Ratzlaff, Paul Jonas (1907-1928)

Revision as of 12:44, 11 January 2012

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1928 Sep 5 p. 1

Birth date: 1907 Dec 24

text of obituary:

Paul Ratzlaff, 21, son of Rev. J. J. Ratzlaff of this city, formerly of Goltry, Oklahoma, died at 10:45 Sunday morning from injuries he received at 5:45 Saturday afternoon when his car was side swiped by another car coming from the south or west 17 miles south of Newton.

Paul was evidently traveling at a considerable speed going south on the Kansas avenue pavement on his way to Enid, Oklahoma, when his car was hit by the other car coming from the west just south of the Frisco crossing three miles north of Wichita. Paul was alone but the other car was driven by Thomas Cobb, 45, foreman for the Wichita Union stockyards company. With him were Mr. and Mrs. Claude Wiley also of Wichita. Ratzlaff's car was entirely demolished when it hit a row of mail boxes along the side of the pavement. He himself received terrible cuts all over his body and suffered a fractured skull. Mr. Cobb escaped into a cornfield and has not yet been found though Wichita police conducted a thorough search.

Those first arriving on the scene found Paul lying 100 feet away from his car. He had evidently been thrown out by the first impact. He was hurried to Wichita in an abulance [sic] but never regained consciousness.

A funeral was held Monday afternoon at the Bethel College chapel and interment was made to-day near Meno, Oklahoma. Hundreds of friends and relatives were present Monday, to show their sympathy and respect for the sorrowing in their hour of bereavement.

Paul was employed by Mr. W. J. Rich as Maytag mechanic. He was of a cheery disposition and well-liked by numerous friends in this city. A vomplete {sic] obituary follows herewith.