June 3, 1926, Edwin Goebel, youngest son of Peter Goebel of Wallowa, died at the Wallowa hospital this morning as a result of injuries received at the mill here Monday morning, May 24, when he was struck on the head by a 250-pound belt tightener, or “idler” when he and Fred Hebert were attempting to replace a belt which had been thrown off by a piece of bark.
Following the injury, he was taken to the Wallowa hospital where he lay in an unconscious state, gradually growing weaker until death came this morning. Edwin was 20 years, 11 months, and 29 days old and was born and reared in Wallowa.
On January 20, 1925, he was married to Clara Mildred Cole who survives him. He also is survived by his father, Peter Goebel, four brothers, John of Pine Creek, Lawrence of Oakland, Calif. and Charlie and Will of Wallowa, and three sisters, Mrs. Maggie Hetrick, Mrs. Mary Rich and Mrs. Christina Waelty of Wallowa. His mother died Jan. 14, 1921.
The body will lie in the Haisten funeral parlors until Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. when services will be held in the M.E. church with Rev. G.H. Feese officiating. Interment will be in the Wallowa cemetery.
A telegram has been sent his uncle, Frank Goebel of The Dalles, and it is hoped he will be able to come the funeral services.
Memorial Rites for Edwin A. Goebel to be Friday
Pvt. Edwin Goebel was killed in action on Okinawa. He was born on August 25, 1926, and attended school at Lost Prairie and at Wallowa. He entered the service on Sept. 26, 1944, and received his training at Camp Roberts and at Fort Ord, California.
Memorial services for Pvt. Edwin Goebel will be held Friday at the Methodist church at 2 o’clock. The body of Private Goebel is being returned from the pacific theater of war where he was killed in action May 19, 1945. The Rev. Harold Mackey will conduct burial services; and Kruse Post No. 72 of the American Legion will conduct military rites.
Edwin Arthur was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Murrill of Flora. His father, E. A. Goebel was killed in an accident at the Bowman-Hicks mill shortly before Edwin was born. He was born in Wallowa August 24, 1926. He grew up and attended schools in Wallowa, Enterprise and Flora. While a small youngster and again while attending high school, he spent much time with his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Goebel and his cousins, Colleen and Joyce.
He was killed on Okinawa in the spring after having entered the army in the fall of 1944. He served with the infantry.
He is survived by his parents, his paternal grandfather, Pete Goebel, his uncles, W.F. Goebel, Charles Goebel of Wallowa, John Goebel of Caldwell, Idaho and Lawrence Goebel of Berkeley, Calif., and two aunts Mrs. Maggie Hetrick and Mrs. Christina Waelty. A number of cousins also survive.
Contributed by: Phyllis Tuning