LITTLE ROBERTA KING FATALLY BURNED

The family of Elza King received a telegram last Friday from Wichita, Kansas informing them of the terrible accident that had befallen their little granddaughter, Roberta, daughter of their son, Ralph J. King. Later news of her death. The family of Ralph King lived here in Blair until last spring, and have the sympathy of a large number of friends here who knew the little girl as she was bright and quick to make friends with all and attracted attention by her friendly way. She was such a strong, healthy child of amiable disposition, the the idol of her grandparents and aunt, Miss Sylvia. The account of the accident as taken from the Wichita Eagle is as follows:

“Burns sustained when her clothing caught fire from flames in a gas stove Friday noon, caused the death of Roberta King, five years old, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. J. King, 325 South Market St., Friday night at 10 o’clock.

Little Roberta had been cracking nuts in the dining room of the family apartment, which is in the Cox-Johnson building, and she was in the room alone, her mother being downstairs.

The presumption is that she was placing the nut shells in the coal stove which was beside the gas stove, and in bending over, her dress caught fire. There was no fire in the coal stove the mother asserted.

Shrieking for her mother, Roberta ran to the hallway. Mrs. King and other residents of the building arrived to a hospital, and Drs. L.A. Sutter, G.C.Barnett and J.S. Hubbard attended to her injuries.

Roberts’s father, Ralph King, is employed doing directory work for the Farmers Mail and Breeze. His territory covers Sedgwick county. He left for a brief business trip Thursday evening, and was expected to return Saturday night. Efforts to locate Mr. King after his daughter’s death Friday night proved futile.

The Kings moved to Wichita three weeks ago from Salina, and Mr. King has worked for the Capper publications since the family moved to Salina from Blair, Nebr. last May.

Little Roberta was born in Blair November 1, 1914, and besides her parents, a 22 months old brother survives. The body will be taken to Blair for funeral services and interment.”

Funeral services were held at the Elza King home on South street last Tuesday, Rev. Foreman of the Baptist Church officiating, and burial was made in the Herman cemetery. The Enterprise extends sincere sympathy to the sorrowing family.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #98661308