Diving accident victim to be buried in Winchester today; autopsy reveals lung congestion as cause of death
July 20, 1942.
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| John Albert Davis. Photo source: Find A Grave online, January 2020. |
Funeral services for John Albert Davis, 14, fatally injured in a diving accident at the Goodrich park swimming pool in Winchester Saturday morning, will be conducted today at 10 a.m. at the Main street Church of Christ in charge of Rev. Raymond D. Harris. Burial will be in Fountain Park cemetery.
Johnny was the son of Mrs. Estrella B. Davis, Winchester city clerk-treasurer. He died about six hours after attempting a difficult full gainor dive, striking his head on the diving board, falling into the nine-foot pit and sinking to the bottom.
Although he sustained a slight concussion, death at the Randolph County hospital at 4:45 p.m. was due to acute pulmonary edemas -a lung congestion. The accident occurred at 10:45 a.m.
Autopsy Reveals Cause
An autopsy performed Sunday morning by Dr. L. M. Montgomery of Muncie revealed the cause of death.
The fatal injury to the Winchester youth was the second in the five-year-old existence of the modern pool, a Lynn youth drowning after an attach of cramps about four years ago.
Although the pool was closed to the public at the time of the accident, the youth had been given permission to swim, inasmuch as he helped his mother in the afternoons at the well known pop corn stand on the east side of the courthouse square.
In the pool at the time, however, was Mrs. Esther Engle Baker, Winchester swimming instructor, and a class of her young pupils.
The Davis boy's body was brought to the surface by Robert Barnes, Winchester high school teacher and former manager of the pool, who was standing in the bath house doorway when his, and Mrs. Baker's, attention was called to the accident by Junior Hawley, a lifeguard who was raking the beach.
Both Mrs. Baker and Barnes hurried to the deep pit, Barnes after seeing the boy's body come up from the bottom to about a foot from the top, making a surface dive and retrieving the body on the first plunge.
Regains Consciousness
Squatting momentarily on the bottom for a spring, an arm around the boy, Barnes shot to the top, swam with the boy to shallow water, carried him to the grass and used artificial respiration.
Johnny gained consciousness after "six or seven pushes," according to Barnes, remarking that "the back of my head hurts" and that he wanted his mother. Johnny was under the water less than two minutes, it was estimated.
The boy was taken to the hospital in the Summers ambulance.
With Johnny on the tower was Glen Coffman. He was not swimming, however, Bill Ferguson, another lifeguard, was working in the bath house.
Johnny, according to George Daly, pool manager, was a good swimmer and diver. Every diver, however, he said, is cautioned against attempting difficult dives.
Daly, ironically, had just arrived at Mrs. Davis's office in the city building to settle up the previous day's business when the call came in that her son was injured.
Survivors, other than the mother, are two brothers, Loland of the U. S. air corps at Rantoul, Ill., and Robert at home; two sisters, Mrs. Mary Alice Keys of Winchester and Mrs. Alice Janet Surratt of Dayton, Ohio; and two grandfathers, J. A. Davis of Breckenridge, Mich., and John Lake of McAllen, Texas. The father, Orla L. (Pat) Davis, former clerk-treasurer, died last November.
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MORE OF THE STORY...
1940 United States Federal Census
Year: 1940
Census Place: Winchester, Randolph, Indiana
Roll: m-t0627-01089; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 68-28; Number of household in order of visitation: 36.
Orla L. Davis
Age: 52, born about 1888, male, race: white, birthplace: Indiana.
Married, head of household.
Home is owned: 229 Ceash, Winchester, Randolph County, Indiana. Same residence in 1935. Value of home: 3,000.
Occupation: Operator Proprietor. Highest grade completed: 7th grade. Weeks worked in 1939: 52. Income: 800.
Estrella B. Davis
Age: 44, born about 1896, female, white, birthplace: Indiana.
Married, wife to head of household.
Occupation: Clerk Treasurer as wage or salary worker in Government work. Highest grade completed: 8th grade. Weeks worked in 1939: 50. Income 1300.
Alice J. Davis
Age: 16, born about 1924, female, white, birthplace: Indiana.
Daughter to head of household.
Attended school or college: Yes. Highest grade completed: high school, 2nd year.
John A. Davis
Age: 11, born about 1929, male, white, birthplace: Indiana.
Son of head of household.
