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Esau, Ralph (1929-1944)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1944 Aug 3 p. 5
Birth date: 1929
text of obituary:
. . .
— Mr. and Mrs. Herman Esau of 328 East First street have the sympathy of the entire community in the death of their 15 year old son Ralph, who died of infantile paralysis last Friday morning. Ralph became ill several days previous to his death and was taken to the Bethel Deaconess Hospital for observation and special treatment. Besides warm packs applied regularly, he was also given the so-called new "wonder drug," penicillin. Respiratory paralysis developed suddenly Thusdray [sic] afternoon and it became necessary to rush the lad to the St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, where he was placed in an iron lung. Several local doctors accompanied him in an ambulance and the trip to Wichita was made in 22 minutes. All efforts were, however, of no avail and Ralph died at about 9.00 o'clock the following morning. Because of the nature of the disease, private funeral services were held at the graveside in Greenwood cemetery Saturday afternoon. Mr. Esau, Ralph's father, is pharmacist at the Bethel Clinic. Three other cases of infantile paralysis have been reported in this community, but all are making good progress toward recovery.