It Was Only A Little News Item ....
End Comes Months Later To The Tragic Auto Crash Story of Margaret Miller
The headlines say "Nine Killed Over Weekend" and "Iowa Has 159 Auto Fatalities Since First of Year."
But the headlines never can tell the stories behind those headlines about the maimed, their pain and suffering. And about their loved ones, their hours of anxiety, the giving of blood, the heavy expenses and indebtedness.
And sometimes those who are injured die anyway, after weeks and months of suffering.
Five Months Of Agony
Such a story is that of Margaret I. Miller, 25-year-old wife and mother of three who died April 7 and was buried April 10.
Few readers will recall a little story in The Courier on Friday, November 20, 1953 -- nearly five months ago.
It reported that Mrs. Carl "Bob" Miller was injured and was suffering from shock, as a result of an accident in which the car driven by her husband struck another car on a slick street.
It was a small news story because it was a small accident. The emergency ambulance took her to the Ottumwa hospital for treatment, apparently to minor injuries.
But Mrs. Miller, her husband and her other friends and relatives knew it wasn't that minor as her condition grew worse day after day.
Mrs. Miller was sitting in the front seat of their car and they were on the way home from shopping, that Thursday night the week before Thanksgiving. They were driving east on Main street and were about to turn when she reached around to make sure the packages on the rear seat were safe from sliding off. A moment before she had opened the door of the glove compartment. When the bump came she was thrown off balance. Her side and back struck the open glove compartment door.
Liver Ruptured
It was as simple as that. But that isn't simple when an internal organ is ruptured. Mrs. Miller had sustained a severe injury to the liver.
"It was almost hopeless from the start," explained her father-in-law, Frank Miller of 1230 Monroe street. He came to The Courier Saturday because he wanted to thank "the generous, big-hearted people of this community who did everything to help."
From Mr. Miller we heard more about this tragic story.
There were two operations, 70 transfusions of blood, and the dying mother's baby was born.
The baby arrived earlier that March, prematurely. He was named Kenneth Lee, and is staying with Mr. and Mrs. Miller, the grandparents.
One operation was performed before the baby came, another afterwards.
But death was inevitable, said Mr. Miller, and it came at long last to end her suffering.
Today, besides the baby and husband, there are two other children left, Linda, 2 years old, and Bobby, 4, being cared for by the mother's sister and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Wilford Domer.
"Wonderful People."
But Mr. Miller came to the Courier not to tell about the family's troubles.
He came in to tell about the "fine people of Ottumwa and vicinity" including hospital employees, doctors, blood donors, city ambulance operators, and all the others who had some part in this five-month battle against death.
"We, the family of Margaret MIller, thank God we have the privilage of living among wonderful people like these." he said.
Ottumwa Daily Courier (Ottumwa, Iowa) - Mon., 19 Apr 1954 - Pg 16 Cols 2-4
------------------------------------
MRS. CARL MILLER
Mrs. Margaret I. Miller, 25, wife of carl "Bob" Miller, 503 South Sheridan avenue, died at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Ottumwa hospital, where she had been a patient for several months.
The daughter of Jacob W. and Nellie Blake Allen, she was born in Ottumwa September 15, 1928. She had lived her entire life here. Her marriage to Carl Robert Miller took place June 20, 1948, in Ottumwa. She was a member of the Firsts Church of the Nazarene.
Surviving besides her husband are one daughter, Linda Marie Miller, and two sons, Robert Allen and Kenneth Lee Miller, all at the home; her mother, Mrs. Nellie Allen of Ottumwa, and two sisters, Mrs. Greta Dommer of Blakesburg route 2 and Mrs. Ivan Fisher of Ottumwa route 2. She was preceded in death by her father and two brothers.
Burial will be in Memorial Lawn cemetery.
