Birch- Clarence Earl - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Source: Waveland Independent Jan 18, 1929

Private Clarence Earl Birch, Jr., son of Clarence J and Mrs. Carrie (Birch) Barfield, was born at Lehigh, Iowa March 29, 1907 and died Jan 11, 1929 at the age of 21 years, 11 months and 13 days. On July 24, 1926 at the age of 19, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps at Chanute Field, Rantoul, Ill and in less than a year was transferred to Boling Field, Washington, DC at which place he was stationed at time of his death. He was one of the 8 victims of the C-2 airplane crash at Royalton, PA January 11 at 1:40 in the afternoon. The exact cause of the crash will never be known. He died in line of duty in the service of the USA. He is one of 3 children, two of whom, one sister, Pauline and one brother, Allen live in Oregon; his father and mother, his grandmother, Mrs. Ida Hutson of Waveland, a grandfather and grandmother, Mr. and Mrs. John Birch of Mecca; aunts, uncles and a number of other relatives survive him. The great part of his life was spent with his grandparents in Mecca. He attended the common high school there, leaving to enlist. He united with the Christian Church at Mecca and was baptized under the ministry of Rev. R.D. Thomas. Clarence was a straight forward boy and made friends wherever he went. He was honest in his work and always willing and ready at all time to do his duty. His mother who has been in ill health for some time was not told of her son's death at first, but later was and a short funeral service was held in Chicago, Monday. The body was brought here for its final resting place. Those here from a distance for the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. John Birch, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Birch and family, Mr. and Mrs. Hank Stevens, Paul Stevens, Sidney Stevens, Mrs. Lee Lambert, Mrs. Sally Carl of Mecca; Sidney E. Allen of Rantoul, Ill; Robert A. Barfield of Chicago; Mrs. Pearl Davidson of Lafayette; Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Youmans and family, Glen Youmans and son, Keith of Newport; Mrs. Mary Davis, Rev. and Mrs. Clarence Todd of Dana; Misses Wanita and Mildred Farmer of Scotland Ill; Miss Violet Allen, Mr. and Mrs. John Kesner of Rockville; Mr. and Mrs. Forest Allen and Family, Mrs. Loretta Weaver, Mrs. Sam Staggs, Mrs. Frank Whelchel, Mrs. Edgar Staggs of Byron; Mrs. Bert Hallet, Bluff Mills; Darrold, Ione and Carolyn Moore of Mecca and Ronald Redish of Byron. - kbz