Christner, Harley (1911-1954)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 Jul 15 p. 1

Birth date: 1911

text of obituary:

Pilot And Niece Killed In Plane Crash

MEET FATAL ACCIDENT IN THUNDER STORM EN ROUTE TO GULLIVER, MICH.

Goshen, Ind. — This community was saddened and shocked when the news came that Harley Christner, 43, and his niece, Miss Erma Weaver, 19, were killed in a plane crash near Jones, Mich., Saturday morning, July 3, during a terrific thunder storm.

Christner lived with his family at 205 South 21st street, and was an experienced pilot. He was flying one of the planes of the Goshen Flying Eagles. Inc., of which he was president. His wife Lola and a daughter, Mrs. Jerry Leichty, Belleville, O. survive.

Miss Weaver, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Weaver, Gulliver, Mich., was a student at Goshen college. Christner was taking her home to Michigan because of illness in her family.

Persons at the scene of the accident said parts of the single engine plane were strewn over more than 500 yards in the wooded area where Christner was forced down. His body was partly buried in the ground but Miss Weaver was thrown clear of the plane.

Funeral services for Christner were held Tuesday, July 6, at the North Goshen Mennonite church, of which he was a member, and services for Miss Weaver on the same day at the Maple Grove Mennonite church at Gulliver, Mich.