Overholt, Carolyn (1950-1962)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 Feb 15 p. 1

Birth date: 1950

text of obituary:

Two Sisters Drown In Farm Pond Trying To Save Brother

Orange, Va. — Two sisters of the Amish Mennonite settlement here lost their lives in a farm pond Feb. 3 while trying to save their brother from the icy waters of the pond.

Lillie June Overholt, 17, and Carolyn Overholt, 12, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Overholt, drowned in the pond at the Overholt farm. They were trying to save their brother, Rudy, who broke through the ice while skating. The lad was able to cling to the edge of the ice until rescued by the Orange Rescue Squad. He was then taken to the hospital where he was reported in fair condition.

The parents of the children were on a shopping trip in Orange when the tragedy occurred.

Funeral services for the sisters were arranged for Feb. 6 in the Amish Mennonite church here. The Overholt family moved to this vicinity only a few months ago from Lynnhaven, Va.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 Mar 1 p. 7

text of obituary:

Funeral Services For Sisters Largely Attended

Orange, Va. — An estimate 600 persons, including many from other states, attended double funeral services at the Amish Mennonite Mission Church near Aroda, Va. for Lillie June Overholt, 17, and Carolyn Overholt, 12, sisters who drowned in a farm pond Feb.3.

The sisters broke through the ice while trying to rescue their 14-year-old brother, Rudy, who had broken through a short time earlier. The parents are Mr. and Mrs. Joe M. Overholt.

The brother, clad in heavy winter clothing, clung to the edge of the ice until the Orange County Rescue Squad arrived on the scene. Two men in a boat broke a path through the ice and got near enough to the lad to throw him a life preserver on a rope.

After slipping under the water again, he was able to put his arm through the preserver and the squadsmen finally reached him and pulled him unconscious from the icy water.

The youth was brought to the local medical arts center and then taken to the University Hospital at Charlottesville as attendents [sic] rubbed his body in an unsuccessful attempt to restore consciousness. At the hospital he was placed in a tub of cold water and given intravenous injections and finally regained consciousness.