Nightingale, Wilbur W. (1928-1958)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Dec 12 p. 3

Birth date: 1928

text of obituary:

Killed in Illinois Highway Crash

SERVICES HELD FOR HALSTEAD MAN KILLED NEAR WINCHESTER, ILL.

Halstead, Kan. — Funeral services for Wilbur Nightengale, 29, who was fatally injured in a highway accident near Winchester, Ill. on Dec. 5, were announced for Thursday afternoon, Dec.12, at the First Mennonite Church here Rev. Roland R. Goering, the pastor, was to officiate.

The fatal accident, which also claimed the life of a man riding in the other car, occurred on Route 36 five miles west of Winchester.

Admitted to Jacksonville, Ill. hospital with injuries were Wilbur's wife Helen, 22, and their son Michael, 5; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Nightengale of Halstead; and Mrs. Leona Caldwell of Tescott, Kan. The father was reported to be the most seriously hurt.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1958 Jan 2 p. 8

text of obituary:

WILBUR W. NIGHTINGALE

Wilbur W. Nightingale, son of Ben T. and Ella C. (Decker) Nightingale, was born on a farm north of Halstead, Kansas on Jan. 12, 1928, He passed away on Dec. 5, 1957, in a hospital at Jacksonville, Ill. following an automobile accident that took place near Winchester, Ill. He reached the age of 29 years, 11 months and 23 days.

The days of his youth were spent on the farm in the Halstead community. At about the age of 14 he with his parents moved to the town of Halstead. Here he received his education and graduated from high school. He worked two years with a pipe line construction company, after which he spent two years in military service, serving in the Korean campaign. After this service he worked for a bridge construction company and at the time of his death he was employed by the Buller Feed Mills of Halstead.

On June 13, 1943, he was baptized upon the confession of his faith by Rev. David Wedel and received into the membership of the First Mennonite Church of Halstead. He remained a member of this church till the time of his death.

On Sept. 2, 1956, he was married to Helen Caldwell at Tescott, Kansas and they made their home in Halstead where he was employed. This brief union of only one year and two months was suddenly broken by his early and tragic death.

He is survived by his wife, Helen; their son, Michael David; his parents; his grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Gus Decker and Mr. and Mrs. Tobias A. Nightingale of Halstead; three sisters, Vivian (Mrs. Larry Rundell) of Garden City, Kansas, Della (Mrs. Darwood Walker) of Colon, Mich., and Betty JoAnn (Mrs. Robert Cohen) of Pittsburgh, Pa.; four brothers, Carlyle of Baker, Mont., Harvey of Wichita, Kansas, John of the home and Robert in the U. S. Army at Fort Carson, Colo.; seven brothers-in-law, five sisters-in-law, and many other relatives and friends.

Memorial services were held in the First Mennonite Church of Halstead on Thursday afternoon, Dec. 12, 1957. Rev. Roland R. Goering, pastor of the church, officiated. Rev. H. G. Feldmann, pastor of the First Methodist Church of Halstead, was soloist. Mrs. Harvey Vogt, organist, played a number of organ selections and favorite hymns of comfort.

Directors of the Kaufman Funeral Home were in charge of funeral arrangements and he was laid to rest in the family lot in the Halstead Cemetery.