21. WHITAKER- Ollie R. – 1920 – 1950

 

HUNTSVILLE TIMES

Monday, November 20, 1950

 

Two Men Killed In Sunday Fires

One Dies In Burning Home Near OXR; Other During Stove Explosion

 

Two men, each with the surname of WHITAKER, burned to death yesterday, one of them near Guntersville, and the other near Owens Cross Roads.

 

According to Deputy Sheriff T. O. RICH, Ollie R. “Buck” WHITAKER, 30, was almost consumed by the flames which engulfed his house on Big Cove Road, three miles form Owens Cross Roads last night.

 

Marshall County Coroner Howard HARDIN reported that James Clyde WHITAKER, 37, died in the Guntersville hospital shortly after a stove exploded, catching his clothing afire.

 

Deputy RICH said today that persons who gathered at the scene of the fire near Owens Cross Roads mentioned that the two men were relatives.  This could not be verified.

 

 “Buck” WHITAKER’s body was badly burned, with large parts of his flesh and bone completely burned away.  According to Deputy RICH, who along with Deputy Fred KEEL was called to the scene to remove the body, “Buck” WHITAKER was found lying in the southwest corner of the kitchen of his three-room home.  The door of an oil stove lay across his stomach and protected the midsection of his body slightly from the flames which destroyed his house.  He said the fire began about 7 o’clock last night, but the cause was undetermined.  However, he said it was thought to have been started from a cigarette, or an explosion in the oil stove.

 

Neighbors, who discovered the fire after it had a big head start, managed to save two quilts, a sheet and a feather pillow which was dragged from a window.  The house was burned to the ground.

 

In the fire near Guntersville – which began at 7 a.m., just 12 hours before the other one – James Clyde WHITAKER’s clothes were ignited by a stove explosion.  He died shortly afterward of third degree burns.  Coroner HARDIN said only the soles of his feet escaped injury.

 

According to the coroner, James WHITAKER was attempting to build a fire in a stove when the explosion occurred.  He was pouring truck fuel oil into the stove on some hot coals, the coroner said.

 

Funeral services for James Clyde WHITAKER will be held tomorrow at 11 a.m. at the Hebron School, with J. T. WHITAKER officiating.  Carr Funeral Home is in charge.  He is survived by one son, Carey WHITAKER; a daughter, Jimmie WHITAKER; his father, J. R. WHITAKER, Grant Route 2; a brother, Clarence WHITAKER of Guntersville; five sisters, Mrs. Kathleen RUCKS of Birmingham, Mrs. Alice KIRKLAND of Guntersville Route 1, Mrs. Norella SMITH of Scottsboro Route 3, Mrs. Tee CLAY of Grant Route 1, Mrs. Stella WOODALL of Decherd, Tenn.

 

“Buck” WHITAKER will be buried tomorrow at 10 a.m. in the Moon Cemetery following services at the Owens Cross Roads Methodist Church.  The Rev. K. W. YEAGER will officiate assisted by the Rev. PEYTON. Laughlin-Service is in charge.

 

Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. WHITAKER; a sister, Mrs. Laura Bell HORNBUCKLE; two brothers, James WHITAKER of Chicago and Homer WHITAKER of Owens Cross Roads

 

Active pallbearers for “Buck” WHITAKER will be M. C. WEBSTER, Harold WEBSTER, Richard CLEMONS, Bill COWAN, Brady SIMS, J. C. WOODY and Joseph M. HORNBUCKLE.

 

Honorary pallbearers will include Verbon SAINT, W. E. McKINNEY, W. E. SELF and Dr. J. L. CARPENTER.