Schroeder, Geneva Marie (1943-1943)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1944 Jan 6 p. 1

Birth date: 1943 Jan 11

text of obituary:

Tragedy at Ringwood, Okla., Takes Lives of Six in One Family

ORLEY SCHROEDER AND FIVE CHILDREN DIED AS RESULT OF EXPLOSION AND FIRE

Friends in Oklahoma and Kansas were shocked to hear of the tragic death of Orley Schroeder and five children at Ringwood, Okla., who shortly before Christmas lost their lives in or following an explosion and fire which completely destroyed their farm home near Ringwood. The accident happened Saturday night, Dec. 18.

A large crowd of grief-stricken relatives and friends attended the funeral for the six victims held at the Holdeman church southeast of Fairview, Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 22.

The Enid (Okla.) Morning News of Dec. 21 gives the following details of the tragedy:

"Mrs. Schroeder, only surviving member of the family of seven, was suffering considerably last night but it was believed she would recover. She received superficial facial burns and severe burns on hands and feet. She remains at the local hospital where she was taken after the fire and where three of the children, Toby, 13, Rowena, 11, and John, 4, died Sunday.

"Mr. Schroeder and two children, Susie Jane, 9, and Geneva, 11 months, perished in the fire which was caused by gasoline which exploded as Mr. Schroeder was filling a gasoline cook stove in the same room in which a kerosene lamp was burning.

"The Schroeder family had resided at Ringwood for about six years having come to Oklahoma from Lehigh, Kans.

"Survivors include Mr. Schroeder's mother, Mrs. Susie Schroeder of near Longdale; his two sisters, Mrs. Edna Buller and Mrs. Iva Eicher, both of Foley, Ala.; and brother, Edward Schroeder of California. Also surviving are Mrs. Schroeder's mother, Mrs. Henry Boehs, and brother, Dave Boehs, both of Ringwood; and a sister Mrs. Ervina Ratzlaff, Lehigh, Kans."

The Mennonite obituary: 1944 Jan 18 p. 15