WIDELY-KNOWN LOCAL MAN PASSED AWAY THURSDAY EVENING. WAS ALLISON DENTIST FOR FORTY-SIX YEARS.
Dr. Ralph McWhirter, 77, retired Allison dentist, passed away Thursday evening, February 18, at the Aplington Nursing Home following an extended illness.
Dr. McWhirter was born in Morrison on October 30, 1887, the son of John and Letitia McWhirter. His marriage to Helen Lucille Riggs of Centerville, took place in Des Moines on August 26, 1914.
He spent part of his early life in Everly, and later moved to Spencer. He graduated from Spencer High School and from State University Dental College at Iowa City in 1911. For many years he held the record of the smallest man to win a baseball letter at the University. He took his dental apprenticeship in Garner for three years and moved to Allison following his marriage. He continued his dental practice here for forty-six years.
He was a past Master of the Masonic Opal Lodge No. 417, A.F. & A.M. here, as well as the Iowa Dental Society.
Surviving are his wife; two sons: John and Thomas; a daughter, Mrs. Lester Schrage.
Funeral services were conducted Saturday afternoon at United Church of Christ with Rev. Chester R. Ham, pastor, and Rev. Donald Light of Traer, former pastor here, in charge. Burial was in Allison Cemetery with Masonic Rites conducted by Don Davis of Clarksville, D. L. and member of the local lodge.
_______________________________________________________________
In 1900, Ralph was 12. His home was with his parents, John and Letitia, and sister, Esther, age 8. His father was a grain dealer and first generation American as Ralph's paternal grandparents were born in Scotland. His maternal grandparents were born in Pennsylvania. In Spencer, March 4, 1903, at the high school declamatory contest, Ralph took first place in the humorous class.
In 1910, he was 21 and Esther was 18, living in Spencer, Iowa. His father was Clay County Treasurer. He was married on August 26, 1914 to Miss Lucille Riggs. In 1920, they lived in West Point, Butler County, Iowa where he was employed as a dentist. He and Lucille had son, John, age 4.
Ralph served as Butler County Coroner. His first case was Monday, January 26, 1925 when he was called to the Fred Debner home near Vilmar. Otto Bruns had passed away that morning at 2:00. He was a brother of Mrs. Debner and had been in poor health for some time.
In 1930, Ralph was still serving Butler County as a dentist. He hired Marie Pagel (age 19) as a servant to help care for two more children, Anne (age 2) and Thomas (baby). In April 1934, Dr. McWhirter attended the State Dental Society meeting when well-known men in the profession were among the speakers on the many new developments in dentistry, oral surgery, anesthesia, alloys in children's dentistry, treatment of pyorrhea and orthodontia. General and group clinics were held Thursday with one of the most entertaining given by Dr. Ralph McWhirter of Allison who gave hints on denture service based on his personal experiences as a patient. He was a volunteer for the Christmas Seal sale in November 1936.
In 1940, the family lived in Allison where Ralph continued dentistry. He had achieved three years of college education. John was 24 (bank teller), Anne 12 and Thomas 10, all living at home. He was a member of the Allison Masonic Lodge and had the honor of installing his son, John, as worshipful master of Opal Lodge No. 417, AF & AM, on Monday evening, January 17, 1949.
Dr. Ralph McWhirter, 77, retired Allison dentist, passed away Thursday evening, February 18, at the Aplington Nursing Home following an extended illness.
Dr. McWhirter was born in Morrison on October 30, 1887, the son of John and Letitia McWhirter. His marriage to Helen Lucille Riggs of Centerville, took place in Des Moines on August 26, 1914.
He spent part of his early life in Everly, and later moved to Spencer. He graduated from Spencer High School and from State University Dental College at Iowa City in 1911. For many years he held the record of the smallest man to win a baseball letter at the University. He took his dental apprenticeship in Garner for three years and moved to Allison following his marriage. He continued his dental practice here for forty-six years.
He was a past Master of the Masonic Opal Lodge No. 417, A.F. & A.M. here, as well as the Iowa Dental Society.
Surviving are his wife; two sons: John and Thomas; a daughter, Mrs. Lester Schrage.
