Deaths
[ A listing of deaths of which word has been receivedwithin the vast month. Full notices may appear in thisissue or may appear in a later number]
Hamilton, Charles W. '83, December 28, 1948 Griffith, Edward '93, December 14, 1948 Payne, Ralph W. '99, December 3, 1948 Silver, Ernest L. '99, January 4, 1949 Atwood, Frederick E. '00, December 5, 1948 O'Leary, Laurence J. '01,-December 27, 1948 Brewer, Robert D. '04, January 9, 1949 Perry, Louis I. '04, December 28, 1948 Peterson, Howard B. '09, December 31, 1948 Jenness, Thornton W. '10, December 16, 1948 Kimball, Russell H. '11, October 29, 1948 Bixby, Leland C. '19, January 9, 1949 Cavis, George C. '21, December 14, 1948 Behringer, George A. '23, September 25, 1948 Short, William W. '24, December 20, 1948 Waters, Edwin S. '30, December 15, 1948 Rodgers, H. Rand '31, December 12, 1948 Archibald, Robert E. '31, December 6, 1948 Blake, Allen M. '38, December 13, 1948 Lewis, Stephen J. '44, December 17, 1948 Smith, Wayne C. '45, December 20, 1948
In Memoriam
1899
DR. RALPH WHEELWRIGHT PAYNE died suddenly, December 3, at the Franklin County Public Hospital in his home town of Greenfield, Mass. He was active and around as usual until three days before his death and spent the afternoon of December 1 with friends at the Greenfield Men's Club. During that night an artery broke in the abdomen, superinduced by a sclerotic condition which had troubled him for a few years, particularly in the legs.
Funeral services were held December 6 at Green River Chapel. The Rev. Kenneth R. Henley of the Second Congregational Church, of which Ralph had been a member, officiated. Burial was in Green River Cemetery.
Ralph was born in Greenfield, September 12, 1877, the son of Charles N. and Lula (Bugbee) Payne. He attended local schools and entered Dartmouth with the class of 1899. At the end of his Sophomore year he left to attend the dental school at Harvard University, from which he graduated in 1900 and then for some time practised dentistry in Greenfield. Later he gave lip his practice and joined the business of his father who for several years owned a drug store on Main Street in Greenfield. Ralph continued to run the business for some time after his father's death and then sold it to a national drug store chain. Following this he conducted an insurance business.
For many years he was a keen and enthusiastic stamp collector and was a member of the National Society of Philatelists. He was a member of the Mansfield Trout Club and the Greenfield Club.
Surviving are his widow, the former Elsie Weissbrod, a charming, cultured lady to whom he had been married for forty years, and a brother, Harold of North Adams, Mass.
At Dartmouth Ralph was well known to most all in college because of a colorful personality. There was widespread advertising in those days of a nostrum called "Paine's Celery Compound." Because of similarity of names, he was early dubbed "Celery" Payne, and "Celery" he was to his classmates all through his life. In his Sophomore year he won a part on The Dartmouth Dramatic Club and played "Sir Benjamin Backbite" in "The School for Scandal."
He attended the 40th and 45th class reunions and most of the previous ones. Mrs. Payne wrote that they were planning to attend the 50th. Now and then he attended the Annual Roundup on the first Saturday in March.
J.W.G.
1900
FREDERICK EDWIN ATWOOD died at his home in West Roxbury, Mass., on December 5. He had been in ill health for nearly a year, but his final passing was very sudden.
He was born in Chelsea, Vt., on August 11, 1875, 'he son of John B. and Jennie (Mills) Atwood. After schooling in his native place he was graduated from the Bryant and Stratton Business College in Manchester, N.H. in 1893. Keen in business affairs even in those early years, he established a profitable printing plant in that city, in the meantime attending the Manchester High School for college preparation. In 1896 he disposed of the printing business and entered Dartmouth in the class of 1900. As an undergraduate he took a leading place in student affairs, serving as business manager of The Aegis and a member of the executive committee at commencement. Very early he became, and continued to be as long as he lived, either officially or unofficially, collector in all class affairs. He was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and of the Mandolin Club.