Ottumwa Daily Courier (Ottumwa, Iowa) - Thurs., 8 Apr 1954 - Pg 24
End Comes Months Later To The Tragic Auto Crash Story of Margaret Miller
The headlines say "Nine Killed Over Weekend" and "Iowa Has 159 Auto Fatalities Since First of Year."
But the headlines never can tell the stories behind those headlines about the maimed, their pain and suffering. And about their loved ones, their hours of anxiety, the giving of blood, the heavy expenses and indebtedness.
And sometimes those who are injured die anyway, after weeks and months of suffering.
Five Months Of Agony
Such a story is that of Margaret I. Miller, 25-year-old wife and mother of three who died April 7 and was buried April 10.
Few readers will recall a little story in The Courier on Friday, November 20, 1953 -- nearly five months ago.
It reported that Mrs. Carl "Bob" Miller was injured and was suffering from shock, as a result of an accident in which the car driven by her husband struck another car on a slick street.
It was a small news story because it was a small accident. The emergency ambulance took her to the Ottumwa hospital for treatment, apparently to minor injuries.
But Mrs. Miller, her husband and her other friends and relatives knew it wasn't that minor as her condition grew worse day after day.
Mrs. Miller was sitting in the front seat of their car and they were on the way home from shopping, that Thursday night the week before Thanksgiving. They were driving east on Main street and were about to turn when she reached around to make sure the packages on the rear seat were safe from sliding off. A moment before she had opened the door of the glove compartment. When the bump came she was thrown off balance. Her side and back struck the open glove compartment door.
Liver Ruptured
It was as simple as that. But that isn't simple when an internal organ is ruptured. Mrs. Miller had sustained a severe injury to the liver.
"It was almost hopeless from the start," explained her father-in-law, Frank Miller of 1230 Monroe street. He came to The Courier Saturday because he wanted to thank "the generous, big-hearted people of this community who did everything to help."
From Mr. Miller we heard more about this tragic story.
There were two operations, 70 transfusions of blood, and the dying mother's baby was born.
The baby arrived earlier that March, prematurely. He was named Kenneth Lee, and is staying with Mr. and Mrs. Miller, the grandparents.
One operation was performed before the baby came, another afterwards.
But death was inevitable, said Mr. Miller, and it came at long last to end her suffering.
Today, besides the baby and husband, there are two other children left, Linda, 2 years old, and Bobby, 4, being cared for by the mother's sister and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Wilford Domer.
"Wonderful People."
But Mr. Miller came to the Courier not to tell about the family's troubles.
He came in to tell about the "fine people of Ottumwa and vicinity" including hospital employees, doctors, blood donors, city ambulance operators, and all the others who had some part in this five-month battle against death.
"We, the family of Margaret MIller, thank God we have the privilage of living among wonderful people like these." he said.
Ottumwa Daily Courier (Ottumwa, Iowa) - Mon., 19 Apr 1954 - Pg 16 Cols 2-4
------------------------------------
MRS. CARL MILLER
Mrs. Margaret I. Miller, 25, wife of carl "Bob" Miller, 503 South Sheridan avenue, died at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Ottumwa hospital, where she had been a patient for several months.
The daughter of Jacob W. and Nellie Blake Allen, she was born in Ottumwa September 15, 1928. She had lived her entire life here. Her marriage to Carl Robert Miller took place June 20, 1948, in Ottumwa. She was a member of the Firsts Church of the Nazarene.
Surviving besides her husband are one daughter, Linda Marie Miller, and two sons, Robert Allen and Kenneth Lee Miller, all at the home; her mother, Mrs. Nellie Allen of Ottumwa, and two sisters, Mrs. Greta Dommer of Blakesburg route 2 and Mrs. Ivan Fisher of Ottumwa route 2. She was preceded in death by her father and two brothers.
Burial will be in Memorial Lawn cemetery.
Ottumwa Daily Courier (Ottumwa, Iowa) - Thurs., 8 Apr 1954 - Pg 24
It Was Only A Little News Item ....
