Goltra - Albert
ALBERT GOLTRA
Source: Crawfordsville Journal Review 21-Oct-1970 p 4
-- Albert W "Abe" Goltra, 74, associated with Ben Hur Life Association here for many years, died at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Culver Hospital. He had been ill several months. Mr. Goltra, who resided at 602 W. Main St, began with Ben Hur in May of 1924 and continued with the organization until his retirement last May 1. The son of a former national treasurer of Ben Hur, he was graduated from Crawfordsville HS and first worked for the late Charles Iliff, Ben Hur actuary, during the summers of 1912, 1913 and 1914. Prior to that he participated in laying the cornerstone of the Ben Hur Building in 1911. During WWI he served with the famous 42nd Rainbow Division of the 150th Field Artillery. He was overseas for two years during the war, serving in France for 18 months and Germany six months. He later was employed as a bookeeper for a wholesale grocery here. He was married Dec 21, 1921 to Mary Katherine Crawford, a descendant of a pioneer Crawfordsville family. Mr. Goltra worked in Ben Hur's field account department and was an auditor in the home office as well as in the field. In recent years he had been responsible for much of the work preparing the organization's annual statement. He was the son of the late William W. and Mary Moore Goltra. He was a member of St. Bernard Catholic Church, American Legion and Athens Saddle Club. HIs only immediate survivor is the widow. He wa spreceded in death by a daughter, Mary katherine Merritt who died June 6, 1964, and a brother, William Goltra. Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Firday at St. Bernard Church with Rt. Rev. Msgr. Henry F. Ward officiating. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Friends may pay their respects at Bright & Burkhart Funeral Home 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday. The rosary will be said at 8 p.m. -- jlr