Funeral services were conducted Saturday afternoon at United Church of Christ with Rev. Chester R. Ham, pastor, and Rev. Donald Light of Traer, former pastor here, in charge. Burial was in Allison Cemetery with Masonic Rites conducted by Don Davis of Clarksville, D. L. and member of the local lodge.
_______________________________________________________________
In 1900, Ralph was 12. His home was with his parents, John and Letitia, and sister, Esther, age 8. His father was a grain dealer and first generation American as Ralph's paternal grandparents were born in Scotland. His maternal grandparents were born in Pennsylvania. In Spencer, March 4, 1903, at the high school declamatory contest, Ralph took first place in the humorous class.
In 1910, he was 21 and Esther was 18, living in Spencer, Iowa. His father was Clay County Treasurer. He was married on August 26, 1914 to Miss Lucille Riggs. In 1920, they lived in West Point, Butler County, Iowa where he was employed as a dentist. He and Lucille had son, John, age 4.
Ralph served as Butler County Coroner. His first case was Monday, January 26, 1925 when he was called to the Fred Debner home near Vilmar. Otto Bruns had passed away that morning at 2:00. He was a brother of Mrs. Debner and had been in poor health for some time.
In 1930, Ralph was still serving Butler County as a dentist. He hired Marie Pagel (age 19) as a servant to help care for two more children, Anne (age 2) and Thomas (baby). In April 1934, Dr. McWhirter attended the State Dental Society meeting when well-known men in the profession were among the speakers on the many new developments in dentistry, oral surgery, anesthesia, alloys in children's dentistry, treatment of pyorrhea and orthodontia. General and group clinics were held Thursday with one of the most entertaining given by Dr. Ralph McWhirter of Allison who gave hints on denture service based on his personal experiences as a patient. He was a volunteer for the Christmas Seal sale in November 1936.
In 1940, the family lived in Allison where Ralph continued dentistry. He had achieved three years of college education. John was 24 (bank teller), Anne 12 and Thomas 10, all living at home. He was a member of the Allison Masonic Lodge and had the honor of installing his son, John, as worshipful master of Opal Lodge No. 417, AF & AM, on Monday evening, January 17, 1949.
WIDELY-KNOWN LOCAL MAN PASSED AWAY THURSDAY EVENING. WAS ALLISON DENTIST FOR FORTY-SIX YEARS.
Dr. Ralph McWhirter, 77, retired Allison dentist, passed away Thursday evening, February 18, at the Aplington Nursing Home following an extended illness.
Dr. McWhirter was born in Morrison on October 30, 1887, the son of John and Letitia McWhirter. His marriage to Helen Lucille Riggs of Centerville, took place in Des Moines on August 26, 1914.
He spent part of his early life in Everly, and later moved to Spencer. He graduated from Spencer High School and from State University Dental College at Iowa City in 1911. For many years he held the record of the smallest man to win a baseball letter at the University. He took his dental apprenticeship in Garner for three years and moved to Allison following his marriage. He continued his dental practice here for forty-six years.
He was a past Master of the Masonic Opal Lodge No. 417, A.F. & A.M. here, as well as the Iowa Dental Society.
Surviving are his wife; two sons: John and Thomas; a daughter, Mrs. Lester Schrage.
Funeral services were conducted Saturday afternoon at United Church of Christ with Rev. Chester R. Ham, pastor, and Rev. Donald Light of Traer, former pastor here, in charge. Burial was in Allison Cemetery with Masonic Rites conducted by Don Davis of Clarksville, D. L. and member of the local lodge.
_______________________________________________________________
In 1900, Ralph was 12. His home was with his parents, John and Letitia, and sister, Esther, age 8. His father was a grain dealer and first generation American as Ralph's paternal grandparents were born in Scotland. His maternal grandparents were born in Pennsylvania. In Spencer, March 4, 1903, at the high school declamatory contest, Ralph took first place in the humorous class.
In 1910, he was 21 and Esther was 18, living in Spencer, Iowa. His father was Clay County Treasurer. He was married on August 26, 1914 to Miss Lucille Riggs. In 1920, they lived in West Point, Butler County, Iowa where he was employed as a dentist. He and Lucille had son, John, age 4.
