Evelyn Charlene Starkweather

Aug 1, 1945 - Sep 4, 1955

(Note: Evelyn would have been in the class of 1963)

Nation's Worst Crash Kills Five From Here

A South Bend father today kept watch at the bedsides of his wife and son who survived with critical injuries the Sunday morning car crash that killed five South Bend persons near Fulton, Indiana.

State Police described the one-car tragedy as the worst single accident of the nation's Labor Day holiday.

Reported in critical condition, but "'slightly improved" today, in Woodlawn Hospital, Rochester, are Mrs. Evelyn E. Starkweather, 35, who suffered a fractured skull and chest injuries, and her son, Walter Ray, 15, fractured skull.

They are the wife and son of Charles H. Starkweather, 35, of 2310 Forestbrook Rd., Clay Township. Three Starkweather children, their grandfather and an uncle were killed in the accident.

The dead include Ray Charles Whittenburg, 60, Miller Rd., South Bend, Mrs. Starkweather's father; Arthur Ray Whittenburg, 17, his son; and the three Starkweather children, Juel DeVon, 16; Evelyn Charlene, 10, and Helen Lucille, 11. 

Father on Strike Duty. 

State police said the victims were going to a Whittenburg family reunion in Linton, Ind., when their car went out of control and sliced in half after striking a utility pole on Ind. 25. 2½ miles south of Fulton. They said the elder Whittenburg was believed to have been the driver.

Relatives in South Bend said Charles Starkeweather intended to accompany his family, but stayed behind to do picket duty at the Bendix Products plant of the Bendix Aviation Corp., where he is employed.

State troopers said the crash left bodies and auto parts scattered over a 100-foot area. Sandwiches intended for the reunion were strewn among the wreckage.

Troopers said the rear half of the car was pinned to the pole and the front half came to a stop 54 feet away. 

Fulton County Sheriff Laurence Norris said authorities were not positive whether Whittenburg or his son was driving at the time. Relatives said Whittenburg was driving when the party left South Bend.

According to Norris, the car swerved off the highway on a curve for about 275 feet, came back on the road for another 120 feet and then veered to the east side for almost 130 feet, struck the pole and broke in half. State police estimated the car's speed at the time at more than 80 miles an hour.

Whittenburg was born in Gow County, Illinois, March 12, 1895, and came to this community 29 years ago from Linton, Ind. His wife, Ola, died in 1952. Surviving besides Mrs. Starkweather are, four other daughters, Mrs. Lloyd Hunsberger, and Mrs. Mamie Makowski of South Bend; Mrs. Helen Canen, Elkhart, and Mrs. Nina Nicodemus, Mishawaka; a son, Juel, South Bend; 15 grandchildren, and three brothers, Ralph, New Carlisle; Roy and Robert, in Missouri.

Burial in Chapel Hill.

Funeral services for Whittenburg and his son will be conducted at 2 p. m. Wednesday in the Midway Gospel Tabernacle by Rev. G. B. Rowe, pastor. Burial will be Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Mishawaka. Friends may call in the Hollis Funeral Home.

Funeral services for the Starkweather children will take place at 2 p.m. Thursday, also in the Midway Gospel Tabernacle, with Rev. Mr. Rowe officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park. Friends may call in the Hollis Funeral Home.

Juel Devon Starkweather was born in South Bend, June 12, 1939, and lived all his life here. He was a student in Washington-Clay High School. His sister, Evelyn Charlene, was born in Plymouth, Ind., Aug. 1, 1945, and the other sister, Helen Lucille, was born in New Carlisle May 22, 1944. Both were students in the Washington-Clay School.

The South Bend Tribune, South Bend, Indiana, Tuesday, 6 September 1955

Source: FindAGrave.com

06/03/2025 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75814874/evelyn_charlene-starkweather