8/14/1916 - 8/19/1934
Gerald Trueblood Commits Suicide in Detroit
Gerald Trueblood,
18, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Trueblood of Portland, Ind. died enroute to a
hospital here Sunday night from effects of poison taken with suicidal
intent.
The young man who had come to Detroit Saturday in search of
employment was in company with
Miss Anna Reeves, former Portland girl.
She gave no motive for the suicide.
The boy's parents were horrified.
The body awaits arrival of the father and a funeral director to
remove
it to the home in Portland.
Little is known of the death of Gerald
Trueblood here, relatives notified last night being unable to get
the
particulars over the telephone. This morning they knew nothing more.
The father, a prominent Portland grocer of North Meridian street, Nelson
R. Williamson, local funeral
director, and Dwight Snyder of Blaine pike,
a brother-in-law of Gerald, left this morning to return the
body to
Portland. They are expected home this evening.
Gerald Trueblood was
born August 14, 1916 in Portland. His mother, prior to her marriage was Miss
Harriet Shaneyfelt. Other survivors are the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs.
Daniel Shaneyfelt of West
North street; one brother, Glen of Portland,
and two sisters – Della, wife of Dwight Snyder, and
Nilah, wife of
Virgil Hampshire, both of Portland.
Gerald was graduated from
Portland high school with the class of 1933 and was extremely interested
in aviation, going to Detroit presumably to obtain employment in an airplane
factory. He had taken
several flying lessons from Oren Welch, local
manufacturer and aviation businessman.
Gerald was a member of the
Eagles string band playing the steel guitar and broadcast on several
occasions over radio stations WOWO, WHBC and WLBC. He was a member of the
Boundary Junior Order.
The Anna Reeves mentioned in the Detroit news
dispatch, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter
Reeves, who operated a
restaurant in Portland for several months. They came to this city from
Muncie, first opening for business on West Main street.
The family
recently moved to Detroit.
Funeral services will be held Thursday
afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Portland U.B. church, Rev. J.H.
Nall,
pastor, in charge. Burial in the Antioch cemetery.
Commercial Review,
Portland, IN; 8/20/1934
Contributed by Melody Messina
Buried in Antioch Cemetery