Individual Details

Death

Wilbert W. Furr, three-year- old son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbert Furr, Terman Rd, drowned last night when he toppled out of a boat in which he was playing into a pond on Cook Rd., about two miles south of Mansfield. Sheriff's deputies said the little boy was playing in a boat tied to a dock in the pond on the Ridenour farm where the boy's grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Gaul live. The pond is 35 feet deep in some places, deputies said. The boy's father is a driver for Dearman Transportation Co. He was swimming nearby when the accident occurred about 7 p. m. and pulled his son out of the water. The Mansfield Fire Department was summoned at 7:15 p. m. and rushed an inhalator to the scene. Although firemen and the child's father worked for 45 minutes in an attempt to revive him, their efforts were unsuccessful. Furr had taken his two children to the farm pond and went in swimming while they played around a boat tied to the bank. Furr said he was swimming only a few yards away when the little boy fell into the water and he pulled him out immediately. He said his son still had a pulse when pulled from the water. Dr. D. C. Lavender, Richland County Coroner ruled cause of death was accidental drowning. The Furr boy's death marked the third drowning tragedy involving Mansfield area children this summer. John Logas, two-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Logas, 239 Helen Ave., drowned in Buckeye Lake July 23, and Caroline Lynn, 13, of Caledonia, drowned in Mt. Gilead city pool July 16. The Furr boy is survived by his parents; a brother, Ronnie; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Gaul Cook Rd., and Mr. and Mrs. James P. Furr, Shelby, R D 2. Funeral services will be held at the Wrappner Funeral home at 1 p.m. Friday in charge of Rev. John Merchert of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church. Burial will be in St. Peter's Cemetery in Washington Township.
Mansfield News-Journal, Mansfield, Ohio, August 3, 1955