Yoder, Ralph (1917-1942)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1942 Dec 24 p. 1

Birth date: 1917 Jun 1

text of obituary:

YOUNG MAN AT WELLMAN, IA., FATALLY INJURED UNDER WHEELS OF FREIGHT TRAIN

Wellman, Ia., Dec. 17. — Ralph Yoder, 25, was killed about two o'clock Tuesday afternoon when run over by a freight car at the Maplecrest loading docks.

Mr. Yoder had, with his well drilling tower, just completed work on the Maplecrest well, renewing the casing and installing a new and larger pump. With the help of Sam Eash and Arvid Steninger he was loading the smaller equipment into his pickup truck, preparatory to moving the machinery away. The truck was located between the boiler room and the hatchery, headed south with the nose over the tracks of the Maplecrest railway siding.

The train switched to the Maplecrest siding and backed from the west intending to hook ont the loaded freight cars there. Seeing the train backing in, Yoder is reported to have shouted, "It's going to get us!" and started around the back of his truck.

The train caught the nose of the ruck, spun it around and smashed the front end against the dock. Yoder, caught by the back corner of the truck as it whirled,was hurled under the moving train. He was badly crushed and lived but a few moments, never regaining consciousness.

Ralph Yoder, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry A. Yoder of Parnell, was born June 1, 1917.

In August 1941, he was united in marriage with Miss Orpha Schauf.

He is survived by his wife, his parents, four brothers, three sisters and many other relatives. — Wellman advance.