Thomas - Merle
Source: Crawfordsvlle Jouranl Review 29 June 1960
A 49 year old carpenter en route to work at Greencastle died Wednesday morning when his station wagon smashed into a steel bridge 1/4 of a mile south of Fincastle on US 231. The traffic victim was identifed as Merle Thomas Rt 1 Crawfordsville. He lived on the old Attica Rd off the LaGrange Rd NW of the city and was alone in the auto. Passerby found the wrecked car, crumpled against the steel railing and beams of Ramp Creek Bridge about 7 o'clock.Thomas was employed as a superintendent in the construction of a new grade school at Greencastle. Investigating state police and Putnam Co sheriff's officers notied the lack of skid marks and said Thomas had possibly gone to sleep at the wheel or had a heart attack. The exact cause of death however may be determined through a post mortem exam. The passerby who reported the accident was Mrs. George Steele of Crawfordsville; she said there was no indication the wreck had just occurred when she arrived. Thomas' station wagon was found jammed against the NW corner of the bridge. The wreckage was badly twisted and the windshield was almost completely missing. Thomas' watch apparently torn from his wrist in the crash was found on the left front fender of the auto near his hand which protruded through the windshield vacancy. The watch was still running. Officers and the ambulance driver had to pry open the right door to extract the body. Putnam Co highway workmen then pulled the wreckage aside clearning the bridge for traffic. Born Feb 25, 1911 in Crawfordsville Mr. Thomas was the s/o Clint and Blanche Watson Thomas. He was married twice. His first wife was Dorothy Stephens; second marriage was to Ruth Joiner. Mr. Thomas attended Crawfordsville HS. He was a member of the Indiana Masonic Lodge & Local 60 of Carpenter Union in Indianapolis. Survivors include the wife, a son, Ronald M. Thomas and a daughter, Mrs. Darlene Caprenter both of Indianapolis; 4 brothers; Kelsey and Herschel of Crawfordsville; Verlin of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Carlton of Danville, Ill 5 sisters; Mrs. Mabel Cook and Mrs. Martha Powell of Crawfordsville; Mrs. Opal Shrewbury of Louisville Ky; Mrs. Ineta Perkins of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Mrs. Catherine Morgan of Montmorenci. The body was taken to Hunt & Son Funeral Home. Arrangments are incomplete.