End Comes Months Later To The Tragic Auto Crash Story of Margaret Miller
The headlines say "Nine Killed Over Weekend" and "Iowa Has 159 Auto Fatalities Since First of Year."
But the headlines never can tell the stories behind those headlines about the maimed, their pain and suffering. And about their loved ones, their hours of anxiety, the giving of blood, the heavy expenses and indebtedness.
And sometimes those who are injured die anyway, after weeks and months of suffering.
Five Months Of Agony
Such a story is that of Margaret I. Miller, 25-year-old wife and mother of three who died April 7 and was buried April 10.
Few readers will recall a little story in The Courier on Friday, November 20, 1953 -- nearly five months ago.
It reported that Mrs. Carl "Bob" Miller was injured and was suffering from shock, as a result of an accident in which the car driven by her husband struck another car on a slick street.
It was a small news story because it was a small accident. The emergency ambulance took her to the Ottumwa hospital for treatment, apparently to minor injuries.
But Mrs. Miller, her husband and her other friends and relatives knew it wasn't that minor as her condition grew worse day after day.
Mrs. Miller was sitting in the front seat of their car and they were on the way home from shopping, that Thursday night the week before Thanksgiving. They were driving east on Main street and were about to turn when she reached around to make sure the packages on the rear seat were safe from sliding off. A moment before she had opened the door of the glove compartment. When the bump came she was thrown off balance. Her side and back struck the open glove compartment door.
Liver Ruptured
It was as simple as that. But that isn't simple when an internal organ is ruptured. Mrs. Miller had sustained a severe injury to the liver.
"It was almost hopeless from the start," explained her father-in-law, Frank Miller of 1230 Monroe street. He came to The Courier Saturday because he wanted to thank "the generous, big-hearted people of this community who did everything to help."
From Mr. Miller we heard more about this tragic story.
There were two operations, 70 transfusions of blood, and the dying mother's baby was born.
The baby arrived earlier that March, prematurely. He was named Kenneth Lee, and is staying with Mr. and Mrs. Miller, the grandparents.
One operation was performed before the baby came, another afterwards.
But death was inevitable, said Mr. Miller, and it came at long last to end her suffering.
Today, besides the baby and husband, there are two other children left, Linda, 2 years old, and Bobby, 4, being cared for by the mother's sister and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Wilford Domer.
"Wonderful People."
But Mr. Miller came to the Courier not to tell about the family's troubles.
He came in to tell about the "fine people of Ottumwa and vicinity" including hospital employees, doctors, blood donors, city ambulance operators, and all the others who had some part in this five-month battle against death.
"We, the family of Margaret MIller, thank God we have the privilage of living among wonderful people like these." he said.
Ottumwa Daily Courier (Ottumwa, Iowa) - Mon., 19 Apr 1954 - Pg 16 Cols 2-4
------------------------------------
MRS. CARL MILLER
Mrs. Margaret I. Miller, 25, wife of carl "Bob" Miller, 503 South Sheridan avenue, died at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Ottumwa hospital, where she had been a patient for several months.
The daughter of Jacob W. and Nellie Blake Allen, she was born in Ottumwa September 15, 1928. She had lived her entire life here. Her marriage to Carl Robert Miller took place June 20, 1948, in Ottumwa. She was a member of the Firsts Church of the Nazarene.
Surviving besides her husband are one daughter, Linda Marie Miller, and two sons, Robert Allen and Kenneth Lee Miller, all at the home; her mother, Mrs. Nellie Allen of Ottumwa, and two sisters, Mrs. Greta Dommer of Blakesburg route 2 and Mrs. Ivan Fisher of Ottumwa route 2. She was preceded in death by her father and two brothers.
Burial will be in Memorial Lawn cemetery.
