Koop, Sam (Mrs.) (d. 1945)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1945 Feb 1 p. 1

Birth date:

text of obituary:

Three Lives Lost, Home destroyed Thru Explosion at Dill, Okla.

TWO CHILDREN BURNED TWO [sic] DEATH; MOTHER ALSO FATALLY INJURED

Cordell, Okla., Jan. 26. — A violent gas explosion claimed the lives of three persons and destroyed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Koop near Dill early last Friday morning.

Two sons, Leslie, age 6, and Aaron, a twin, 11 months old, were killed instantly and both badly burned before they could be recovered. Mrs. Koop, who was pinned under a burning wall, died the same night in a Cordell hospital from burns and severe shock.

It is believed the accumulated gas in the house was ignited when Mrs. Koop attempted to light a kerosene stove in order to prepare breakfast for the family. The highly explosive fumes had evidently escaped from the gas system with which the home was equipped but which was not being used. So severe was the explosion that it was heard for miles around.

The Koops, former residents of the Mennonite community at Corn, lost their home in the tornado which crossed Washita county of Easter Sunday last year. Later they moved to Dill.

Funeral services for the three victims were held at the Baptist church in Dill Saturday afternoon. The husband and eight children survive.