GOODING, Austin Leroy - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Austin Leroy Gooding, 24, son of Mrs. Naomi McClure of Waveland was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident Friday night. He died Saturday morning in Home Hospital, Lafayette. Miss Maggie Carver of Crawfordsville who was riding on another motorcycle, received a fractured pelvis and is in Home Hospital. Mr. Gooding was one of 5 Waynetown persons who went to Lafayette Friday night to attend the midget auto races. When the races were postponed they started on to Indianapolis. The accident occurred on US 52 between Lafayette and Indianapolis. Survivors said that apparently a bug struck Gooding's eye. In attempting to brush the insect away, his hand struck the throttle, causing his cycle to lunge forward. It struck the cycle ahead of him ridden by Mr. Eunice McCracken and Miss Carver of Waynetown. Miss Carver was thrown off and as Mr. Gooding swerved his cycle avoid striking her, he was thrown to the ground. His motorcycle landed atop him. He received internal injuries and a fractured skull. Mr. McCracken and Keith Snelling, the third motorcyclist both of Waynetown were treated at Home hospital but were dismissed Saturday. Mr. Gooding served in the US Army under Gen. George S. Patton, with the 3rd Army in Europe as a Technical Sgt. He saw 30 months of service in and around France. When discharged Dec 31, 1945 he wore: the Good Conduct ribbon, American Theatre ribbon, Europe, Mediterranean Theatre and Bronze-Medal and Victory medal. Austin Gooding was born Oct 31, 1923 at Browns Valley the son of Leland Gooding and Naomi Gooding McClure. He is survived by his father of Waynetown, his mother of Waveland, also a brother Robert of Waveland; a sister, Mrs. Pauline Collings of Russellville; and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Gooding of Waynetown. Funeral services were conducted at the Grenard Funeral Home, Monday afternoon with burial in Russellville Cemetery. ~~~transcribed by kbz

Mrs. Naomi GOODING has received the Bronze Star medal that has been awarded Austin for heroic and meritorious achievements in the ETO also a copy of "The Forward Observer" printed at Eichstatt Germany that contains the following article which will be of interest to home folks. Presentation of combat awards to 40 members of the 775 Battalion was of the occasion for a review Parade of 4 batteries of the Battalion on Fri June 8. The ceremony marked the culmination of 10 months of combat, during which the battalion participated in 4 major battle campaigns in the ETO. Of service battery, two were awarded Bronze Stars T/5 Austin L. Gooding and Capt. Robert Rosenthal. Austin writes that he expects to be overseas for some time yet. Gives address - ~~~transcribed by kbz

Lafayette, Ind July 31 – Austin L. Gooding, 25, Waynetown died today in a hospital here of injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident yesterday.  State police said three other persons were injured slightly in the collision of the cycle Gooding was riding and one operated by Eunice McCracken, 21, Hillsboro.   ~~~transcribed by kbz

A Waynetown motorcyclist died of a skull fracture Saturday morning in Home Hospital as the result of an accident which involved three motorcycles Friday night on Rt 52, 9 miles south of Lafayette.  He is Austin S. Gooding, 25.  Three other persons were injured in the accident and were taken to the hospital by a passing motorist.  Most seriously injured of those surviving the crash was Margie Carver, 23 of 1824 East Fremont St, Crawfordsville who was riding with Gooding.  Treated for cuts and bruises were the other two motorcyclists, Eunice L. McCracken, 21, Hillsboro R 1 and Keith Snelling, 18, Waynetown.  According to State Police Trooper Robert M. Deeter, the three motorcycles, following one another at 9 p.m. down the east lane detour of Route 52, evidently piled up when the leading cycle upset.  Hospital authorities said Saturday morning that Miss Carver, suffering a fractured pelvis and multiple bruises is in a “family good” condition. ~~~transcribed by kbz