CROCKETT - William P
Source: Huntington Herald Sat 26 Feb 1926 p 1 Sat
Indianapolis Feb 26 – William P. Crockett, 46, physics instructor in Shortridge High School was instantly killed today when a ditch which he was digging in the rear yard of his home here caved in on him. When his two sons, Harold 17 and Austin 16, Crockett had been digging the ditch since morning. He was at the bottom of the 15-foot ditch when the walls of it caved in on him burying him and is survived by his widow and eight children. He had been teaching at Shortridge HS since 1920. The widow and family were prostrated with grief.
Note: He was born 5 Oct 1881 in Carroll County and is buried at Waveland Presbyterian Church. He was married to Ethel Fullenwider from Waveland 1888-1961
They had 7 sons (not sure who the 8th child above is), the youngest George just three at his father's passing - mentioned above is the two oldest, Harold and Austin and they had William Irving; Paul Hobson; David Stanley and James Musselman
I thought it amazing that William Irvin (born 30 May 1913 in Crawfordsville) died 19 Jan 1976 Port Royal, SC
was a US Marine (Msgt) and was in not only WWII but Korea and Vietnam as well. WOW
Another amazing son's experience (David born in MoCo 4 Aug 1918 d Jacksonville, FLA age 80 18 Oct 1998)
In WWII as a Lt. - fighter pilot was shot down over Toulon, France and captured. He and fellow prisoners sang, "God Bless America" during an all-day Allied bombardment of the Nazis (article found on his FindAGrave memorial). Then the German's commanding officer summoned Crockett and surrendered himself and his men. Another WOW
James above was also in WWII in the Air Force 1st Lt.
These boys were amazing - Harold was a dentist (b Waveland 21 Aug 1909) and served at Ft Knox 1938-1941 - later he served in New Guinea and the Phillipines. He then became chief of dental services in the hospital in Manila with the rank of Major -- FindAGrave entry
Austin was also born in Waveland 25 Sept 1910 but don't believe he was in the service but hey their mother had enough to worry about :)
Source: Indianapolis Times Mon 28 Feb 1927 p 2
Shortridge High School teachers today paid last tribute to William P. Crockett, physics teacher, who was killed suddenly Saturday when a ditch he was digging in the rear of his home, 419 W. 49th St, caved in, burying him alive. Following funeral services at Flanner & Buchanan mortuary the body was taken to Waveland, Ind for burial. School sessions were held part of the morning but the institution closed after 11 a.m. in honor of the former teacher. The teachers went to the funeral in autos, leaving from the school. Many accompanied the body to the burial. Mr. Crockett is survived by the widow, 7 sons and a baby daughter. – kbz
Note: a fund was set up to help the widow and children and last I saw it was $5,500 +
Source: Indianapolis Times Sat Feb 26, 1927 p 2
William Perry Crockett, 46 of 419 W 49th St, Shortridge HS physics teacher for 7 years lost his life today when a sewer trench caved in near his home. Crockett had warned his sons, Harold 17 and Aust 16 both Shortridge student who were working with him in the ditch to be careful only a few minutes before he was crushed to death. The trench was about 11’ deep. Harold returned from a shed to find his father pinned beneath about 3’ of wet dirt. He attempted to uncover the body but was able to clear only his father’s face. Death apparently had come for the father was unable to speak. A squad of police under Lt. Leonard Forsythe and firemen under Capt. Judd of fife company 28 labored for more than two hours in removing the body. Difficulty was encountered because of the soft earth. City hospital physicians failed to revive Crockett. The body was buried upright. While police and neighbors attempted to uncover the body, Mrs. Ethel Crockett, the wife, lay prostrate in the home with six other children hovering around. Harold and Austin worked in vain with neighbors in an effort to save their father’s life before arrival of police. Both are Shortridge basketball players. Austin was on the football squad. Neighbors attempted to quiet the mother at the home. “Oh, he was such a good father,” she said. “We asked him to wait until weather opened up to finish the ditch but he was so anxious to get it finished. He took every precaution to guard Harold and Austin and to think he lost his own life,” she said. Mr. Crockett formerly taught at Crawfordsville. His early home was at Winamac, Ind. The other children are: Irving, 14; Paul 9; David, 8; James 6; George 3; June 8 months. No arrangements were made for burial. –-- kbz
Source: Waveland Independent 4 March 1927 p2
