Hold Funerals Today, Sunday For Youths
Wabash, Jan. 26 –

Funeral services were arranged today for three youths who died yesterday at the Wabash County Hospital here of injuries suffered late Wednesday night in a truck-auto collision on State Road No. 13, one mile south of Urbana. Walter Blocher, 22, of Silver Lake, only survivor of the crash, remained in a critical condition tonight at the hospital.

Blocker, driver of the truck, suffered severe internal injuries when he was crushed by the steering wheel. He also suffered a fracture of the right thigh, which was set today. He was too weak to be questioned by Coroner Todd Bender and Sheriff Vear Howell, who are investigating the fatal accident.

Funeral services for Lester Cripe, 19 of North Manchester, passenger in the truck, who died late last night, will be held Sunday at 10 am at the Old Order Church of the Brethren West of North Manchester with burial in the church cemetery. Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Perry Cripe of North Manchester; one brother, Daniel Cripe at home, and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Cripe of near North Manchester.

Funeral services for Ray Yoder, 16, of Delphi, passenger in the truck and brother-in-law of Blocher, who died early yesterday, will be held Saturday at Camden in Carroll County.

Funeral services for James Eugene Urschel, 21, of Urbana, driver of the automobile, who died early yesterday, will be held Saturday at 2 pm at St. Peter’s Church at Urbana with Rev. Andrew Mast and Rev. Schlinkmann officiating. Burial will be in Urbana Cemetery.

A basketball game scheduled for tonight between Urbana and Lincolnville was postponed in respect to the memory of Urschel, former star of the Urbana team.

Journal-Gazette, Fort Wayne, IN, January 27, 1940.