A somber gathering of friends, buddies and relatives was on hand Wednesday noon at the Monon Depot when the body of the first World War II veteran, killed overseas, was returned to Delphi. There have been many bodies returned to other places in the county, but the body of Robert B. Yates, was the first to arrive for burial here. The youth was returned home in a bronze sealed casket, slightly more than four years after he died July 12, 1944 in France. Military funeral services for the youth will be conducted (Thursday) afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Patrick Mortuary in Delphi with the Rev. Lewis Deardorff officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic cemetery. Harry Bohannon Post, American Legion, will have charge of the military service. Yates died July 12, 1944, while serving with the 8th Infantry Division in France. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Yates, were notified of his death on October 25, 1944. He entered service from here on February 27, 1943, and served in the air corps at Camp Swift, Texas. Later he was transferred to infantry training at Camp Forrest, Tennessee. He attended Delphi High School. Surviving the youth, who was 21 at the time of his death, are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Yates of West Franklin street, Delphi; four brothers, Lee Jr., Orville, Wayne and Jim, and three sisters, Mona Schmitter, Wanda and Wilma at home. A military escort from Chicago accompanied the body here and remained as a guard of honor until services were completed this afternoon.

Delphi Citizen July 22, 1948