Killed in Auto-Train Collision

Mrs. Eugene Glenn, Daughter, Niece Die in Accident

----------------------------

BULLETIN

  Martha Pickering, 8, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon L. Pickering, West Des Moines, died just before noon Wednesday in the St. Joseph hospital in Centerville.

--------------------------

  Mrs. Eugene (Elizabeth) Glenn, about 27, north of Promise City, was killed, and her daughter, Mary Ann Glenn, 7, was fatally injured at 2:15 p.m. Tuesday in the collision of their car and a Milwaukee road freight train at Butler's crossing three miles northeast of here.

  Martha Pickering, 8, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon L. Pickering, West Des Moines, and niece of Mrs. Glenn, suffered a let fracture and one arm was almost severed. She was in poor condition Wednesday morning in St. Joseph hospital in Centerville. Mary Ann Glenn died on the way to the hospital.

  Mrs. Glenn and the two girls had driven from the Glenn farm to deliver some berries in Seymour, according to information given State Patrolman James Douglas and Wayne County Sheriff Nova E. Kelly.

  Officers said high weeds and a high bank obscured visibility at the intersection of the gravel road two miles east and two miles north of Seymour, although skid marks indicated Mrs. Glenn saw the approaching west-bound freight train when she was about 70 feet from the crossing. Witnesses told patrolmen they thought she was driving about 40 or 45 miles per hour.

  Lynn Harris, who lives a few hundred yards from the crossing, was the first person to reach the scene of the accident besides the train crew. He immediately called for an ambulance from Seymour.

  Cy Johnson was engineer of the Milwaukee freight. Other members of the train crew were F. Hunt Sr., fireman; Mr. Alinger, conductor; A. D. Harding and Mr. Rush, brakeman. Their home addresses had not been learned by press time.

  The two girls were thrown from the car as it was tossed and shoved about 65 feet. Mrs. Glenn was in the crumpled car lying on the front seat when rescuers reached her.

  Mrs. Glenn is survived by her husband and 19-month-old son; her sister, Mrs. Pickering; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur King, and two sisters, Mrs. Wallace Koestner, Centerville, and Mrs. Don Ladendorf in Illinois, and two brothers, James King of Clarinda and Joe King in the air force on his way to Japan.

-----------------------------

  Transcribed from The Seymour Herald of Thursday, 9 July 1953.

Obituary: Mary Elaine King Pickering

The Daily Iowegian - 6 June 2007

------------------------------------

There will be a graveside memorial and commital service for Donna M. King (Mrs. Wilbur) and Mary E. Pickering (Mrs. Vernon) at 11 a.m. June 9 at the Jerome Cemetery.

------------------------------------

Mary Elaine King Pickering was the daughter 

of Wilbur V. and Donna M. King.

------------------------------------

The Arizona Republic (Phoenix AZ) - 5 November 2006
--------------------------------------------------------

  Mary Elaine Pickering passed away Saturday, October 28, 2006. Her kindness and generous spirit will be greatly missed by her family and many friends. She was a devoted and loving wife to Vernon who preceded her in death along with daughter Martha. She was a dedicated mother of daughters Celia and Lee Ann (Rick), and treasured the time she spent with her grandchildren, Erin (Scott), Michael, Kiley, Bryan and Eric and her great-grandchildren Samantha and Hunter.

  She is survived by brother Jim (Kathy) and sisters Jeanne, Gerry (Don), Nancy, Julia (David) and Ann and numerous nieces and nephews.

  Mary worked at General Electric for 10 years and with the Phoenix Union High School District for 20 years. She enjoyed playing golf and bridge, going to the symphony and opera, having a monthly lunch with former Iowa residents, and was a faithful and active member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, where she served in many areas for many years. She will be remembered for her strong Christian faith, her selfless generosity and constant willingness to help others. Mary's philosophy was that you will never be happy if you live for yourself alone. She lived that philosophy with a lifetime of serving others.

  A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 11, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 3530 N. 32nd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85018. Donations may be made to Aldersgate Church. Arrangements by Paradise Sunset Chapel Funeral Home.