Attended school or college: Yes. Highest grade completed: 5th grade.
Robert E. Davis
Age: 10, born about 1930, male, white, birthplace: Indiana.
Son of head of household.
Attended school or college: Yes. Highest grade completed: 3rd grade.
W. E. Watson
Age: 27, born about 1913, male, white, birthplace: Oklahoma. Married.
Lodger is relationship to head of household.
Residence in 1935: Ottawa, Oklahoma.
Occupation: Machine Operator. Highest grade completed: 1st year of college.
Weeks worked in 1939: 38. Income 1700.
Ruth Watson
Age: 27, born about 1913, female, white, birthplace: Oklahoma. Married.
Lodger is relationship to head of household.
Residence in 1935: Ottawa, Oklahoma.
Highest grade completed: 3rd year of college.
Billy E. Watson, Junior
Age: 17, born about 1923, male, white, birthplace: Oklahoma. Single.
Lodger's son is relationship to head of household.
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Pat Davis, the 'pop corn man', dies at his home in Winchester
November 8, 1941
Orla Lou (Pat) Davis, 53, died suddenly at 4 p.m. Friday at his home, 229 East Franklin street, Winchester. Death is believed to have been caused by a heat attack. The body was discovered by one of his sons.
Afflicted with a bone disease while a young man, which necessitated amputation of an arm and a leg, Mr. Davis despite these adversities provided for a large family, became clerk-treasurer of Winchester during the administration of Mayor John P. Clark and was regarded as a successful business man.
Known far and wide in Democratic party circles, Mr. Davis was also renowned in eastern Indiana and western Ohio for his "Pats'" pop corn which he dispensed on the east side of the courthouse square. Although an ardent Democrat, his counsel was sought by members of both parties on political questions.
Surviving are the wife, Estrella, clerk-treasurer of Winchester; three sons, Loland Bruce, John Albert and Robert Earl, and two daughters, Mrs. Mary O. Keys and Alice Janet Davis, all of Winchester; four grandchildren; the father, James A. Davis of Breckenridge, Mich.; and five brothers, Earl of Winchester, Uriah and Charles of Park Ridge, Ill., Russell of Chicago, and Raymond of Newark, Ohio.
The body was removed to the Clark and Maynard funeral home, where last rites will be conducted Sunday at 2 p.m. with Rev. Raymond D. Harris in charge. Burial will be in Fountain Park cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 12 o'clock Saturday.
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World War 1 Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
Orla L. Davis
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Who else is John Albert Davis age (born 1928) and what happened in history when he died (1942)?
Famous People Born in 1928.
Fred Rogers. on March 20th.
Shirley Temple on April 23rd.
Rosemary Clooney on May 23rd.
Andy Warhol on August 6th.
Famous People Born in 1929.
Martin Luther King Jr. on January 15th.
Audrey Hepburn on May 4th.
Anne Frank on June 12th.
June Carter Cash on June 23rd.
Grace Kelly on November 12th.
Christopher Plummer on December 13th.
Historical facts of 1942.
US President: Franklin D. Roosevelt.
United Nations created with agreement of 26 countries.
The cost of a first-class stamp is 3 cents.
The cost of a gallon of gasoline is 15 cents.
The cost of a bottle of Coca-Cola is 5 cents.
Instant Coffee is introduced.
The Alaska Highway is completed from Alaska through Canada.
The first health maintenance organization (HMO), Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, began in California.
Napalm, a jelly-like mixture of gasoline and palm oils that sticks to its target until it burns out, was invented.
World War II: War Bonds were introduced. Voice of America begins broadcasting. Car makers stop making cars and start making war materials. Doolittle Raid is the first air raid attack on Tokyo, Japan. The minimum draft age is lowered from 21 to 18. K9 corps begins training dogs for use in warfare. US gasoline rationing goes into effect at 3 gallons per week. The Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) is created. The Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) is created.
Relocation camps for 120,000 Japanese and persons of Japanese ancestry living in western US were established. Canada also interned Japanese Canadians.
Movies & Music & Sports: Walt Disney film "Bambi" premiered. The film "Casablanca" premiered. Bing Crosby released the song "White Christmas" from the film "Holiday Inn." The first "gold record" was created by RCA Victor when gold was sprayed over Glenn Miller's million-copy-seller "Chattanooga Choo Choo." The St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series.
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