Terwilliger, Frank Mason

TERWILLIGER, SNOW, MOATS, SAMS, CHAPPELL, NORTON, PEASE

Posted By: Gayle P. Snow (email)
Date: 5/2/2023 at 21:50:10

Spirit Lake Beacon; 7 July 1944

Frank Terwilliger passed away at Snyder Memorial Hospital in Spirit Lake on Sat. July 1, 1944. He suffered an attack of pneumonia in Des Moines this Spring from which he was convalescing when he motored the John Beyer family to the lakes and suffered a sudden relapse from which he never recovered.

Funeral services were held at the Harpole Funeral Home on Monday P.M. at 2 o'clock. Rev. Geo. Cox officiated. His remains were taken to Des Moines on the 5:56 train for burial.

The following obituary was presented at the services.

The pianist played softly "A City four Square," "Good Night Here and Good Morning Up There," and "In the Garden." Iva Slagle sang "Roclk of Ages."

Frank Terwilliger, Jr. was born in Spirit Lake, IA Sep 14, 1897, the son of Frank, Sr. and Alice Lillian (Snow) Terwilliger and passed away at the Snyder Memorial Hospital of Spirit Lake on July 1, 1944 following an illlness of pneumonia at age 46 years, 9 months, 17 days.

For the past 24 years he has been employed as chaffeur for the John Beyer family and for his faithfulness, dependability and sunny dispoisition was very much endeared to the family.

Mr. Terwilliger was the son of a beautiful Christian mother whose ambition was ever to be of service for her Lord and Master. She was gifted with a rich beautiful voice and sang sacred music in the Loon Lake and Spirit Lake Baptist Churches. She also had the ability to put her beautiful thoughts and ideals into the compositopns of songs, poetry and paintings. When she departed to that better land it was with the sweet anticipation that she would meet her dear children, Frank, Leda, and Bert again. Although she left them yet in their tender years of childhood and they missed her love and care, they later received the care and loving guidance of their two grandmothers, Mrs. Terwilliger and Mrs. Snow. It was Grandmother Snow's good pleasure to have them attend the school at Orleans, IA where she was a successful teacher. There is no doubt but these fine influences have made a deep impression upon all three children, including Frank.

Frank was a soldier in the World War I and was honorably discharged at the end of the war. Now we trust he will be honorably received by the Great Captain of his soul. Previous to the war he was an able mechanic in the garage with his uncle, Will Snow. He was admired for his skilled workmanship and cheerfulness. He was a wonderful friend to Mr. Snow and the whole family.

Frank Terwilliger was united in marriage to Velma Moats in 1935.

Those bereaved by his departure are his wife and step son of Des Moines, his sister, Leda Sams and family at Athens, Ohio, his brother Bert Terwilliger and family of Tampa, Florida, who because of train service was not able to be here, his aunt, Mrs. W.W. Snow and cousin Jean Snow and family of Spirit Lake, IA, his aunt Mrs. C.C. Chappell of Clear Lake, Iowa, his two cousins, Mrs. Betty Norton and family of Orleans, IA and Mrs. Grace Pease of Clear Lake, other relatives and a host of friends.

A good soldier, faithful servant of good works and a trusted friend has reported for duty in a Higher Realm where progress has no limitations.

May the faith of his godly mother, as expressed in her poem, abide with him and with those who remain on earth.