Evening star., 1937-05-25
]. D. ROCKEFELLER
RITES TOMORROW
Body on Way North as Fam
lily Waits at Pocantico
Hills Estate.
ey the Associated Press.

NORTH TARRYTOWN, N. Y, Ma,
e5.-The body of John D. Rockefelle,
was borne northward today to waitins
members of his immediate family
carried with the richness, exclusive.
ness and lack Of public {ormality
which characterized his life.
Privacy was the keynote Of all ar
rangements for final honors to the
man who, although a great philan-
thropist, lived secluded, a shunner Of
public notice.
The body was in special Pullman
tar attached to a New York-bound
express from Ormond Beach, Fla,
where the st-philanthropist
died suddenly Sunday morning, two
months short of his 98th birthday
anniversary. He lay in simple but
rich mahogany and bronze casket, be-
decked with few lilies. Friends had
been asked not to send flowers.
The train was due in New York
about pm. eastern standard time)
The funeral Pullman then was to be
routed farther northward to a pri-
vate siding behind the 3,5O0-acre
Rockefeller estate, Pocantico Hills,
near here, where it was due about
I pm. eastern standard time).
Family at Estate.
! In the 47-room mansion on the
astate waited his family, now headed
by his only son, John D. Rockefeller,
str., who is 50. The family had hur-
lried from points as far away as the
Panama Canal Zone to attend fnal
rites in the great hall at 10 am.
'<Eastern standard time) tomorrow.
1t was not known exactly how many
OF the 26 children, grandchildren and
great grandchildren would be able to
attend.
The ceremonies will be strictly pri-
Fate. with only handful OF business
associates and few trusted servants
present. in addition to the family.
DR.. Harry Emerson Fosdick, pastor
Df the Riverside Baptist Church in
New York, built by Mr.. Rockefeller,
will read the scriptures; Rev. Lester
H. Bent, pastor of the Pocantico Hills
Union Church, will participate: a few
hymns best loved by Rockefeller will
be sung, and that will be all.
Burial in Cleveland.
Late tomorrow the casket again will
be placed in the special Pullman and
taken to Cleveland, where Rockefeller
launched his fabulous career. He will
be buried there Thursday with rites as
simple as those arranged here.
The Rockefeller neighbors here had
flags at half-staf today, but this was
about the only sign of public notice
OF the death. At the wish OF the fam
lily, as John D." himself would have
had it, there was a minimum OF public
ceremony.
NO special rite was planned for the
bodys arrival in New York. Some OF
the Standard Oil Co. Offices planned
o-mlnute periods Of silence in a sus-
pension OF operations tomorrow.
Accompanying the body northward
We're Mrs. Fannie Evans, Rockefeller's
second cousin and his hostess for
many years; Ward Madison, his sec
.retary; Mrs. Florence A. Mitchell. a
tfriend OF Mrs. Evans, and five en-
,.ployes.
In addition to his son, Rockefeller's
only other living child. Mrs. E. Par
malee Prentice Of Williamstown.
Mass, was here. Two grandsons,
Nelson and Winthrop Rockefeller.
Were expected today or tomorrow after
plane flights from the Canal Zone.
Other members of the immediate
family to attend the services were
hurrying by train from Illinois, New
Jersey and Connecticut.
Servants Pay Last Respects.
Nearly score of sad servants were
left behind at the Easements, Rocke-
3eller's Florida home, where they paid
their last respects yesterday at simple
services.
The household and dozen inti-
mate friends surrounded the casket
In the rotunda room of the Case
eAANAAoos OOIO4 GU olldl 10 "a llkllL SldQL.
ed down through the stained-glass
panes OF a dome. Both men and
women wept openly.
Softly, I. w. Ramsey sang two of
Rockefeller's favorite hymns-"Come
Thou Fount Of Every Blessing" and
mo Night Therein the same room
On which happy guests sang carols
At "Neighbor john Rockefeller's
Christmas parties.
Rev. James M. Anderson, pastor of
the Calvary Baptist Church, read
from the Scriptures. A half hour or
less and the service was ended.
The few townspeople present in
cluded Mayor Hubert Price, Druggist
Macon Thornton, the telegraph boy
at the railroad station, DR.. Harry L.
Merryday and DR.. Sidney Main, the
dndustrialist's dentist.