KEELING, Herschel Carl - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Funeral services for Hershel Keeling 40 who lived on a farm four miles south of Veedersburg were held at 2 p.m. Sunday at New Century Church, conducted bt Rev. Leslie Smith, interment took place in Bonebrake Cemetery. Hershel was found fatally wounded in his auto, a bullet wound in his right temple and his rifle beside him on Thursday evening. He died in the Fishero ambulance en route to Culver Hiospital Crawfordsville. He was employed by Forrest Songer's farm and popcorn firm and had left his home at noon with the .22 caliber rifle supposedly to kill rats at the popcorn shed. When he did not return home late in the day his son Geral went to the farm and found him in a dying condition. The Veedersburg fire department was summoned on the belief that he had been overcome by carbon monoxide gas as the motor of the car was running and the lights were on. Dr. Wesley Aldridge of Covington also was called and found the bullet wound. Coroner Charles Fishero scheduled an inquest and in the absence of direct evidence returned an open verdict. Mr. Keeling had been employed for several years by the Nixon Lumber Company and later by the Farm Bureau Co-op which purchased the Nixon business and property. Two years ago he moved to the farm and then took employment with Mr. Songer. He was a representiative of one of the oldest Veedersburg families and was born here on Dec 29, 1910 the son of John and Dora Payton Keeling. He was married to Esther Snyder of Hillsboro who survives with the father, four sons, J.B. serving with the U.S. Marine Corps in Panama, Gerald, Clarence and Michael at home, a daughter Lucille at home and six brothers, Cash, Paul, Kenneth and John all of Veedersburg, and Robert of Crawfordsville and two sisters, Mrs. Juanita Lynch of Corpus Christi Texas, and Mrs. Maxine George of Veedersburg

Herschel Keeling, 40 of Veedersburg was found in his auto with a rifle bullet wound in the head.  Relatives told the coroner Charles Fishero that he had gone out at noon to shoot rats on his farm south of Veedersburg.  When he failed to return home for the evening meal, his son Gerald went searching for him.  Gerald found him sitting in the car with the motor running and the lights turned on.  He was still alive when his son found him.  Dr. Wesley Aldridge of Covington and the Fishero ambulance were called.  It was believed at first that he had suffered from monoxide gas when the fire department applied the pulmotor they discovered the bullet wound.  They took him to Culver Hospital in the Fishero ambulance when he died on the way.  They believe his death was accidental.  Herschel Keeling passed away April 12, 1951 after having been wounded in the head with a rifle.  He was employed at the present with Forrest Songer and before moving to the farm about two years ago was employed by the Nixon Lumber Co and Farm Bureau Lumber Co.  Herschel Keeling born Dec 20, 1910 at Veedersburg, Ind son of John and Dora Payton Keeling.  He married Esther Snyder of Hillsboro who survives him.  Other survivors besides the widow are: four sons, Jay D with the Marines in Panama; Gerald, Clarence and Michael at home; John, Lucille, Paul, Kenneth, John at home; also his father, John Keeling survives him; six brothers, Leslie of Veedersburg and Robert of Crawfordsville; two sisters, Juanita Lynch of Corpus Christi, Tex; Mrs. Maxine George of Veedersburg. There will be an inquest Saturday morning April 14 at 9:00 a.m. at the Fishero Funeral Home.  Funeral arrangements are incomplete.  --thanks so much to Bren M and ~~~Transcribed and Type by kbz