Smyrna times., 1928-03-21
DEATH RECORD OF THE WEEK
Miss Ida May Downs, Formerly of
KentOn, Who Was Operated Upon
on Her Return From China, Dead

on Her Return From China, Dead
Miss Ida May Downes, formerly OF
Kenton, who rose to much success and
popularity as a trained nurse, passed
away into the great peace of eternity,
Wednesday, March IA. Miss Downs
sudden death followed a major opera
ton of great delicacy at the Mayo
Brothers Hospital in Rochester, Min
nesota, where she had been accompan-
led by her sister, Miss Ann Downs.
The funeral was held from the home
of her sister, Mrs. John Arthurs at
Kenton, Saturday, interment being at
the family burying ground in Silver
Lake Cemetery, Dover. In whatever
Miss Downs undertook, she was sur
rounded by a host of friends. Hers
was a rare nature, able always to
lose herself in generous enthusiasms
and to cooperate with others for COM
mon ends. She entered each new
phase of her life with clean hands,
eager eyes, confident feet, and a we'll
trained mind. She was trained in
piano under T. Leslie Carpenter of
Wilmington and later attended the
PENNSYLVANIA Conservatory of Music
in Philadelphia where she became an
accomplished pianist. This period Of
her life was followed by several years
Of teaching piano, during which time
Miss Downs conducted classes in both
Wilmington and Kenton. In 1909 she
entered the training school for nurses
Of the Pennsylvania Hospital in Phil
adelphia from which she graduated in
1912. Following the completion Of her
hospital training and up until the time
our country went into the great war,
Miss Downs served in the capacity Of
assistant to the superintendent Of
nurses in the hospital in which she
had trained. Then, when the war
brought the pressure Of great uncer-
tainties on our American citizens,
Miss Downs fitted bravely into her
place and assumed the tremendous re-
sponsibility involved in relieving the
Superintendent of Nurses Of that hos
pital with which she was associated.
Miss Downs went at the close of the
war, to Teachers College, Columbia
University, New York City, for furth-
er study. She received from the Uni
versity a diploma in teaching and her
Bachelor of Science Degree. AS an
outstanding student she was invited
during her last year at the college tn
serve az an assistant in the Depart
ment of Nursing Education IN the
School of Practical Arts. No greater
tribute than this invitation alone
could have been paid to her keen mind
and winning personality. IN 1924
Miss Downs acted as instructor in the
training school for nurses Of St.Luke's
Hospital III New York City. AT the
close Of this year she was invited by
the Rockefeller Foundation to accept
an instructorship in the hospital Of
! the Peking Union Medical College,
\ Cknown as the Rockefeller College and
\ Hospital), in Pelzing, the capital city
of China. During the three and one
half years which followed, and which
I also immeditely preceded her recent
Y illness. Miss Downs endeared herself
to all BY her loving disposition, untir-
ing thoughtfulness, and her unselfish-
ness. On the long trip home from
| China, Miss Downs was accompanied
by Miss Gertrude Hosmer, friend
and co-worker, whose great JOY it was
to remain with her throughout the en-
tire four months of her illness. The
loss Of one 50 valuable, comes as q
tragedy, not only to her family but to
co-workers, friends and associates
Miss Downs was the daughter of the
late Edward and Martha (Slaughter)
Downs and spent most of her girlhooc
DAYS in Kenton. She is survived BY
four sisters and one brother, her twlr
sister, Mrs. Charles Fisher Of East
Lansing, Michigan, Mrs. John Arthur'
Of Kenton; Miss Ann Downs of East
Lansing, Michigan; Mrs. Gilbert Gar
rison of Smyrna, and Mr.. Alice Down!
of Lewiston, Pennsylvania.
Miss Belle Appleton, Formerly Odessi
Miss Isabel James Appleton, daugh
ter of the late Henry H. and Hannah
M. Appleton of Odessa, Del, died OF
Friday, March 10th, at Bethlehem, Pa
Funeral services were held at on'
o'clock p. m, Monday last, at St
Anne's P. E. Church, Middletown,witl
interment at st. Paul's NJ. E. Church
Odessa. Miss Appleton was a frs
cousin to w. o. and ]. E. Hoffecke
and Mrs. Hervey P. Hall of Smyrna
and was a frequent visitor here whel
she resided at Odessa. She is survives
by two sisters, Mrs. Alonza S. Whit
took and Mrs. Robert Whittock, resId
ing near Wilmington.
Mrs. Edna Armstrong Turner, Dead
Mrs. Edna Armstrong Turner, wifi
of George Turner, of Wilmington
formerly of Smyrna, died shortly al
ter midnight Friday, in the Homeo
pathic Hospital, Wilmington, after