Upon graduation he entered the advertising business in Boston, associating himself in the main with shoe and leather journals. His first connection was with Hide and Leather and then with American Shoemaking. After this he was associated for a time with The Shoe andLeather Reporter. During this period he published various pocket directories having to do with the shoe business. In 1908 he returned to American Shoemalcing, an organization with which he remained for the rest of his life, becoming in 1917 treasurer and general manager, as well as principal owner. In connection with it he also published The Shoe Factory Buyer'sGuide. In another sphere than that covered by these technical journals, he established Wholesale Bargains, for bargain basement buyers. In 1922 he and his classmate, Homer Eaton Keyes, founded the magazine Antiques, highly successful from the start, which they sold very profitably in 1928. From 1934 to 1938 he was the publisher of Leisure, a Magazine of aThousand Diversions. He was also half owner of the Rapid Service Press, a large printing establishment in Boston.
For many years a resident of West Roxbury, he served several terms as President of the Highland Club of that community. Of especial satisfaction to him were the noonday luncheons with trade friends at the unofficial "Essex Club," at the Hotel Essex. In his later years he spent the greater part of his summers at his ancestral home at Chelsea, where he renewed the Atwood home, formerly an old Vermont Inn, and established there a beautiful garden. Always fond of his birthplace (he was never known to his college friends under any name than that of "Chelsea"), when one of the few business blocks in that community was burned in 1926 he took over the site and rebuilt in substantial fashion. This building was devoted by him to a recreation and Red Cross center during the years of the world war.
He was married in 1910 at Hyde Park, Mass., to Miss Marion E. Bradley, who survives him. They had no children. His funeral was held in the West Roxbury Methodist Church on Dec. 8. The class was represented by Walter and Mrs. Rankin, Harry and Mrs. Sampson, Manion, Mahoney, McDavitt, Paddock, Prescott, Roberts, Sears, Wallace. Interment was at Chelsea, Vt., on the following day with Hadlock, Fletcher and Teague in attendance.
1901
EDWARD FRANCIS GIBBONS passed away at his home in his native town, Hingham, Mass., on October 6 after a long illness. He was born March 21, 1881, was educated in the public schools and graduated from the Hingham High School in 1897.
Eddie entered college with 1901, being one of the ynrmgest- men in the class. An apt student he made first division in all his classes. A member of Sigma Chi Fraternity he numbered among its members many of his closest friends.
Being obliged to leave college before graduation, he then became associated with several publishing houses, and was a successful book salesman for many years. Eddie was very well read and was fond of good literature.
Some ten years ago he was obliged to give up active work because of disabilities. For many years he put up a gallant fight against heavy odds, during the last year of his life being almost blind. But even under these circumstances he carried on with grit and determination, and without complaint. His old friend, classmate and physician, Charlie Whelan often remarked that he marvelled at his wonderful courage and fortitude.
Eddie Gibbons absorbed a great deal of Dartmouth Spirit during his short stay in Hanover, and was always loyal to the College, the class and his fraternity. No one ever looked forward with more pleasure and anticipation, to reunions and class gatherings than he. He conserved his strength so that he could be in attendance whenever possible, even though it was often with great effort. His wit was keen, and his memory of old college days remarkable.
The funeral was held at St. Paul's Church in Hinghara, and was largely attended. Tom McGovern represented the class at the services. His devoted wife, Kathryn Norris Gibbons, survives him.
1909
HOWARD BIGELOW PETERSON, of 47 Ellison Park, Waltham, Mass., retired business man and leader in Masonic and other fraternal societies, died at the Waltham Hospital on December 31.
He was the owner of a coal, ice and oil business established by his father and which he had managed for sixteen years until his retirement six years ago. He was born in Providence, and had lived in Waltham for sixty years.
He was a member of Christ Episcopal Church, Monitor Lodge of Masons, Royal Arch Chapter, Council of Masons, Commandery, Aleppo Temple, Rotary Club and Elks Lodge, all of Waltham, New England Oil Dealers Association, and past president of the board of trustees of Leland Home. Pete was a Kappa Sig and a genial, companionable classmate.
He leaves his two sons, Sumner W. Peterson, '40, Major, U.S.A.F., and Howard Jr. '42, of Schenectady, and three grandchildren.
1908
Word has recently been received of the death of LEONARD GATES NICHOLS in Reading, Mass., on ApriJ 6, 1936. He was in the fuel and ice business at 58 Prescott Street, Reading.
"L. G." was a member of the class for three years but did not return for his senior year. He was born in Reading, Mass., November 16, 1886, the son of Edward Everett and Louise Amelia (Bailey) Nichols, and was graduated from Reading High School.
In college he was a member of his class sophomore baseball team and was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
He was married twice, first on September 29, 1910, to Ethel L. Strout to whom twin sons, Lionel and Leonard, were born. On November 29, 1920, he married Mary G. Turner and they had one daughter, Jean Marie.
