Person Page - 3358

     Verlyn Gene Gile was buried at Falun Cemetery, Falun, Saline Co., Kansas.^2,3 He married Cletta Iona McDowell, daughter of Everett Elmo McDowell and Beatrice Birdie Poff.³ Verlyn Gene Gile was born on August 16, 1932 at Falun, Saline Co., Kansas.^2,3 He died on December 22, 1958 at Salina, Saline Co., Kansas, at age 26.^1,2 He Cascading grain, sucking like quicksand, Monday evening pulled two men to death in the bottom of a huge grain storage tank at the CG and F elevator two miles northwest of Salina. A third man caught in the grain avalanche miraculously survived. The dead are Verlyn Gile, 26, Falun, and Cornelius Cooper, 34, 304 N. Front. Bob Mundell, 18, Falun, was rescued from a chute below the bottom of the big grain tank. Elevator officials were at a loss to explain the tragedy. The accident happened about 5 pm. "All we can do is go on theory," said Don Millikan, elevator manager. The tanks at the elevator, built in double rows, are emptied by gravity flow through an opening about two feet square along the inside wall. Grain flows through the opening into a metal, tube-like chute which is about 10 feet long. Grain pours from the chute onto a conveyor belt which runs the entire distance of the double rows of tanks, moving the grain to a loading house. When all wheat possible runs out by gravity flow, men enter the tanks through manholes about six feet above ground and scoop the rest of the grain into the chute. The remaining grain is inclined from the hole to the outer wall. Gile and Mundell were inside the tank scooping grain when some of it apparently shifted quicky, causing Mundell to lose his footing. As he started to slide toward the chute opening, Gile apparently tried to reach him and was caught by the cascading wheat. Cooper, an employe of the Chalmers and Borton Construction Co., Hutchinson, building new storage facilities nearby, was outside the tanks. He heard shouts of the men and went to their aid. He was sucked under the grain while trying to reach Gile. Other elevator and the construction company workers rushed to the scene. From a tunnel near the conveyor below the tank, they shut off the power operating the conveyor and used an axe to shear the bolts of the metal chute to rescue MundelL Gile was removed from the hole at the bottom of the tank seconds later, and a resuscitator was applied by Salina firemen. The resuscitator was used for 45 minutes before dead. he was pronounced Cooper's body was removed from the tank about an hour later, after 50 men worked frantically to move the wheat around the hole. Officers said both Gile and Cooper had been trapped beneath four or five feet of grain. Mundell, in deep shock after being rescued, said the cascading wheat was "like quicksand." "I don't know what caused it," he said, "It all happened so fast — I don't know." He added, however, that Gile apparently tried to come to his aid and was caught by the wheat. "He probably saved my life," Mundell said, "because he was on top of me, and that kept the wheat from; falling around me." County Coroner Guy Ryan said there would be no inquests unless requested by officials. He termed the deaths accident by suffocation. Mundell was taken to a hospital for observation after receiving oxygen at the scene. He was not injured... Mr. Gile was born Aug. 16, 1932, at Falun and lived all his life that community. Surviving are the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hairy Gile, Smolan; the widow, Cletta McDowell Gile, Falun; a daughter, Pamela; two brothers, Harrison, Ellis, and Edward, Falun, and two sisters, Mrs. Mabel Rosander, Salina, and Mrs. Marlene Chance, Salina. Burial will be in the Falun cemetery. on December 23, 1958.³

     Dorothy Marie Miller was buried at Sierra Hills Memorial Park, 5757 Greenback Lane, Sacramento, Sacramento Co., California.^3,2 Her Social Security Number was 549-84-2764.⁴ Her married name was Poff.² She married William Archie Poff, son of William Ebenezer "Eben" Poff and Laura Essie Ratliff.² Dorothy Marie Miller was born on January 23, 1916 at Nebraska.^5,4,1 She died on August 26, 1982 at Napa, Napa Co., California, at age 66.^1,2 She Dorothy Marie Poff, 66, died Thursday at the Queen of the Valley Hospital after a lengthy illness. Mrs. Poff was a native of Nebraska. She was a homemaker, and had resided in Napa since 1941. Survivors include her husband William A. Poff of Napa; four daughters, Laura Meyer of Fairfield, Sarah Burch of San Diego, Bonnie Dougherty of Vacaville and Rebecca Wolley of Tokyo, Japan; one son William F. Poff of Napa; a brother, Albert Miller of Kansas; 13 grandchildren, and seven greatgrandchildren. Internment will be in the East Lawn Sierra Hills Memorial Park. on August 28, 1982.²

     Laura Mae Poff was buried at Vacaville-Elmira Cemetery, 522 Elmira Road, Vacaville, Solano Co., California.⁶ Her Social Security Number was 554-40-6986.⁷ She was born on July 3, 1932 at Kansas.^2,7,6 As of September 20, 1950,her married name was Meyer.⁸ She married Gilbert Fredrick Meyer on September 20, 1950 at Napa Co., California.^8,3 Laura Mae Poff died on March 16, 1990 at Solano Co., California, at age 57.^7,2,6

     Her Social Security Number was 564-42-4208.² Sarah Marie Poff was buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, San Diego Co., California.^5,6 Her married name was Burch.⁶ She married Bayard Almon Burch.⁶ Sarah Marie Poff was born on February 5, 1934 at Beagle, Miami Co., Kansas.^2,6 She died on August 13, 1999 at California at age 65.^2,6,7

     Bonnie Jean Poff was buried at Vacaville-Elmira Cemetery, 522 Elmira Road, Vacaville, Solano Co., California.⁵ Her Social Security Number was 525-76-1895.⁶ Her married name was Doherty.² She married Joseph Michael Doherty.^2,4 Bonnie Jean Poff was born on April 27, 1936 at Kansas.^2,6,5 She died on June 6, 1987 at Solano Co., California, at age 51.^2,5

     Gilbert Fredrick Meyer was buried at Vacaville-Elmira Cemetery, 522 Elmira Road, Vacaville, Solano Co., California.³ He Gilbert Fredrick Meyer passed away at his home, where he was surrounded by family, on May 27, 2019. Gilbert, Gil, Pop or Poppy was born on Sept. 13, 1930, a second son to Werner and Pauline Meyer while they resided in Erie, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Harbor High School, Ashtabula, Ohio, in 1948, and he worked on Great Lakes steamships shoveling coal before joining the USAF that same year. He was assigned to the Fairfield-Suisun Air Station (later to be renamed Travis AFB) and he met the love of his life soon thereafter. He and Laura Mae Poff were married on Sept. 20, 1950, and Gil graduated from gunnery school a year later in 1951. He was then assigned to a B29 squadron where he flew on numerous missions during the Korean War. In 1952, Pop separated from the Air Force and joined the local IBEW180, from where he would eventually retire. In his retirement, Poppy enjoyed a daily breakfast at Putah Creek Café while reading his newspapers. When physical limitations set in, he was resigned to having his food and news intake at home, but there he was accompanied by family to share in his mornings. A wise, selfless and compassionate man, Gil was a voracious reader, but would drop his book in an instant should one need a hand or an ear. Poppy lived and taught many what unconditional love truly is. He was loved immensely and will be missed with equal fervor. Gilbert and Laura were blessed with four rambunctious boys who have all survived them, Dave (Valerie), Ken (Joann), Jeff (Nancy) and Scott (Debbie); all who afforded them eight grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. Gil was preceded in death by Laura, who passed in March of 1990; and also by his brother, Ken in 2016.² He was born on September 13, 1930 at Erie, Erie Co., Pennsylvania.^3,2 He married Laura Mae Poff, daughter of William Archie Poff and Dorothy Marie Miller, on September 20, 1950 at Napa Co., California.^1,2 Gilbert Fredrick Meyer died on May 27, 2019 at Solano Co., California, at age 88.²

     His Social Security Number was 197-22-8219.³ Joseph Michael Doherty was buried at Vacaville-Elmira Cemetery, 522 Elmira Road, Vacaville, Solano Co., California.^1,2 He married Bonnie Jean Poff, daughter of William Archie Poff and Dorothy Marie Miller.^4,5 Joseph Michael Doherty was born on August 27, 1929 at Wilmerding, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania.^1,2,3,6 He died on March 16, 2009 at Solano Co., California, at age 79.^1,2,3,6 He Joseph Michael Doherty, Aug. 27, 1929 - March 16, 2009. A funeral service for retired U.S. Air Force Veteran Joseph Michael Doherty in scheduled at 10 a.m. Friday, March 20 at Vaca Hills Chapel Funeral Home, 524 Elmira Road. Burial with Full Military Honors to follow at the Vacaville-Elmira Cemetery. Mr. Doherty died March 16, at his residence. He was 79. Mr. Doherty was born Aug. 27, 1929, in Wilmerding, Pa. on March 18, 2009.²

     Margaret Helen Poff was buried at Saint Marys Cemetery, Hurlingen, Buchanan Co., Missouri.^3,5 Her Social Security Number was 499-20-3143.² She was born on December 9, 1926 at St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri.^2,3 As of November 23, 1946,her married name was Siela.³ She married James Kessler Siela on November 23, 1946 at Hurlingen, Buchanan Co., Missouri.³ Margaret Helen Poff died on November 2, 1999 at St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri, at age 72.^2,3 She Margaret Helen (Poff) Siela, 72, of St. Joseph, Mo., passed away on Nov. 2, 1999, at her residence. Mrs. Siela, a homemaker, also was a secretary for Missouri Chemical, MNX, a trucking business, and for the Buchanan County sheriff's office. She also was a co-owner, with her son, Tony, in Heartland Headwear in St. Joseph, until retiring in 1997. Born in St. Joseph on Dec. 9, 1926, she was a lifelong resident of St. Joseph. Mrs. Siela was a graduate of Benton High School in St. Joseph and attended Northwest Missouri State University at Maryville. She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church of St. Joseph. On Nov. 23, 1946, she married James K. Siela in Hurlingen, Mo. He survives of the home. Mrs. Siela was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Jennifer L., a son, Stephen V; and her parents, Bernes E. and Virginia Poff. Additional survivors: four sons, Anthony L., Brian M., Christopher P., and Kevin L., all of St. Joseph; a daughter, Jamie L. Kramer, Nortonville, Kan; 11 grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Mass of Christian Burial: Nov. 6, 1999, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, St. Joseph, Mo. Burial: St. Mary's Cemetery, Hurlingen, Mo. Arrangements: Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel, St. Joseph, Mo. on November 4, 1999.³