Selected Webster County Obituaries
Surnames Snow to Springfield
The Providence Journal-Enterprise
1948 - 1961
Mrs. Delia Jane SNOW, 73, widow of the late W.B. Snow, died at 1 a.m. Wednesday at her home on Princeton street following several years' illness. Mrs. Snow, a daughter of Joseph and Mary WHITESIDE, was born January 10, 1879 and was reared near Blackford. She and Mr. Snow were married April 5, 1903. Mr. Snow, a prominent Providence man, died October 21, 1944. She was a member of First Baptist church. A half-brother, John BROOKS, and a nephew, Morris VAUGHN of Henderson, survive. The body is at Melton Funeral Home and will remain there until time for funeral services which will be held at 3 o'clock this afternoon in First Baptist Church. The pastor, the Rev. Benjamin CONNAWAY, will officiate. Burial will be in Lakeview cemetery.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, July 31, 1952.
Dr. John Curtis SNOW, 59, prominent physician, and active for many
years in the civic life of the community, died at his home here at
3:40 a.m. Monday following a long illness. Dr. Snow had been in ill
health for some time, and had been ill much of the time during the
last year. His death was directly attributed to a heart ailment which
was aggravated by a gall bladder condition which had necessitated two
operations. He entered an Evansville hospital on July 27, and at
times following the operations and treatment he showed some
improvement, but never regained full strength. He also was weakened
by a post-operative attack of pneumonia. He returned to his home on
Sept. 9, and his condition had been grave since that time. Dr. Snow
was born on Jan. 3, 1883 in Crittenden county near Shady Grove, the
son of Samuel A. and Rosabel WILLIAMS Snow. He was married on July
27, 1903 to Miss Bertha WALLACE, who survives. In 1906 he entered
medical school in Louisville and graduated in 1909. Following eleven
months' practice in Bordley, he went to Henshaw and practiced his
profession there until he volunteered for service in the Army during
World War I. He was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Medical
Corps, and was stationed at Camp Greenleaf, Chicamauga Park, Ga.
Following his discharge he located in Providence, where for several
years he was in partnership with his father-in-law, the late Dr. J.B.
Wallace, later opening his own office. Through the years he enjoyed a
large practice. Dr. Snow professed faith in Christ when a young man,
and joined the Baptist church. During his residence in Henshaw he
served as a deacon. From 1927 until 1929 Dr. Snow was a member of the
Providence board of education. He had for many years acted as
physician for the athletic teams of the high school, and was a
familiar figure at games. In 1929 Dr. Snow was elected to the office
of Mayor of Providence, and was re-elected four years later, serving
in that capacity for eight years. In all his affairs, his private
life, his professional life, Dr. Snow was honest, kind, cheerful, and
always interested in others. The high esteen in which he was held was
attested by the constant stream of callers who brought gifts and words
of encouragement to him during his long suffering. The city school
system was dismissed Tuesday afternoon in his honor, and business
houses were closed during funeral services. Survivors are the widow,
Mrs. Bertha Wallace Snow; a daughter, Mrs. Forrest D. WILLIAMS; a
grandson, John Snow MARTIN; a brother, W.B. Snow; and three sisters,
Mrs. G.W. LOFTON, Mrs. C.E. BARNHILL, all of Providence, and Mrs. F.P.
NORTHERN, Providence route 1. A daughter, Katherine, died in infancy.
Funeral services were conducted at the home at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon,
with the Rev. W.T. WINSTEAD in charge, assisted by the Rev. W.M.
FRISBY of Henderson. Active pallbearers were Legionnaires, A.L.
DONAN, J.B. FOXWELL, H.L. FRASER, T.C. THOMSON, Ross PLEMMONS and T.M.
HILL. Honorary pallbearers were J.C. CANNADAY, E.G. LAMBERT, Ernest
Martin, O.M. SKINNER, John SIGLER, J.W. HUGHES, E.R. WARD, Charlie
Martin, Ivo BARNETT, Randolph WILLIAMSON, Press FORD, J.E. PALMER,
J.D. SPENCE, S.D. Palmer, J.C. TRADER, Joe McGAW, M.C. Palmer, J.E.
MORGAN, Charles FRANKLIN, Ben HERRINGTON, and Thomas GIVENS. Burial
was in Lakeview cemetery, with the local American Legion post of which
Dr. Snow was a member, in charge. Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday,
October 1, 1942..