Ottumwa Daily Courier (Ottumwa, Iowa) - Thurs., 8 Apr 1954 - Pg 24
End Comes Months Later To The Tragic Auto Crash Story of Margaret Miller
The headlines say "Nine Killed Over Weekend" and "Iowa Has 159 Auto Fatalities Since First of Year."
But the headlines never can tell the stories behind those headlines about the maimed, their pain and suffering. And about their loved ones, their hours of anxiety, the giving of blood, the heavy expenses and indebtedness.
And sometimes those who are injured die anyway, after weeks and months of suffering.
Five Months Of Agony
Such a story is that of Margaret I. Miller, 25-year-old wife and mother of three who died April 7 and was buried April 10.
Few readers will recall a little story in The Courier on Friday, November 20, 1953 -- nearly five months ago.
It reported that Mrs. Carl "Bob" Miller was injured and was suffering from shock, as a result of an accident in which the car driven by her husband struck another car on a slick street.
It was a small news story because it was a small accident. The emergency ambulance took her to the Ottumwa hospital for treatment, apparently to minor injuries.
But Mrs. Miller, her husband and her other friends and relatives knew it wasn't that minor as her condition grew worse day after day.
Mrs. Miller was sitting in the front seat of their car and they were on the way home from shopping, that Thursday night the week before Thanksgiving. They were driving east on Main street and were about to turn when she reached around to make sure the packages on the rear seat were safe from sliding off. A moment before she had opened the door of the glove compartment. When the bump came she was thrown off balance. Her side and back struck the open glove compartment door.
Liver Ruptured
It was as simple as that. But that isn't simple when an internal organ is ruptured. Mrs. Miller had sustained a severe injury to the liver.
"It was almost hopeless from the start," explained her father-in-law, Frank Miller of 1230 Monroe street. He came to The Courier Saturday because he wanted to thank "the generous, big-hearted people of this community who did everything to help."
From Mr. Miller we heard more about this tragic story.
There were two operations, 70 transfusions of blood, and the dying mother's baby was born.
The baby arrived earlier that March, prematurely. He was named Kenneth Lee, and is staying with Mr. and Mrs. Miller, the grandparents.
One operation was performed before the baby came, another afterwards.
But death was inevitable, said Mr. Miller, and it came at long last to end her suffering.
Today, besides the baby and husband, there are two other children left, Linda, 2 years old, and Bobby, 4, being cared for by the mother's sister and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Wilford Domer.
"Wonderful People."
But Mr. Miller came to the Courier not to tell about the family's troubles.
He came in to tell about the "fine people of Ottumwa and vicinity" including hospital employees, doctors, blood donors, city ambulance operators, and all the others who had some part in this five-month battle against death.
"We, the family of Margaret MIller, thank God we have the privilage of living among wonderful people like these." he said.
Ottumwa Daily Courier (Ottumwa, Iowa) - Mon., 19 Apr 1954 - Pg 16 Cols 2-4
------------------------------------
MRS. CARL MILLER
Mrs. Margaret I. Miller, 25, wife of carl "Bob" Miller, 503 South Sheridan avenue, died at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Ottumwa hospital, where she had been a patient for several months.
The daughter of Jacob W. and Nellie Blake Allen, she was born in Ottumwa September 15, 1928. She had lived her entire life here. Her marriage to Carl Robert Miller took place June 20, 1948, in Ottumwa. She was a member of the Firsts Church of the Nazarene.
Surviving besides her husband are one daughter, Linda Marie Miller, and two sons, Robert Allen and Kenneth Lee Miller, all at the home; her mother, Mrs. Nellie Allen of Ottumwa, and two sisters, Mrs. Greta Dommer of Blakesburg route 2 and Mrs. Ivan Fisher of Ottumwa route 2. She was preceded in death by her father and two brothers.
Burial will be in Memorial Lawn cemetery.
Ottumwa Daily Courier (Ottumwa, Iowa) - Thurs., 8 Apr 1954 - Pg 24
Gravesite Details
Date Interred: 4/10/1954
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