Mrs. Elmer Frain, 66, Dies Instantly In Mishap In Iowa Sunday

Mrs. Elmer Frain, 66, of Blair was instantly killed early Sunday evening in an automobile accident south of Council Bluffs. She was in a car being driven by her husband, age 69, when it went out of control at a bad turn known as “Dead Man’s Crossing”, where railroad tracks cross the road.

Mr. Frain lost control of the car as it went into the turn and hit the tracks. Mrs. Frain, hurtled through the windshield, died instantly of a broken neck and skull fracture.

The body of Mrs. Frain has been brought to the Bendorf Funeral Home in Blair.

The Bendorf Funeral Home announces that the rites will be held at the Blair Christian Church at 2 o’clock this (Thursday) afternoon. Officiating will be the Rev. Ralph Kersey, with burial to follow in Blair Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Neal Smith, Elmer Betts and Emmett Steffen, all of Blair, Eldon King and Dick Flowers of Council Bluffs and Bob Meinicke of Grand Island. All are nephews of Mrs. Frain.

This is the second automobile tragedy in the Frain family in recent years. Mr. Frain was the driver in an accident in which his daughter, Mrs. Emil Follen, 40, the former Gladys Frain, was fatally injured in 1947 near Woodbine, Ia. Mr. and Mrs. Frain, another daughter and a grandson were injured in that crash, which came when the Frain car skidded on ice into the path of a bread truck and was demolished.

Surviving Mrs. Frain are her husband; three sons, George of Pacoima, Calif., Gerold of Tracy, Calif. And Carl of North Hollywood, Calif.; and three daughters Mrs. Alta (Marsh of Blair, Mrs. Lyle Lee (Edith) of Woodstock, Ill., and Mrs. Raymond Kuhr (Elma) of Kennard. There are 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Other survivors include three brothers, Orville Barker of Blair, Floyd Barker of Yankton, S.D., and Ed Barker of Salem, Ore.; and two sisters, Mrs. William Jones (Edith) and Mrs. Mary Betts, both of Blair.

Alta Sylvia Barker was born at Tekamah Febr. 6, 1888, daughter of David J. and Ollie Christopher Barker. She and Elmer Frain were married Nov. 25, 1905, at Ponca, Nebr. She had lived in Blair since 1924.

Note: Since death date was not given, the news article date was used.