1910
THORNTON WEEKS JENNESS died at his home in Waban, Mass. on December 16, having been confined to the house after a serious operation in October. "Else" as he was affectionately known by large numbers of Dartmouth men, was born in Rye Beach, N. H., the son of Charles A. and Hattie (Weeks) Jenness. Graduating from Portsmouth High School in 1906, he entered Dartmouth that fall to graduate with the Class of 1910.
His entire business lifetime was devoted to insurance—with John C. Paige & Co. immediately after graduation—in 1912 with Aetna Casualty & Surety Co. as Ass't Manager of Surety Bond Dept.—in 1913 he became a special agent and in 1916 entered general insurance for himself. In 1922 he specialized as a life insurance broker associated with Josh Clark in that field for many years.
In World War I he served in the USNRF as Lieut, (j.g.), doing transport duty on the USS Pocahontas between U.S. and France.
A member of Beta Theta Pi in college, he later joined the University Club in Boston and was a Royal Arch Mason.
On September 28, 1918 he married Carrie E. Mettles. To them was born one son, Jack, a recent Dartmouth and Tuck School graduate who is now with Walter Norton in U. S. Rubber at Naugatuck.
Members of the Class attending the funeral included Art Allen, Art Lord, Dick Vincens, Gay Gleason, Jim Everett, Albert Ferguson, Roger Pierce, Charlie Fay, Norton Cushman and Earle Pierce.
"Else" Jenness was one of 1910's best known and most beloved members. A soft-spoken, kindly New Hampshire Yankee, he started making Dartmouth friends with his college matriculation and continued doing so as long as he lived. He loved the College and took vast pride in seeing his son Jack become a Dartmouth man while doing an outstanding job as an undergraduate. "Else" was an extremely loyal class member, never refusing to carry out any of the many assignments that were given to him from time to time for his efficient and dependable handling.
Few men ever left nicer memories than "Else" Jenness, but we shall miss him. His going is hard to accept even though it is part of man's existence on this sphere, and becomes increasingly recognizable with the advancement of one's age group.
SPENCER LATHAM MURFEY died at Las Encinas Sanitarium, Pasadena, Calif, on December 11, 1946, according to deferred information received this fall. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, September 6, 1887, the son of C. L. and R. G. Murfey.
Although Spencer graduated from the wellknown University School in Cleveland with that group who entered Dartmouth in the fall of 1906, Hank Haserot, Dave Johnson, Harold Judd and Ken Knapp, he entered Yale. He transferred to Dartmouth in January, 1907, and remained until June. Transferring back to Yale that fall, he graduated in 1910 with a Ph.B. from Sheffield.
Not much is known about his life's activities except that he was with Republic Rubber Co. of Youngstown, Ohio, and later with Chisholm-Moore Manufacturing Co. of Cleveland.
1924
DONALD ASA MORRISON died in the Greenwich, Conn., Hospital on August 4 after a brief illness.
Don was born in Franklin, N. H. February 28, 1902, the son of George and Grace (MacDonald) Morrison. He prepared for college at Phillips Exeter. He remained with our class for only two years, and was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. Transferring to Columbia he received his B.S. degree there in 1924.
He was associated with various security firms in New York until 1934 when he became affiliated with the Great Northern Paper Company. At the time of his death he was Northeastern sales representative for this company.
He was a member of the Dartmouth Club, the Riverside, Conn. Yacht Club and the Meridan Lodge of Masons, Franklin, N. H.
On November 29, 1936, Don was married to Eleanor Marie Blanchard of Tilton, N. H. who survives him with their two daughters, Elizabeth and Martha, and a son Donald A. Jr.
1929
PAUL WATERMAN was killed in an airplane crash on October 24, at Chanute Field,III.
He was born February 6, 1907, in St. Johnsbury, Vt., the son of Stephen Waterman and Gertrude (Whittier) Waterman. He graduated from the Hope Street High School in Providence, R. I. An active member of our class through June, 1927, Paul was a member of Psi Upsilon, the Winter Sports team in his Sophomore year and majored in Economics. He graduated from Brown University in 1929 and attended Northwestern University, Chicago University and the Air Corps Flying Schools.
He was married to Jean Stedham June 25, 1930, in San Antonio, Texas, where his daughter Shirley Jean was born in 1932.
Paul was a veteran of 19 years with the Air Force, holding the rank of Colonel at the time of his death. During the war he was an Inspector of Air Bases in the South Pacific and was based at Hickham Field and Christmas Island.
