Kenworthy, Mary Edna (Fitzwater) - 1891-1931

Posted By: Maxine Kenworthy Didier
Date: 1 March 2003

(newspaper unknown)

WOMAN IS BURNED FATALLY IN EXPLOSION LAST SATURDAY NIGHT

Mrs. Ora Kenworthy Dies at Richmond Hospital Sunday Morning About 8:30

Mr. Kenworthy Also Suffers Severe Burns

Mrs. Mary Edna Kenworthy, 40 years old, wife of Ora Kenworthy, prominent farmer residing two miles east of West Manchester, sustained fatal burns Saturday night about 10 o'clock when kerosene in a one-gallon can, from which she was filling a lighted lantern, exploded. Burning oil was sprayed over Mrs. Kenworthy's head and body, and about the kitchen of the farm home. Mrs. Kenworthy died Sunday morning about 8:30 o'clock at Reid Memorial hospital, Richmond. The farm residence burned to the ground.

Mr. and Mrs. Kenworthy had been in the habit, when retiring for the night, of taking a lantern along to their room for possible emergency use during the night or early morning. Mr. Kenworthy had just started for the bedroom when his wife called to him that she believed that the lantern needed oil and that she was going to fill it. Taking the kerosene can and a funnel she proceeded to fill the lantern which was still burning. While doing this (she afterwards said) she thought, "What if this would explode." Practically at the same instant that she thought of the results of such a catastrophe, it happened.

The husband immediately rushed to the kitchen and there a terrible sight met his eyes. Mrs. Kenworthy's clothing was a mass of flames. He endeavored to extinguish the flames with his hands, but failing in this he rushed for a bucket of water and threw it over his wife, but this only served to spread the burning oil. Mrs. Kenworthy's clothing all burned off and her body was completely seared except two small spots on either side of her body. In this terrible condition she staggered outside, loudly calling for help. Mrs. Kenworthy's efforts to extinguish the blaze in the house were unavailing, as he could not get to a fire extinguisher in another room. Neither was he able to reach the telephone to call for help.

In his endeavor to put out the fire on his wife's body, in tearing off the burning clothing and in standing in burning oil while he was doing this, Mr. Kenworthy's one hand and one foot were so badly burned that the skin dropped from them. Despite his painful burns, he, no help having arrived, ran to the barn for his machine and took his wife and their son, Dale, to the A. V. Priddy home nearby. Dale had escaped from the burning building, barefooted and in his underwear.

The Priddy family was soon aroused and admitted the sufferers. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kenworthy were so overcome with shock and pain as to be hardly able to tell what had occurred. Mrs. Kenworthy made the tragic ride to the Priddy home entirely without clothing, except for the remnants of her hose and shoes and the slight covering of an auto robe.

After emergency treatment by a physician, ambulances rushed Mr. and Mrs. Kenworthy to the Richmond hospital. From the time she reached the hospital, no hope was held for Mrs. Kenworthy's recovery and she died the following morning. Mr. Kenworthy's injuries were dressed, and Sunday afternoon he was removed to the home of his mother-in-law, Mrs. Martha Fitzwater, near West Manchester. Mrs. Kenworthy's body was brought to the Kramer & Riley undertaking parlor here and then taken to her mother's home Monday evening.

The son, Dale, was outfitted with some clothing at the Priddy home and then was taken to the home of his uncle, John Fitzwater, for the night. He was taken to the hospital the next morning, but arrived too late to see his mother alive. Earl Fitzwater and Gale Ketring made a flying trip to Fort Wayne, Indiana, to get Mr. and Mrs. Kenworthy's daughter, Mildred, who is a student in a beauty college there. However, death won the race and when she reached the hospital her mother had expired.

The farm home was completely destroyed and with it most of the household goods, only a few pieces of furniture and several rugs being saved. The Eldorado fire department and volunteers succeeded in preventing spread of the flames to other buildings. A vigil was kept all night at the scene of the fire. Many people visited the scene on Sunday. The house was valued at $5,000, with insurance of $2,500.

Funeral services for Mrs. Kenworthy were held Tuesday afternoon in the Lewisburg Methodist church and were largely attended. Burial was in Roselawn cemetery at Lewisburg. Rev. Silvers, Dunkard pastor of Eldorado, officiated, assisted by Rev. H. J. Moore, local Methodist pastor.

Besides the husband, daughter and son, Mrs. Kenworthy is survived by her mother, Mrs. Martha Fitzwater, of near West Manchester; three brothers, John, Earl, and Lester Fitzwater, all of near West Manchester; two sisters, Mrs. Mildred Bowman, of Arcanum, and Mrs. Susanna Stutz, of near Ithaca, and several half-brothers and sisters.

Mr. Kenworthy is a son of Mr. and Mrs. B. M. Kenworthy who live south of Lewisburg one mile.

The entire community was deeply saddened by the tragedy and the family has the sincere sympathy of everyone. Neighbors and friends are doing what they can to aid the family.

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OBITUARY

Mary Edna Fitzwater, daughter of Elza and Martha Fitzwater, was born near Arcanum, Ohio, July 1, 1891, and departed this life February 15, 1931, aged 39 years, 7 months, and 14 days.

Her childhood and early life was all spent as a plain farmer girl, and it was as such that she met Ora Kenworthy to whom she was united in Holy Matrimony on August 12, 1911. To this union were born tow children, Mildred June and Dale Emerson. Besides the bereaved husband, she leaves to mourn her untimely departure her mother, Mrs. Martha Fitzwater; two sisters, Mrs. Susanna Stutz and Mrs. Mildred Irene Bowman; three half-brothers, Walter of Pontiac, Mich., Floyd of Greenville, O., and Newton of Decatur, Ill.; one half-sister, Mrs. Hattie Jones of near Richmond, Ind., besides many other near relatives and a great number of neighbors and friends.

Mary will always be remembered as a good and obedient child and sister by her mother and family, while husband and children know they have lost a patient, kind, and home-loving wife and mother.

Funeral services were held at 2 p. m. Tuesday, February 17, at the M. E. church in Lewisburg, and were conducted by Rev. H. J. Moore, Methodist pastor, and Arthur Silvers, Old German Baptist minister.

Then let our sorrows cease to flow,
God has recalled his own;
And let our hearts in every woe,
Still say, "Thy will be done."

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We wish to express our sincere gratitude for the many kindnesses shown us by neighbors and friends during the sad hours of bereavement.
Ora Kenworthy and Children
Mrs. Martha Fitzwater

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Twin Creek Chapel

Our community was never worse shocked that it was Saturday night when the Ora Kenworthy home was burned and Mrs. Kenworthy so badly burned that she died at the Richmond hospital at 7:30 Sunday morning. Mr. Kenworthy was also badly burned and received treatment at the hospital but was able to be brought home Sunday afternoon. Funeral was Tuesday afternoon at Lewisburg Methodist church.

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