CROWDER, Junior Lee - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Junior Lee CROWDER, 33, Bloomingdale was killed instantly shortly after 1 o'clock Friday Nov 27, 1959 on US 36 about a mile east of Montezuma when the truck he was driving crashed into the concrete abutment of the B&O RR overpass and overturned. Also injured slightly was an 8-year-old Champaign, Ill boy, Gerald Grinkmeyer, who was riding in a car which was struck by the Crowder truck. Crowder was killed instantly when he was thrown from the cab of the truck onto the pavement, the vehicle then turning over on him. He was the only occupant of the truck. Crowder had been to Dana on a business trip and was returning home driving the truck which was used for hauling logs. The vehicle apparently went out of control as it neared the overpass, struck the abutment, then careened into the westbound lane striking an auto driven by Charles Grinkmeyer, Sr., two older sons, Charles Jr. and Kobby were uninjured. The injured Grinkmeyer boy was taken to the Vermillion Co Hospital, Clinton by Brown ambulance. The accident was investigated by State Trooper Jay W. Dennis; Deputy Sheriff Max Webb; Coroner BM Merrell and Montezuma Town Marshall, Tom Boots. Crowder's body was removed to the Branson & Mau Funeral Home, Rockville. Funeral services were held Monday morning at Bloomingdale Methodist Church of which Crowder was a member. A veteran of WWII, Crowder is survived by the widow, Fauneal; a son, William; 3 daughters, Nancy Lee, Janet Sue and Linda, all at home; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George K. Crowder of Bloomingdale, RR, also 5 brothers, Vance of Kingman; Forrest, Chicago; Ernest, Judson; Frank and Gerald, Bloomingdale; two sisters, Mrs. Jane Cox, Chester, PA; and Mrs. Jeraldine Keller, Bloomingdale.