
daughters, Mrs. Mabel TERRY of Albuquerque, N. Mex., Mrs. Bertha
GRAHAM, Madisonville, Mrs. Lillian Gianninni, Princeton, and Mrs.
Lorene BLANKENSHIP, Lexington; five sons, A.P. of West Point, Miss.,
R.L. of Owensboro, C.R. of Little Rock, Ark., M.N., of Louisville, and
M.E. Wilkey of Providence,; thirty grandchildren; twenty-one
great-grandchildren; two half brothers, H.N. and L.D. Clark, near
Dixon; and two half sisters, Mrs. Gilbert Clark and Mrs. Bud ASHER,
Clay. The body will be brought this afternoon from Princeton to the
Tapp Funeral Home in Dixon, where it will remain until time for
funeral services. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday
in the Missionary Baptist church in Dixon, with the Rev. O.M. SHULTZ
of Princeton officiating, assisted by the Rev. E.G. SISK of
Madisonville. Burial will be in Oak Grove cemetery, Dixon.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, August 12, 1943.