In Memory

Russell Hathaway - Class Of 1945

Russell Hathaway

Delphi and surrounding community were saddened last Friday when it became known here that Russell Hathaway, 23, of this city had been killed, almost instantly at 2 a.m. Friday morning, when the auto in which he was riding struck a north-bound Monon freight train at the Wilson Street crossing in Delphi. Hathaway was riding in an auto driven by John Norman Jones, 21, of Yeoman, and was accompanied by Don Sass, 20, of Delphi and Don Anderson, 22, of north of town. The group was taking Hathaway to his home in north Delphi. The vehicle approached the crossing where, after 10 p. m. there is no signal to warn of approaching trains. Jones did not see the train in time he was upon the crossing and with ice covering the street, could not stop the car. The auto struck the first unit of the Diesel engine, turned completely around and hit the shanty where normally the watchman stays during his tour of duty. City Patrolman Charles Coghill, who was called, stated that Hathaway must have been thrown from the window of the Oldsmobile coupe which Jones was driving. He was sitting on the right side of the front seat when the auto hit the train. His body was found after the crash about 45 feet west of the crossing on the south side of the tracks. Dr. Tom Brown, deputy coroner, was called and pronounced the youth died on arrival. Death was attributed to a fractured skull. Born in Idaville June 28, 1927, the deceased was one of 16 children born to Earl and Hazel McClean Hathaway of 701 N. Union, Delphi. He was a graduate of the local high school in 1945 and was a star athlete for the Oracles. He served for more than a year in the Navy and upon his discharge returned here for employment. He was employed at the Brown Rubber Plant, Lafayette, at the time of his death. He had been captain of the local Pittsburg Basketball team for the past four years. Surviving with the parents are the following brothers and sisters: Thelma Peters, Nellie Peters, Lucille Geisler, all of Idaville; Jessie Allen of Greenwood; Ruby, Tom, Wayne, Faye, Charles, Edna and George, at home; Robert of Lafayette; Donald of Ockley, Orville of Delphi, and Marion of Bloomington, Illinois. Funeral rites were conducted Sunday afternoon from the Delphi Baptist Church with the Rev. William Rix officiating. Burial was in Zion cemetery. Patrick Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.

Delphi Citizen November 30, 1950