For the second time within a few days, Waveland was touched by tragedy when the news came on Saturday morning of the death of William Perry Crockett, a former teacher in our schools at his home in the southern part of Indianapolis. “The Star gave this account” – Mr. Crockett, a teacher of physics at Shortridge HS was caught in a cave-in of a sewer trench which he was digging in his back yard. His two sons, Harold, 17 years old and Austin, 16 were helping him with the work which was to have been completed in a few hours. Austin was at work at the opposite end of the trench from his father and Harold had been sent for a measuring pole. When he returned with the pole he found his father buried. The boys worked desperately to rescue M. Crockett and finally succeeded in uncovering his face but he was dead when the police a hospital ambulance arrived. Firemen were also called to assist in the work of getting the body out which was accomplished in about an hour and a half. The ditch was about 10 feet and the dirt walls on either side were very soft caving in continuously so that the police and firemen had to shore up the sides of the hole. Mr. Crockett and the boys had been at work on the ditch about three weeks, working on it after school house and on Saturdays. Their father had warned the boys repeatedly against the danger of a cave-in. The tragedy occurred while what were to have been the finishing touches to the trench were being put on. Funeral services at the Flanner & Buchanan mortuary 25 West Fallcreek Boulevard at 11:30 on Monday morning were in charge of Rev. Mr. Kistler pastor of the Fairview Presbyterian Church. A short service was held at the Presbyterian cemetery here in the afternoon in charge of Rev. H. Hugo. Mr. Crockett was born in Logansport in October 1881. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Crockett. He attended Indiana University for two years. He taught in the Waveland schools for five years and while here married Miss Ethel Fullenwider Sept 2, 198. He taught in the Crawfordsville schools for two years and while there graduated from Wabash College. He then went to Indianapolis where he has taught physics in Shortridge for the past 7 years. He is survived by the widow and 7 sons: Harold, 17; Austin, 16; Irving 13; Paul,, 9, David 8; James 6; George 3 and one daughter, June Augusta 8 months old. There are also two brothers, Jesse and Moses and a sister Miss Mary Crockett of Los Angeles, Calif. The brothers work in the Louisiana and Texas oil fields. Mr. Crockett was a man of forceful character and left his impress wherever he he might be. His many pupils here bear in grateful remembrance his intense on sound and careful work. It will be a matter of grief that they were so widely scattered that few of them could be here to show their respect. Mr. Tetlock, a former assistant to Mr. Crockett said when speaking of him as a teacher: “There are very few better teachers than Perry Crockett.” Robert Schultz, a student and laboratory of Mr. Crockett said” Mr. Crockett is the most manly man I ever knew,” yet he never set himself up as an example. Rev. Mr. Kistler of the Fairview Presbyterian Church in the services Monday morning said, “Mrs. Kistler and I were calling at the Crockett home one afternoon after school as we were leaving Mr. Crockett and some of his boys accompanied us down the walk. Upon making inquiry we learned that he was taking his sons on one of their many walks or jaunts of comradery through the woods where they studied nature the handiwork of God.” Emmett Rice, assistant principle (sic) of Shortridge said “The death of Mr. Crockett comes as an extreme shock to the entire student body of Shortridge and to those of the faculty who have long seen associated with him. To say that his loss will be badly felt seems much too mild for Mr. Crockett’s Guiding influence upon the youth was a guiding light in Shortridge and his ability and integrity as a profess of physics won for him the greatest respect from all. He was one of our most capable teachers as well as one of the most popular. His energy and power for good was unlimited. Among those in attendance here at the funeral services were: Wallace Hobson and Richard of Rockville; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hobson of Montezuma; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fine of Wallace; Jr. Schultz and son, Robert; Mr. and Mrs. Breedlove; Mr. and Mrs. JO Rosebaum; Mr. Slack; Mr. Tetlock; Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Kelley and son, Ralph Jr. Assistant principal (sic) Gingery Professors Raugh, Rite, Carnatan and Ross Connelly, all of Indianapolis; Jesse Crockett of Louisiana; Mr. and Mrs. Foster Fudge; JD Fisher; Miss Corinne Fisher; James Kitts; Mrs. Edith Courtney and Mrs. and Mrs. John Birch of Crawfordsville. - kbz
“School Notes” – School was dismissed Monday a period early for the purpose of letting those who wish to attend the funeral of WP Crockett a former teach of this place. Before his death he was teaching in Shortridge High School at Indianapolis --- kbz