La Grande, Union County, Oregon
Roy Conklin Found Dead Near Union
Roy Conklin, 42, 2003 East N. avenue, is dead as the result of an evidently self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Mrs. Conklin and his brother Gene B. Conklin of Pendleton found the body Sunday about noon near his automobile which was parked on a Catherine Creek road, Northwest of Hot Lake. The car was 2 ½ miles from the Union highway.
Conklin, who was employed as manager of Baker-La Grande Grocery Company, a wholesale organization, left home Thursday to drive to Baker and the family did not become worried Thursday night because his territory was large and they thought perhaps he had stayed in Richland or Halfway. He was reported missing Friday.
A farmer in the area noticed the car, apparently abandoned, and called police to check the license number. He was told who the car was registered to and telephoned the Conklin home.
State Police officers and Coroner Norman Daniels removed the body from a ditch, about 75 feet from the car.
No note has been found to explain Conklin’s actions and authorities have no idea of the motive, which caused Conklin to take his life.
Coroner Norman Daniels and District Attorney George Anderson, Jr. announced this morning that there will be no inquest into the death.
Roy H. Conklin was born at Wallowa on May 8, 1914 and had lived in La Grande for the past four years. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church and BPOE 433.
Survivors include the widow, Doris and one son, Dale, both of La Grande; his mother, Mrs. Jennie Conklin of Wallowa; three brothers, Tom of Portland, Gene of Pendleton and Jack of John Day; two sisters, Mrs. Ethel Johnson, Burns, and Mrs. Kathleen Koger, Ontario.
Funeral services will be held at Daniel’s Funeral Home on Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Louis Samson officiating. Burial will be in Union Cemetery.
La Grande Evening Observer
Monday, September 10, 1956
Front Page
Submitted by: Tom Childers