W.B. SNOW, 63, for thirty-seven years an outstanding citizen of Providence died in his home on Princeton street at 11 a.m.
Saturday of a heart ailment. He had been ill for a year, during which time he had undergone treatment in Evansville and Nashville
hospitals. Born Jan. 31, 1881, in Crittenden county, a son of the late Samuel A. and Belle Snow, he was married on April 5, 1903
to Miss Delia WHITESIDE. In 1907 Mr. and Mrs. Snow came to Providence to make their home. In his early youth Mr. Snow
united with the Baptist church and transferred his membership to the First Baptist church when he came here. For many years he
taught Sunday School classes and in other ways took an active interest in church activities. Mr. Snow taught in the Providence
school for some time. Later he was connected with the Providence Citizens Bank and Trust Company for a number of years as
vice-president and trust officer. For the past several years he had owned and operated the Providence Ice Company. He served
as mayor of Providence from 1913 to 1917, was a member of the board of education for several terms, serving a part of the time
as chairman, and at the time of his death was a member of the city council. Mr. Snow was a member of the Providence Masonic
Lodge and of Rizpah Shrine Temple, Madisonville. He was a charter member of the Providence Kiwanis Club and served as its second
president. At one time he was president of the Providence Federal Savings and Loan Association. For a number of years he was
chairman of the Webster county Republican committee, and held that office at the time of his death. Mr. Snow was one of the few
real civic leaders and was responsible for the success of many projects. He unselfishly devoted much time to plans designed for
the improvement of his community. His generosity and his interest in others, his readiness to give assistance, and his genuine
friendliness toward people in all walks of life created for him the highest respect and friendship of untold numbers. Survivors are the
wife, Mrs. Delia Whiteside Snow; three sisters, Mrs. George LOFTON and Mrs. C.E. BARNHILL, Providence, and Mrs. Forrest
NORTHERN, Evansville; four nephews and three nieces. His only brother, Dr. J.C. Snow, died two years ago. Funeral services
were conducted in the First Baptist church Sunday at 2:30 p.m. with the pastor, the Rev. Benjamin CONNAWAY, officiating.
Pallbearers were F.V. RUCKMAN, W. Fred HUME, John FOXWELL, Alva MADDOX, R.D. HOLT, Clarence CULLEN, and Ben
HERRINGTON. Burial was in Lakeview cemetery. Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, October 26, 1944.
Lew SORNBORGER, former resident of Providence, died Saturday morning at his home in Dawson Springs following a short illness. Mr. Sornborger was in charge of construction of the Providence-Dawson Springs railroad which was started during World War I and later abandoned. He and Mrs. Sornborger lived here about three years and during a part of that time he was a coal operator. He is survived by his wife. The body was taken to Waterloo, Iowa, for burial. Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, December 11, 1947.
Mrs. Nora SPARKS, 73, of Henderson, formerly of the Mt. Lebanon section of Webster County, died at 6:30 p.m. Sunday in Methodist Hospital in Henderson. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Dewey MARKS of Eldorado Ill.; two sons, George M. of St. Charles MO, and William of Indianapolis Ind.; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Mrs. Cora Sparks and Mrs. Lillie Marks of Evansville and Mrs. Blanche HEAIRLESTON of Kenton GA. Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Mt. Lebanon Church, with the Rev. O.B. CLARK of Henderson officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, April 22, 1954.
John Dennis SPENCE, 68, prominent coal operator, died at 4 p.m. Sunday in an Evansville hospital where he had been a patient since November 19. Mr. Spence was born April 6, 1884 in Crittenden county and had lived in Providence for 47 years. He was married January 2, 1907 to Miss Ambia JOHNSON. At the time of his death he was a partner in operation of Redbud mine, and Coiltown Mining Company in Hopkins county. For many years he had been connected with mining interests in Webster and Hopkins counties. One of his first ventures was as a partner in Wynn Coal Company here. Later he was with Flat Creek Coal Company and other mines. He was a member of Providence Masonic lodge. Surviviors are the wife; a son, Dr. J.C. Spence, Owensboro dentist; a daughter, Mrs. Harrison OATES; Daytona Beach, Fla.; and five grandchildren, Richard and Jimmie Spence, Charles, Gary and Linda Oates. Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the home, with the Rev. Benjamin CONNAWAY officiating, assisted by the Rev. Harold TALLANT of Madisonville. Burial was in Lakeview cemetery with Masonic rites. Active pallbearers were Marlon RAKESTRAW, R.W. WASKOM, Weldon BROWN, James RILEY, Austin EDDINGS, and Charlie Brown.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, December 11, 1952.
Mrs. Betty Mae SPENCER, 84, former Poole resident, died December 30 at her home in Nashville, Tenn. Surviving are a sister, Miss
Sally Spencer of Nashville; a brother, H.A. Spencer, Morganfield; five nieces and one nephew. The body was brought to Tapp
Funeral Home in Dixon. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Church of Christ in Poole, with Lexie RAY, minister of
the church, officiating. Burial was in McCLURE Cemetery in Union County. Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, January 7, 1960.
Funeral services for Cletus (Curley) SPRINGER, 52, Poole cattle breeder, were held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Church of Christ in Poole, with Joe CLAREY officiating. Burial was in I.O.O.F. cemetery, Boxville. Mr. Springer died at 12:10 a.m. Thursday in an Evansville hospital of head injuries suffered when he was kicked by a bull Wednesday on his farm at Poole. He was trimming the hooves of the prize animal, which he was planning to enter in a show. Mr. Springer specialized in Polled Hereford cattle and was one of the principal exhibitors at the Webster County Fair in Providence last August. Surviving are the wife, Martha; a daughter, Mrs. Paul McDANIELS of McCutchanville, Ind.; a stepson, George WILLIAMS, in the U.S. Army in Virginia; two grandchildren; parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Springer, Morganfield; three sisters, Mrs. Rudolph CHEANEY of Corydon, Mrs. Ilof BUCHANAN of Morganfield, and Mrs. Chester RUDD of Henshaw; and ten brothers, Osborne, Thomas, Prentice, Houston and Maurice of Morganfield, James of Providence, Garvin of Evansville, Verbel of Laurel, Miss., Charles of Detroit, and Marion of Poole. Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, June 3, 1954.
Mrs. Sam P. SPRINGER, 66, died suddenly at 4 p.m. Tuesday at her home near Clay. Survivors are the husband; two sons, Lyhue and Rayborn, of Clay; a daughter, Mrs. Carvill TODD, Clay; three sisters, Mrs. Lillie CONRAD, Chicago, Ill., Mrs. Maud BROOKS and Mrs. Goldie WILSON of Evansville; seven brothers, Jim Rayborn of Salem, Harry Rayborn of Chicago, Burley, Carl, Tom, Kemp, and Bob Rayborn, all of Evansville; and five grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock this afternoon in the Methodist church in Clay, with Robert ADAMSON officiating. Burial will be in I.O.O.F. cemetery, Clay.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, September 6, 1951.
Guyler SPRINGFIELD, 74, Sebree funeral director, died suddenly at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at his home in Sebree. Death was attributed
to a heart attack. He was a member of the Christian Church and the Masonic and Modern Woodman lodges. He had been a
funeral director since 1914, and served as magistrate in 1926-27. Surviving are the wife, Effie; a daughter, Mrs. J. B. LONG, Sebree;
a granddaughter, Mrs. William POWELL, Sebree; three sisters, Mrs. Fay MELTON of Poole, Mrs. Lela KIRK of Freeport, Tex., and
Mrs. Elizabeth WALTERS of Livermore, Calif.; a brother, Latt Springfield, Sebree; and a half-brother, C.W. Springfield, Clay.
The body is at Springfield Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Sebree Christian Church, with the Rev.
B.L. SALE, officiating. Burial will be in Springdale Cemetery, Sebree. Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, May 19, 1955.
J.L. SPRINGFIELD, 82, of Sebree, died at 12:40 p.m. Tuesday in a Madisonville rest home. Survivors are two sons, E.R. of Sacramento, Calif., and J.H. of Omaha, Neb.; a daughter, Mrs. Walter PETERS of West Frankfort, Ill.; three brothers, Guyler and L.W. Springfield of Sebree, and Charles Springfield of Clay; three sisters, Mrs. Richard WALTERS of Livermore, Calif., Mrs. Lela KIRK of Freeport, Tex., and Mrs. Faye MELTON of Poole; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. The body is at Springfield Funeral Home in Sebree. Funeral services will be held at 3 o'clock this afternoon in Sebree Christian Church, with the Rev. B.L. SALE officiating. Burial will be in Springdale cemetery, Sebree.
Providence Journal-Enterprise, Thursday, February 18, 1954.