Bair, Orval A. (Mrs.) (1914-1972)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1972 Jun 29 p. 2

Birth date: 1914

text of obituary:

Two Newton Women Killed in Fiery Crash Of Car, Semi-Trailer

The firery crash of a car and a semi-trailer last Friday evening on US-81 a mile north of Zimmerdale, between Newton and Hesston, claimed the lives of two Newton women.

Dead are Mrs. Orval A. Bair, 58, and her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Duane David Bair, 25, the former Kathleen Schroeder of the Goessel community and mother of two small children. Duane Bair had undergone minor surgery at Axtell Christian Hospital here Friday morning.

Officers reported that a blowout of the left front tire of the northbound truck caused it to veer into the other lane of traffic, where it was hit by the southbound Bair auto. The car and the truck cab were both destroyed by fire. The truck driver was able to escape, and was brought to Bethel Deaconess Hospital suffering from shock. A car driven by James Ray Unruh, 27, of Hesston, traveling behind the Bairs, also hit the truck and he suffered a scalp laceration and cuts.

Combined services for the two women were held Tuesday afternoon at the First United Presbyterian Church in Newton of which Mrs. Orval Bair, a widow, was a member. Rev. Louis L. Dale and Rev. Arnold Funk officiated. Mrs. Duane Bair was a member of the Alexanderwohl Church, and burial was made in the church cemetery. Besides her husband she leaves two children, Trenton, 4, and Jodie, 2; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John A. Schroeder of rural Canton; two brothers, Donald J. of Moundridge and Robert J. of McPherson; and a sister, Mrs. Kenneth Wedel of Wichita.