He is survived by his brother Stephen of Burlington, Vt., a sister, Mrs. Vernon G. Taylor, of Silver Spring, Maryland, his wife and daughter.
1930
EDWIN STONE WATERS of Wakefield, Mass., died at the Melrose Hospital on December 15, after a brief illness.
"Doc" was born in Orange, Mass., May 9, 1908, the son of Dr. and Mrs. Frank T. Waters, and was a graduate of the Orange High School where he was on the football and tennis teams and was business manager of the school magazine. At Dartmouth he majored in Chemistry and was a member of Zeta Psi.
After graduation Doc was associated for several years as a chemist with Holliston Mills in Norwood, Mass. From 1941 until his death he was a research chemist for Monsanto Chemical Company in Everett. He was a member of the Golden Rule Lodge, A.F. and A.M. of Wakefield and Orange Lodge, A.F. and A.M. of Orange. At the time of his death he was also a director of the Wakefield Y.M.C.A. and chairman of the Wakefield Republican Town Committee.
Surviving Doc are his wife, the former Marjorie Mahar, two children, Sally, aged 4, and Edwin Jr., aged 2, his parents, two brothers, and a sister.
Word was received from Kyosuke Fukuda, '29 of the death of TERUHIKO FUJIYAMA in Tokyo, Japan, on November 11, of a chest ailment.
Fuji prepared for college at the Gunnery School. His major at Dartmouth was Economics and he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
After graduation he returned to Japan and engaged in his family's banking and sugar business. During 1936-37 he toured this country observing cash register factories preparatory to establishing himself with "Nippon Cash Register" in Tokyo. No direct word has been received from Fuji since long before World War II but Chick Robinson '31 reported seeing him while he was with the army in the Pacific. Fuji was then running the Starlight Club, a Pacific cross-roads for lonely Americans.
The only known survivor is his brother Yokichi Fujiyama '38.
1931
The Class of 1931 lost one of its most loyal and beloved members when HE WIT RAND RODCERS was killed in an automobile accident December 12 in Springfield, III.
Funeral services were held at the home of Rand's father, Eben Rodgers, 531 Summit Street, Alton, III. The services were read by Dr. John Gill, pastor of the First Unitarian Church and burial was in the Oakwood Cemetery.
Rand was born in Alton on October 29,1908. He prepared for Dartmouth in the Alton public schools and Clark School in Hanover.
The tragic death brought to an untimely end a notable career in industry and public service. On January 28, 1947 Rand became President o£ Alton Brick Company, succeeding his father who became chairman of the board. Rand thus became the third generation in the presidency of the company founded by his grandfather in 1893. He had been described as "among Alton's most useful citizens." He was Chairman of the Community Chest Fund Campaign and co-chairman of the Red Cross finance campaign. In 1941 he was elected president of the Rotary Club and was a member of the Piasa Bird Council of the Boy Scouts. In addition to his other civic and business activities he was vice-president of the Greater Alton Association of Commerce and vice-president of Region 5 Structural Clay Products Institute.
Rand carried out the finest of Dartmouth traditions in his service to his country. In command of an LSM he took part in the Lingayen invasion in the Philippines and received the Bronze Star. The citation read: "His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States." Later, during landing operations off Palawan, he successfully carried out his mission and was awarded the commendation ribbon.
Surviving Rand are his father, Eben Rodgers; his stepmother; a sister, Mrs. J. Preston Levis; and a brother, Eben Rodgers Jr. of San Francisco.
1945
WAYNE CARRINGTON SMITH JR. died December 20 in the Hartford, Conn., Hospital, a victim of Hodgkin's disease contracted during his three years of service aboard a minesweeper in the Pacific.
His minesweeping unit made the first landings in the Battle of Manila Bay in February, 1945. For this service he was recently awarded the Navy Unit Commendation Insignia. He enlisted in December, 1942 and received his honorable discharge in April, 1946 as a Quartermaster First Class. Wayne is another member of the too large group of '45s who gave their lives for the future of the world, their country and their fellow men.
Wayne came to Dartmouth from Meriden High School and became a member of Theta Chi Fraternity. During the past year he was employed in the classified advertising department of the Meriden Record. His was also a member of the American Legion.
Besides his mother and father, who is publisher of the Record, he leaves two brothers, State Senator Carter H. White of Meriden, and Knowlton H. White of West Hartford; and his grandmother, Mrs. Edwin E. Smith.
FREDERICK EDWIN ATWOOD '00
