Walter E. Boner Passes Suddenly
Resident of County Since 1884 Had been Active In Public Affairs
Walter E. Boner passed away suddenly Monday morning, July 2, 1934, at his home west of Joseph. For about seven years he had not been in robust health and had found it necessary to conserve his strength but he had not felt really ill at any time. For a few days, however, he had been a little indisposed.
When it came time to arise Monday morning he complained to his wife of a sharp pain in his chest. He lay back in his bed and shortly lapsed into unconsciousness and so passed into his last sleep. Funeral services will be held at the Methodist church in Joseph today (Thursday) at 2 p.m. and burial will be in the Prairie creek cemetery.
Mr. Boner was born at Cedar Dale, Kansas, a son of George W. Boner, June 21, 1875. The family came west when he was a small boy and in June, 1884, arrived in upper Wallowa valley. They spent the first summer west of Joseph and in the fall moved to the Chesnimnus district where the father took a homestead and where Walter Boner made his home until after he was married to Laura Mahan. They were married in Joseph, and shortly moved to their farm home near that city.
George Boner moved to California in 1912 and later died in that state. Walter Boner was survived by his widow and three children; Warren C., Lyle B., and Bethel Boner, all of the upper valley. There are two sisters and one brother: Mrs. C.W. Amey of Enterprise, Mrs. J.B. Gregory of Wallowa, and Clarence Boner of Portland; and also three half brothers, Wayne and Merrill of California and Russell of Montana.
As a young man Mr. Boner ran sheep in the Chesnimnus country and in later years he raised purebred cattle on his beautiful farm, specializing in Holsteins. He was active in many movements for community betterment. For years he wa a director of the county fair and he served on the board of the county marketing association. He was a member of the Joseph district school board up to his death.
Mr. Boner was a man of kindly, genial temperament who was good to everyone he met. He could not do an ungenerous act. He managed his business affairs with thrift and sound judgment and whatever he did, he did well.
Source: Enterprise Record Chieftain, Enterprise, Oregon, July 5, 1934
Contributed by: Sue Wells
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor