Article from Family Bible:

Son Follows Hunch, Finds Mother Dead

Mrs. Myrtle Almeda Dearduff, 69, widow of John W. Dearduff, was found dead sitting in a chair at her home, 519 E. Edwards Street, by her son, Virgil A. Dearduff, and his wife, who had left her only a short time earlier after taking her home from evening services at Union Avenue Christian Church.

As Mr. and Mrs. Dearduff started for their home on West Union Avenue after leaving his mother, they were stopped at the Wabash crossing to await the passing of a train.

As they waited Mr. Dearduff was prompted to return to his mother's home. She had taken Sunday noon dinner with him and his family, and had spoken of feeling slightly upset.

She had attended morning services and returned to the church during the afternoon for a wedding ceremony.

On reaching the residence Virgil Dearduff found the lights on and the door locked. Receiving no answer to his ringing of the bell and calling, Mr. Dearduff went to a side window and saw his mother seated in a chair.

Entrance was gained by breaking through a rear screen door. Mrs. Dearduff's physician was summoned and pronounced her dead on his arrival.

Mrs. Dearduff was born Sept. 7, 1877, at Rushville, Indiana, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Walker Black. She was united in marriage with John Dearduff, October 5, 1895 at Hartford City, Indiana and moved to Litchfield in 1905. Mr. Dearduff preceded his wife in death April 2, 1946.

Mrs. Dearduff is survived by three children: Virgil A. Dearduff, Litchfield; Mrs. Effie Govaia of Hillsboro and Mrs. Lucreta Dains of Mt. Olive.

She also leaves nine grandchildren, one of whom, John Dains, was killed in December, 1941, while serving with the U.S. Army at Pearl Harbor. Three great grandchildren survive. Two brothers and a sister have preceded her in death.

As a member of Union Avenue Christian Church, Mrs. Dearduff was active in the Woman's Council and was ward chairman of the home service department. She was a member of the Philathea class, of the missionary group and the needlecraft group and co-chairman of the flower committee of the church.

Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock at Union Avenue Christian Church. The Rev. J. Warren Leonard will be in charge and interment will be in Elmwood cemetery.

The body will be removed from the Ross and Becker funeral home to the church Wednesday noon to lie in state to await the hour of services.