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Ilene Louise Stumpf

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Ilene Louise Stumpf

Birth	:	1939 Washington, USA
Death	:	13 Jan 1950 Adams County, Washington, USA
Burial	:	Lewis County Memorial Gardens, Weston, Lewis County, USA
Coordinate	:	39.0224390, -80.4202340
Description	:	Parents Frederick Stumpf & Elsie Deife The world turned upside down for an Adams county farm couple last Friday when a blinding sub-zero blizzard claimed the lives of their two children and delivered the father exhausted and nearly frozen to death himself Fred Stumpf, farmer in the area between Ritzville and Odessa, is still in the Ritzville General hospital tis week after suffering from frozen feet and fingers. The two children who lost their lives were Ilene, 10, a fourth grader in the Ritzville elementary school and Frederick, 6,who started kindergarten last fall. Both, victims of a futile effort made... Read More	Parents Frederick Stumpf & Elsie Deife The world turned upside down for an Adams county farm couple last Friday when a blinding sub-zero blizzard claimed the lives of their two children and delivered the father exhausted and nearly frozen to death himself Fred Stumpf, farmer in the area between Ritzville and Odessa, is still in the Ritzville General hospital tis week after suffering from frozen feet and fingers. The two children who lost their lives were Ilene, 10, a fourth grader in the Ritzville elementary school and Frederick, 6,who started kindergarten last fall. Both, victims of a futile effort made with their father to reach home from where the family car had stalled about one mile to the northwest. -------------Mrs. Stumpf is staying with her sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Herschel Heimbigner in Ritzville. The tragedy had its beginning Friday morning when Ritzville schools were let out when it became evident that the steadily increasing wind and snowfall might clog country roads by afternoon. Stumpf picked up his two children in his 1949 Bucik sedan. According to Marvin Shadduck, grade school principal, the 38 year-old rancher was in the habit of delivering and calling for is children each day. Stumpf spent the rest of the morning in Ritzville. He and the children had lunch with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Stumpf. The blizzard reaching a new pak of intensity when he started for his home, about 15 miles west of Ritzville, near the old Neppel road sometime betwee 11:30 and noon. Saturday morning, Stumpf, in his hospital bed told Dr. J. Colin Lindsay, it was about 1 p.m. when his car became hopelessly stuck in a snow bank along a county road about one mile from his home. Stumpf worked th vehicle frantically, but couldn't free it. He and the children remained in the car about two hours. Then they struck out for the top of a knoll in an effort to determine whether they might be able to walk home. The three were instantly engulfed in the freezing blizzard. At first Stumpf carred both children on his shoulders, but soon realized they might keep warmer by walking. Stumpf had not gone far before Ilene collapsed from the cold. He decided to turn back to the car but was unable to find it. The trio's only hople then was to make it home a mile away. Stumpf knew where he was. He struck into the bottom of a coulee which head in a semi-circle toward the home place. It is unlikely the father could see for more than 10 or 20 feet in any direction. Ilene fell again near the bottom of the coulee. At times Stumpf carried his son; during other stretches he must have dragged him by the hand. Their course let out of the coulee to a fence line post where a blanket was abandoned in the snow. perhaps 300 feet farther lay the boy's body. Stumpf, probably half-blinded and losing all sense of direction wandered genraly toward the house but off to the right. He was shouting for held. His wife heard the shouts. She hurried into the blizzard, found her husband and led him to the house. Stumpf said it was about 7 p.m. when he reached home. That would give him fours of wander through the blizzard. The frantic shouts wer heard my Maudise Ferderer. Ferderer had left a stalled school bus, another victim of the drifting snow to summon help. He fought his way two or three miles towards home. When he reached home, he telephone Ritzville about the bus and conveyed his fear regarding Stumpf. In addition, some of the men rescuing the school children off the bus, observed a flickering light in the direction of the Stumpf home. It was learned later that Mrs. Stumpf-the farm had no telephone- had been switching th yard light off and on in hopes of attracting attention. As soon as the school children had been transferred to private cars, a county plow bullied it way to the Stumpf farm. The drivers were greeted with the sickening news that Stumpf had stumbled home and that both children were still out in the blizzard. A 1 a.m. a search party started out. The blizzard had died away but the temperature was dropping to a brittle 18 below. Headlights on the snow plows lit up the snowdrifts as searchers tramped back and forth. About 2:30 a.m. Frederick's body was found. The party search another hour for Ilene, but finally gave up because of darkness and intese cold. Shortly after 10 a.m. Saturday, Sheriff Lucas led a 17-man party back to the scene, where in less than two hours, Ilenes body was located. Funeral service for the children are set for 2 p.m. Monday Dan 23, at the Zion Congregation church. The Rev. P. Ruder will oficiate. Buriall will be in Ritzville Memorial cemtery. Ritzville Journal Tims January 19, 1950 Sue Gardner & gapwork90

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Ilene Louise Stumpf's memorial?
Ilene Louise Stumpf's memorial is located at: Lewis County Memorial Gardens, Weston, Lewis County, USA.
When did Ilene Louise Stumpf death?
Ilene Louise Stumpf death on 13 Jan 1950 in Adams County, Washington, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Ilene Louise Stumpf's memorial?
Latitude: 39.0224390
Longitude: -80.4202340

Family Members:

Parent

Fredrick Gerhardt Stumpf

(1910 - 1986)

Siblings

Fredrick Lee Stumpf

(1943 - 1950)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Peterson Cemetery
Weston, Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0224991, -80.4244003

2. Bush Cemetery
Horner, Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0147018, -80.4021988

3. Smiths Run Cemetery
Weston, Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0463070, -80.4173810

4. Smith Family Cemetery
Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0457993, -80.4297028

5. Horner Methodist Church Cemetery
Weston, Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0041069, -80.3845373

6. Old Arnold Cemetery
Weston, Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0350120, -80.4693550

7. Glady Cemetery
Horner, Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9846992, -80.4389038

8. Machpelah Cemetery
Weston, Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0475400, -80.4640760

9. Brownsville Cemetery
Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0163994, -80.4756012

10. Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens
Jane Lew, Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0649986, -80.4328003

11. Louisa Jane Methodist Chapel Cemetery
Alkires Mills, Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9786900, -80.4260310

12. Weston State Hospital Cemetery
Weston, Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0395050, -80.4727760

13. Laurel Lick Cemetery
Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0386009, -80.3617020

14. Hicks Cemetery
Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0717010, -80.4077988

15. Corathers Cemetery
Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9693927, -80.4128386

16. Miller Cemetery
Horner, Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0022800, -80.3496370

17. Morrison Cemetery
Berlin, Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0633100, -80.3648120

18. Butcher Cemetery
Turnertown, Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0727997, -80.4614029

19. Friendship Cemetery
Berlin, Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0760994, -80.3794022

20. Georgetown Cemetery
Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9638000, -80.3835200

21. Buckhannon Run Cemetery
Berlin, Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0365720, -80.3361230

22. Thomas Law Cemetery
Jane Lew, Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0893270, -80.4326240

23. Middle Run Cemetery
Weston, Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0149994, -80.5081024

24. Ward Cemetery
Lewis County, USA
Coordinate: 38.9975860, -80.5051990