- Glasco Sun, Nov. 14, 1940, page 1:
The grim reaper, Death, has taken a heavy toll from Glasco the past week and saddened this community and brought sorrow to many hearts by the loss of loved ones. ......then Richard Downey who came to death in the bitter coldness of the sudden storm Sunday evening......
Delphos Republican, Nov. 14, 1940, page 1:
IS STORM VICTIM
Rich Downey of Glasco Frozen to Death in Snow
A victim of the weekend storm of ice and snow which raged here, the body of Richard Downey of Glasco was discovered Monday afternoon in the hedge row along State Highway 9, southwest of Concordia.
The body, which was found by Ralph Cly of Concordia while hunting, had evidently laid there since sometime Sunday night.
Mr. Cly saw the body lying under the hedge at a corner near the Otis Bland farm on Highway 9. He called Sheriff Jack Cleveland who identified the victim as "Rich" Downey.
Coroner C.R. Nelson, of Jamestown, after an examination of the body, said Mr. Downey evidently died from exposure. His clothing had been wet, and was frozen solid, indicating he had been out in the rain and sleet of Sunday evening.
Investigating the case, Sheriff Cleveland found Mr. Downey's car about nine miles southwest of Concordia on the Delphos road leading into No. 9, where it had gone into a ditch. He learned at Glasco that Mr. Downey had bought gasoline at a station there about 6 o'clock Sunday evening and had driven east out of Glasco. Evidently his car had gone in the ditch and Mr. Downey had started to walk into town, was overcome by the storm and cold and sought protection in the hedge where his body was found.
Mr. Downey is survived by his widow and several brothers and sisters. The funeral was held in Glasco Thursday morning.
Concordia Blade-Empire, Nov. 12, 1940
(this article was about the same as the Delphos Republican article, with this addition)
......Mr. Downey, it was estimated, had walked almost seven miles through the storm after he left his car, his body found at the corner, half a mile north of the W.L. Giroux farm.
Concordia Blade-Empire, Nov. 13, 1940, page 1:
Downey Services Will be Held Thursday at Glasco
Funeral services for Richard Downey of Glasco, whose frozen body was found southwest of Concordia Monday afternoon, will be held Thursday morning at 9 o'clock at the Catholic church at Glasco. Burial will be in the Catholic cemetery there.
(summary of facts) Born October 8, 1883, son of John and Hanora Hurley Downey, and was 57 years old. Married July 28, 1932 to Jessie (sic) Davidson of Glasco.
Survivors: widow and step-children: Odessa Myers, Mrs. Leo Vignery and Imogene Davidson, of Concordia; Edward Davidson of Visalia, Calif., and these brothers and sisters: Will, Tim, George, and J.J. Downey, all of Glasco, Mrs. Mike Loftus and Mrs. William Murray, Jamestown; Mrs. Joe LaRocque, Bradley, Ill., and Mrs. Frank Paul, Kansas City, Mo.
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