PYKE, Gilbert
Source: Covington Friend Wednesday, March 28, 1973
Hillsboro—Gilbert C. Pyke, 44, of Hillsboro Route 1, died Friday afternoon, March 23 at the burn center at Riley Hospital in Indianapolis where he had been hospitalized after suffering burns over 90 percent of his body.
Mr. Pyke was cleaning off his garden and burning the trash about noon Thursday, when his clothes accidentally caught on fire. Before help could reach him, his clothes were burned off.
He was taken to Culver Hospital in Crawfordsville and later transferred to Indianapolis.
Mr. Pyke was born Jan. 11, 1929 at Philadelphia, Pa., the son of William and Ruth Pyke. On Oct. 21, 1962, at Reseda, Calif., he married Doris Mae Hines, who survives.
He moved to Hillsboro six years ago from Canoga Park, Calif. He was a graduate of Canoga Park High and Pierce University of Woodland Hills, Calif. He was a member of the United Church of Christ of Reseda.
He operated a greenhouse at his home and was a custodian at Southeast Fountain Elementary.
Other survivors include his parents of Reseda; a son, De William at home; and a sister in Philadelphia.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. EST Sunday at the Prairie Chapel Church south of Hillsboro, with the Rev. Joel Hutson officiating. Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Crumley-Williams Funeral Home who is in charge of arrangements.
The family requests that memorials be in the form of contributions to the Prairie Chapel Church Gil Pyke Memorial Fund, in care of Mrs. Darrell Jones, Waynetown, Route 1. – thanks muches to “S”
Gilbert C. Pyke, 44, Hillsboro, who was seriously burned in a trash fire accident at his home near Hillsboro Thursday, March 23, 1973, died Friday afternoon in the Riley Hospital Burn Center at Indianapolis. Pyke was taken to Culver Hospital at Crawfordsville after the accident and transferred to Indianapolis. He, reportedly, was burned over 90 percent of his body. He was unable to extinguish flames from a trash fire which had ignited his clothing, according to officials, because he was physically handicapped. Pyke was the owner and operator of Pyke's Greenhouse, a business which he operated from his home. He also was employed as custodian at Fountain Central Elementary School. He was a graduate of Pierce University of Woodland Hills, California and Conoga Park High School, also in California. He had made his home here for six years after moving from Conoga Park. Pyke was a member of the United Church of Christ at Reseda, California. Born January 11, 1929, at Philadelphia, Pa., he was the son of William and Ruth Pyke. He married Doris Mae Hines October 21, 1962, at Reseda. She survives. Other survivors include a son, Dee William, at home; his parents and a sister residing in Philadelphia. Memorial services were conducted at 2:00 p.m. Sunday in Prairie Chapel Church with Rev. Joel Hutson officiating. Contributions may be made in his name to the Prairie Chapel Church. They should be mailed to Mrs. Darrell Jones, Route 1, Waynetown, according to a family spokesman. --typed by Walt W
Source: The obituary is from a collection of newspaper (paper names not recorded) obituaries saved, by Fauniel Hershberger, during the 1950's, 60's, 70's and 80's. She was a life long resident of Fountain County Indiana. The collection is now housed at Crawfordsville District Public Library.
Hillsboro - Gilbert Pyke, 44, was in serious condition today in the Burn Ward of Riley Hospital at Indianapolis after an accident Thursday at his home south of here on Indiana 341. Pyke reportedly was borned over 90 % of his body when trash he was burning ignired his clothing. Pyke, who is physically handicapped was unable to put out the flames. His wife, Doris, found him and called an ambulance which took him to Culver Hospital at Crawfordsville. He was later transferred to the Indianapolis hospital. Pyke and his wife own and operate a greenhouse at their home here. He is also a maintenance man at Fountain Central Elementary School. -- kbz