Weaver, Melvin H. (1923-1950)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Mar 30 p. 1

Birth date: 1923

text of obituary:

Virginia Conference Leaders Victims of Airplane Crash

CHAIRMAN OF MISSION BOARD AND MISSIONARY KILLED IN TENNESSEE

An Associated Press report from Mountain City, Tenn. last week told of the private plane crash which claimed the lives of two Mennonite church leaders of the Virginia Conference on Friday, March 24.

They were Jacob A. Shenk, owner of the large Shenk Hatchery at Harrisonburg, Va. and chairman of the Virginia Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, and Melvin H. Weaver, home mission worker of Paintsville, Ky.

The AP account of the tragedy stated that “Both were hurled from the plane, piloted by Shenk, when it lost a wing after slipping out of control and plummeted downward.

“The plane was en route from Atlanta to Harrisonburg. It had stopped at Knoxville to refuel. There was no explanation as to why it went out of control.

“The plane fell on the farm of Quincy Brown, whose farm lies in the foothills of rugged Iron mountain, three miles from here.

"Brown said the craft was flying westward when suddenly it made a sharp turn to the east, spun, straightened out, climbed, then lost a wing. Wreckage was strewn over a square-mile area.

“As it fell, Shenk and Weaver were thrown from their seats and fell to their deaths.”

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Apr 6 p. 1

text of obituary:

Many Attend Final Services at Harrisonburg, Va. For Two Who Died in Plane Crash

JACOB A. SHENK OPERATED LARGE HATCHERY, WAS LEADER IN CHURCH, COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

Harrisonburg, Va. — An estimated 1500 persons filled the large Eastern Mennonite college auditorium here to capacity Tuesday forenoon, March 28, as final services were held for Jacob A. Shenk, 50, co-owner of the large Shenk Hatchery in Park View and a leader in education and mission endeavors of the Mennonite Church who died in the crash of his private plane near Mountain City, Tenn. on March 24.

The preceding afternoon services were held in the same hall for Melvin H. Weaver, 27, a licensed minister and home mission worker who was riding with Shenk.

Thrown From Plane

According to reports of the tragedy, the two men were hurled from the plane to their deaths when the craft went hopelessly out of control and lost a wing after encountering a severe local storm. The bodies were found about 100 yards apart.

The men had been at Concord, Tenn., to investigate possibilities for mission work. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver had formerly served as missionaries at Ophir and Crockett, Ky. In recent months they had resided in the Park View community, but were planning to resume mission work again.

Mr. Shenk was co-owner with his wife, Lucy W. Shenk, of the Shenk Hatchery, largest hatchery in Virginia. He was a leader in the state's poultry industry, and was developing a model poultry farm for experimental purposes at Sparkling Springs.

Leader in Church Work

He was particularly interested in missionary activities, serving as chairman of the Virginia Board of Missions and Charities and member of the General Board with headquarters at Elkhart, Ind. During the past eight years he had flown his own plane on many trips to the various parts of the country to look after mission interests.

Mr. Shenk was a member of the Executive Board of Eastern Mennonite college, and chairman of the building committee for the new $500,000 girls’ dormitory now under construction here. He was recently elected vice-president of Rockingham Memorial hospital, and was a deacon of the Lindale congregation.

Leaves Four Children

His body lay in state in the auditorium which he also helped to build, after which services were conducted by Bishop John L. Stauffer and John R. Mumaw. In addition to his wife, he leaves four children and a number of brothers and sisters.

The services for Melvin Weaver, were conducted by Bishop S. H. Rhodes and ministers Mahlon Blosser, John Shank, and Milton Brackbill. He is survived by his wife, Miriam Virginia, daughter of Dean Chester K. Lehman and Mrs. Lehman, and three daughters.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Apr 20 p. 1

text of obituary:

Loses Life In Plane Crash

Melvin H. Weaver, 26, (above) was a passenger in the plane piloted by Jacob A. Shenk when it went out of control near Mountain City, Tenn., on March 24 and threw the men to their deaths. Both were from Harrisonburg, Va. Bro. Weaver and wife Miriam were formerly missionaries at Ophir, Ky. and he and Bro. Shenk were investigating possible locations for a new field at the time of the tragedy. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Amos H. Weaver of Kinross, Iowa.

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Mennonite Weekly Review: 1955 Jun 23 p. 7

"Church Built Near Site of Crash" by Mrs. Mary Slabaugh