Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Wilbur, John R. 1953
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Ionia Sentinel Standard, 13 Apr 1953

Ionia Man Drowns as Boat Tips

Exhausted after falling into the ice cold water, an Ionia man was drowned and
his companion was in a Grand Rapids hospital suffering with shock Monday after
their boat overturned in the backwash of the Betsie river near Frankfurt
Saturday afternoon.

Dead was John R. Wilbur, 38 of 132 Lafayette street, Ionia, and in Blodgett
Memorial hospital in Grand Rapids is his companion Ivan Clark, Lyons
Manufacturing Company officer and general manager.  The accident occurred about
3 p.m. Saturday.  The watch Wilbur wore was stopped at 3:05 p.m.

The two men had gone north to open the trout fishing season with Wilbur’s son
John, 15, and John Phillips of 651 West Washington street.  The three men are
identified with the Lyons Manufacturing Company.  Wilbur was its engineer and
Phillips in charge of maintenance.

According to information received in Ionia, Clark and Wilbur were in a metal
boat near the Homestead dam east of Benzonia and about six miles from Frankfurt.
 The four had gone to the area Friday night and had been fishing during the day.

Clark and Wilbur were in the same boat which apparently tipped over.  Wilbur was
thrown out of the boat and Clark, who is a good swimmer, assisted him back to
the boat.  Leaving him there Clark started to swim to shore but Wilbur attempted
to follow.  Clark returned to him and aided him back to the boat.  Clark again
set out for shore and spread the alarm but Wilbur was unable to maintain his
grip on the boat and disappeared.  Coast Guardsman from Frankfurt were called
and recovered Wilbur’s body in less than an hour.  Attempts to revive him,
however, failed.

Cries Not Heard

Although there were numerous boats and fishermen in the area of the cries for
help were not heard.

Funeral services will be at the Boynton funeral home and Ionia at 2 p.m.
Tuesday.  The Rev. Heath Goodwin of the Methodist church will officiate.  Burial
will be at the Saranac cemetery.

Surviving are the wife, Dorotha, a daughter, Merilee, 17, and son, John, his
mother, Mrs. Clarence Wilbur of Ionia and two sisters, Mrs. Theron Ritchey of
Muir and Mrs. Wayne Hyland of Portland.

Sunday night Clark was taken to Blodgett Memorial hospital by am- …[missing
line]… shock.  His condition was reported as fair.


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