Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1933-01-05
FRIENDS HONOR FLIER's WIFI
Final Tribute Paid Mrs. Van Orman
At Funeral

~ y sAS1OAssA
(By Helen s. Waterhouse)
"Sunset and evening star. and af
ter that the dark, sand may there BIZ
no sadness Of farewell. when I EN-,
bark"
A little boy in a red SUIT stirred
and looked up inquiringly into his
fathers tear-flled eyes. Reside hin
a gray-haired, kindly-faced woman
bowed her head in her hands. And
a little boy and girl at the end oi
the pew watched the minister with
solemn eyes, as he read Tennyson's
immortal lines.
Up in front Of the pulpit, under
q great blanket Of roses, Jimmie's
mother, Mrs. Ward r. Van Orman
lay asleep. Jimmie didn't under.
stand yet why she hadn't walked NJ
since last Saturday to help him in.
to his bunny suit and helmet and
overshoes. It was not like her to be
quiet SO long.-she who had al
ways been so full Of life.
Gather To Pay Final Tribute
Friends from many walks Of life
in the city were gathered there in
the Woodland M. e. church Tues.
day afternoon to bid farewell to the
tired little mother of Jimmie and
"Tunte" and Brother
There were aeronautical people
there, friends who had rejoiced with
her so many times over Van Or
mans balloon victories; men who
worked with Evan" at Goodyear
Zeppelin, with their wives: navy
ieutenant-command acting as
pallbearer,-the man who had raced
with Evan" over Europe in recent
happier days.
A great leader,a colorful figure
in American aviation history had
slipped into a rear seat unobtrusive-
ly, come to do homage to one who
had always had a vital interest In
all things aeronautical, herself
Probably very few in the church
knew that Brig. Gen. William
Mitchell was there.
Tuesday Musical Members Attend
Musical people were there in
great numbers too, members Of the
Tuesday Musical club to which she
had given so much of her time. She
had always loved music.
And somehow one knew that she
would have liked the music which
had been selected for her farewell.
The surpliced choir was singing
"Abide With Me- as the people
gathered. Later a. clear-voiced So
prano sang-"Come unto Me, all
We that labor and are heavy laden,
and / will give you rest
"She is not far away said the
minister, Rev. Norman H. Flick
niger. 1--WE do not know why she
left so soon. But somehow I believe
the angelic presence of this moth
er remains, to guide the footsteps
of these little ones through the
years of their childhood and young
manhood and womanhood, and to
comfort him who walked side by
side with her through all the exper-
fences of their life together"
Singing Recalls Christmas Time
And then, because it is almost
Christmas, and because there must
be Christmas still in spite of sor-
row and mourning, wherever there
are youngsters, the choir broke
softly into-"Silent night. holy
night, all is CALM. all is bright"
Jimmie's face Frightened. "Tunte"
and Brother forget for a moment
all the sad happenings of the past
few days. Hadn't mother often
sung this to them herself at Christ
mas time? This was familiar ground
again.
Later at the snow-covered ceme-
terry, the group Of mourners heard
the motor of an approaching plane.
C. o. Bell of Goodyear, was circling
the cemetery paying the last tribute
of a flier to a great f1ier's wife. He
leaned far out over the cockpit and
dropped a cluster of golden flowers
on the grave And somehow those
flowers brought ray of hope and
to the dreary scene. One
thought again Of the minister's
quotation, Sunset and evening star
and one clear call for me, and may
there be no moaning Of the bar,
when put out to sea-"