Ralph served as Butler County Coroner. His first case was Monday, January 26, 1925 when he was called to the Fred Debner home near Vilmar. Otto Bruns had passed away that morning at 2:00. He was a brother of Mrs. Debner and had been in poor health for some time.
In 1930, Ralph was still serving Butler County as a dentist. He hired Marie Pagel (age 19) as a servant to help care for two more children, Anne (age 2) and Thomas (baby). In April 1934, Dr. McWhirter attended the State Dental Society meeting when well-known men in the profession were among the speakers on the many new developments in dentistry, oral surgery, anesthesia, alloys in children's dentistry, treatment of pyorrhea and orthodontia. General and group clinics were held Thursday with one of the most entertaining given by Dr. Ralph McWhirter of Allison who gave hints on denture service based on his personal experiences as a patient. He was a volunteer for the Christmas Seal sale in November 1936.
In 1940, the family lived in Allison where Ralph continued dentistry. He had achieved three years of college education. John was 24 (bank teller), Anne 12 and Thomas 10, all living at home. He was a member of the Allison Masonic Lodge and had the honor of installing his son, John, as worshipful master of Opal Lodge No. 417, AF & AM, on Monday evening, January 17, 1949.
Dr. Ralph McWhirter, 77, retired Allison dentist, passed away Thursday evening, February 18, at the Aplington Nursing Home following an extended illness.
Dr. McWhirter was born in Morrison on October 30, 1887, the son of John and Letitia McWhirter. His marriage to Helen Lucille Riggs of Centerville, took place in Des Moines on August 26, 1914.
He spent part of his early life in Everly, and later moved to Spencer. He graduated from Spencer High School and from State University Dental College at Iowa City in 1911. For many years he held the record of the smallest man to win a baseball letter at the University. He took his dental apprenticeship in Garner for three years and moved to Allison following his marriage. He continued his dental practice here for forty-six years.
He was a past Master of the Masonic Opal Lodge No. 417, A.F. & A.M. here, as well as the Iowa Dental Society.
Surviving are his wife; two sons: John and Thomas; a daughter, Mrs. Lester Schrage.
Funeral services were conducted Saturday afternoon at United Church of Christ with Rev. Chester R. Ham, pastor, and Rev. Donald Light of Traer, former pastor here, in charge. Burial was in Allison Cemetery with Masonic Rites conducted by Don Davis of Clarksville, D. L. and member of the local lodge.
_______________________________________________________________
In 1900, Ralph was 12. His home was with his parents, John and Letitia, and sister, Esther, age 8. His father was a grain dealer and first generation American as Ralph's paternal grandparents were born in Scotland. His maternal grandparents were born in Pennsylvania. In Spencer, March 4, 1903, at the high school declamatory contest, Ralph took first place in the humorous class.
In 1910, he was 21 and Esther was 18, living in Spencer, Iowa. His father was Clay County Treasurer. He was married on August 26, 1914 to Miss Lucille Riggs. In 1920, they lived in West Point, Butler County, Iowa where he was employed as a dentist. He and Lucille had son, John, age 4.
Ralph served as Butler County Coroner. His first case was Monday, January 26, 1925 when he was called to the Fred Debner home near Vilmar. Otto Bruns had passed away that morning at 2:00. He was a brother of Mrs. Debner and had been in poor health for some time.
In 1930, Ralph was still serving Butler County as a dentist. He hired Marie Pagel (age 19) as a servant to help care for two more children, Anne (age 2) and Thomas (baby). In April 1934, Dr. McWhirter attended the State Dental Society meeting when well-known men in the profession were among the speakers on the many new developments in dentistry, oral surgery, anesthesia, alloys in children's dentistry, treatment of pyorrhea and orthodontia. General and group clinics were held Thursday with one of the most entertaining given by Dr. Ralph McWhirter of Allison who gave hints on denture service based on his personal experiences as a patient. He was a volunteer for the Christmas Seal sale in November 1936.
In 1940, the family lived in Allison where Ralph continued dentistry. He had achieved three years of college education. John was 24 (bank teller), Anne 12 and Thomas 10, all living at home. He was a member of the Allison Masonic Lodge and had the honor of installing his son, John, as worshipful master of Opal Lodge No. 417, AF & AM, on Monday evening, January 17, 1949.
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