DAVIS, Wilford Merle - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Last night at 9:10 o’clock occurred the death of one of the city’s most promising you men, Wilford Merle Davis, age eighteen years and the son of Charles Davis, residing on West Wabash avenue.  The young man had been ill since the third of October, but his condition became serious in the last week, resulting in double pneumonia, from which cause he died. Mr. Davis was graduated from the local high school with the class of ’18 and was one of the most brilliant students in the class. He was prominent in all high school activities, having had a principal part in the senior class play, and was a member of the triangular debating team. Not only was he studious and brilliant in his studies, but he also possessed that indefinable something that made him liked by everyone in school, pupils and teachers alike. The deceased entered Wabash College this winter and had passed the physical examination for the Student Army Training Corps.  He had not been inducted yet, however, owing to the fact that enough blanks had not arrived. He was very recently initiated into the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity at college and had for a long time been a member of the Beta Phi Sigmas, an old high school fraternity. Mr. Davis was born north of this city June 17, 1900, and had lived in this county all his life, the latter part of which was spent in the city. He is the son of Charles Davis, his mother having preceded him in death seven years ago. Besides the father he is survived by one small brother Albert, living at home and a small sister, Dorothy, also living at home. The funeral will be held at the home Sunday afternoon at two o’clock and if the weather is suitable it will be held outside so that many friends of the boy will be able to attend.

On behalf of the faculty, students, classmates and alumni of the Crawfordsville High School, I wish to express the deepest sympathy to the father, brother, sister, and relatives of Merle Davis. His death is regarded as a personal loss to every one who knew him.  He represented at its best all the ideals of C.H.S. and his life will stand as a type of the kind of manhood the school wishes to develop. Loyal to every interest of the school, he was an ardent supporter of all organizations that brought fame to the Old Gold and Blue that he truly loved. As the president of the Periclean Society, he brought it up to a high standard which the officers this year will endeavor to keep up. For two years he upheld the glory of the school in debate. In the class play last commencement he gave a splendid interpretation of one of the most difficult parts. As a student, he was conscientious; all that he did was well done. In all business relations or position of trust he was scrupulous to the smallest detail. In regard to co-operating for the welfare of the school he was untiring and his courtesy and consideration for others made him prompt to meet every obligation. As a friend he never had a peer. If a complete life is one unsoiled, unwasted, chivalrous, true and unselfish as we believe it is – his life, short as it has been, was complete and his influence will live in the lives of all who knew is sterling worth as an inspiration and example. “His life was gentle; and the element So mixed in him, that nature might stand up And say to all the world, “This was a man.”   ---Thanks to dkd