WALLS, Marion Robert
Source: Crawfordsville Journal Review 20 Nov 1964 p 1
A 58-year-old Crawfordsville man, Marion Robert Walls, died early Friday morning in the bedroom of his home at 1006 E. Chestnut St. in a fire which fire department officials believed was caused by smoking in bed. Walls was the father of eleven children ranging in age from adult to five-years-old. His wife died Dec. 12 of last year. Seven of the younger children were at home when the fire took place. According to a son-in-law, Donald Zachary, 1517 Payton St., Walls' daughter, 16-year-old Joyce, awoke during the night when she smelled smoke. She called her 17-year-old sister, Carol, and together they pulled their father from the burning bed in which he was lying. They then called the fire department. Firemen arrived at 12:55 a.m. at the residence and were directed to the bedroom where Walls was lying on the floor, according to the fire department report. The man was badly burned about the face, arms and hands. Firemen attempted to revive him with oxygen and sent for Dr. Samuel Millis, county coroner. When Dr. Millis arrived, he examined Walls and pronounced him dead of burns and smoke inhalation, according to the police report. Firemen extinguished the burning bed and bedding as other firemen were attempting to help Walls. They listed $75 damage to the bed and bedding and reported that cigarettes and a lighter were found on a stand beside the bed leading them to the conclusion that the fire was caused by smoking in bed. They also reported that there was some delay in reaching the residence after the fire call because of sewer project work in the area near the home. It was reported that the victim of the fire had been in failing health for several years. Before illness forced him to retire in March of 1963, he had been employed at the Raybestos-Manhattan Inc., plant here. Born Aug, 1, 1906 in Warren County, Ind., near Covington, he was the son of Frank and Melissa Ballard Walls. In 1929, he married Linnie Burnson. She preceded him in death on April 22, 1936 in Covington. There were no children of the marriage. On Feb. 15, 1941, he married the niece of his first wife, Mrs. Louise Eileen Martin Wrightsman, in Rockville. She was the mother of four children by a previous marriage. The couple began housekeeping in Covington and moved to Crawfordsville in 1948. Prior to that time, the deceased had been a farmer in the Fountain County area. He attended the Crawfordsville Assembly of God Church. He was preceded in death by a brother, a half-brother, two-year-old daughter, Violet, and a stillborn son. Survivors include eleven children, Mrs. Don Fuller of New Market; Mrs. Donald Zachary of Crawfordsville; John Thomas Walls, 18, of Crawfordsville; Carol, 17; twins, Joyce and Janice, 16; Don Robert, 14; Daniel, 12; David, 9; Steven, 8, and Melissa, 5, all at home; four stepchildren, Loran Wrightsman and Mrs. Robert Davis, both of Covington, and Mrs. Roy Baker and Mrs. Max Melvin, both of Crawfordsville, four grandchildren and 19 step-grandchildren. Other survivors are two brothers, Archie Walls and Roy Walls, both of Veedersburg. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Bright Funeral Home in Crawfordsville. Rev. John E. Smith of West Terre Haute, former pastor of the Crawfordsville Assembly of God Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Masonic Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after noon Sunday. --typed by Walt W
Source: "Obituaries - Year - 1960 Volumne B" from the Covington Public Library. Year 1965
Funeral Held Monday For Marion R. Walls, Former Covington Man
Funeral services for Marion Robert Walls, age 58, of Crawfordsville, a former resident of Covington and Veedersburg, who died early Eriday morning, Nov. 20, in a fire in the bedroom of his home, were held at 11 a.m. Monday at the 'Bright Funeral Home in Crawfordsville, The Rev. John E. Smith officiated and burial was in the Masonic Cemetery at Crawfordsville.
Mr. Walls was the stepfather of Loren Wrightsman and 'Mrs. Carol age 17,
Crawfordsville firemen found Mr. Walls lying on the bedroom floor. Death was attributed to burns abut the face, arms and hands awl smoke inhalation. Firemen attributed the blaze to smoking in bed. It was reported that his 16-year-old daughter, Joyce, awoke and smelled smoke. She called her sister, Carol, age 17, and they pulled their father from the burning bed.
Mr. Walls was the father of 11 children and seven were at home. His wife died last Dec. 12. He was a native of Warren County and he was employed at , a Crawfordsville factory until he was forced to retire due health. Prior to moving to Crawfordsville, he had farmed Fountain County and had resided in Covington and Veedersburg.
Survivors include: six daughters, Mrs. Don Fuller of New Market, Mrs. Don Zackery of Crawfordsville, Carol, Joyce, Janet and Melissa, all at home; five sons, John T. of Crawfordsville, Don R., Daniel, David and Steve, at home; four stepchildren, Mrs. Davis and Wrightsman of Covington, Mrs. Roy Baker and Mrs. Max Melvin, - both of Crawfordsville; two brothers, Archie and Roy, both d Veedersburg; four granchildren and 19 step-grandchildren.