COURIER JOURNAL OBITUARY – 04/22/1941
WILLIAM S. KALTENBACHER, POLITICAL WRITER, DIES – WAS COLUMNIST FOR C. J.
William S. Kaltenbacher, 71, of 730 Dixie Highway, veteran political writer for The Louisville Times and writer of a folklore column for The Courier Journal for many years, died at 11:10 p.m. Monday [April 21, 1941] in Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital. He had undergone an operation for appendicitis ten days ago. Mr. Kaltenbacher, a native of Shelbyville, KY, was a correspondent for The Times a year or so previous to 1905, when he was employed on this staff. Two years later he became political writer for The Times, a position he held until 1922, when he was promoted to assistant city editor. Shortly after his promotion, Mr. Kaltenbacher, who in a boyhood accident had lost the sight of one eye, became totally blind. Within a remarkably short time, he adjusted himself to that condition, learned the touch system of typing and up to the time of his final illness continued to write a Sunday column for The Courier Journal, largely for the state editions. Mr. Kaltenbacher was considered one of the outstanding political writers of his day. He was closely associated with Gen. W.B. Haldeman, then editor and publisher of The Times. Newspaper men closely associated with Mr. Kaltenbacher during his services as political reporter, credited him with being kindly in his writings and of having a wider acquaintance throughout the state than any other man. He was considered a veritable walking political encyclopedia and even after he became blind his services were in demand at The Courier Journal offices on election nights in interpreting the returns. In Shelbyville as a youth, he was known as “Oklahoma” because he took part in some sort of a “rush” to that State when young men were seeking their fortunes in the West. But he apparently did not find what he was seeking and returned to Kentucky to take up newspaper work. For many years he edited “Who’s Who In the Kentucky General Assembly,” a handbook of information published by The Courier Journal. He wrote politics under the title of “What’s Doing Among Politicians.” He served three terms as a member of the board of the Kentucky School for the Blind. He is survived by a son, Dominic Kaltenbacher, Bloomington, IN; a daughter, Mrs. L.J. Fink, Sharon Hill, PA; three brothers, Judge Oscar Kaltenbacher, Shelbyville, KY; Ben Kaltenbacher and Arthur Kaltenbacher, and three sisters, Mrs. Lee W. Hall, Cape Girardeau, MO; Mrs. Gus O’Leary, Shelbyville, and Mrs. A.W. Dubourg.
COURIER JOURNAL OBITUARY – 04/23/1941
William S. Kaltenbacher, Monday, April 21, 1941, at 11:10 p.m. at Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, in his 71st year, beloved husband of Alice Kaltenbacher (nee Dubourg); father of Dominic Kaltenbacher, Bloomington, IN, and Mrs. L.J. Fink of Sharon Hill, PA; brother of Mrs. Lee W. Hall of Cape Girardeau, MO; Mrs. Gus O'Leary, Shelbyville, KY, Mrs. A.W. Dubourg, Ben & Arthur Kaltenbacher and Oscar Kaltenbacher of Shelbyville, KY. Funeral Thursday morning at 8:30 o'clock from the Carl E. Herbold Funeral Home, 20th and Broadway, at 9 o'clock at Sacred Heart Church. Interment Grove Hill Cemetery, Shelbyville, Ky. Please omit flowers.
COURIER JOURNAL OBITUARY – 04/23/1941
KALTENBACHER – William S., Monday, April 21, 1941, at 11:10 p.m. at Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital in his 71st year, beloved husband of Alice Kaltenbacher (nee Dubourg); father of Dominic Kaltenbacher, Bloomington, IN, and Mrs. L.J. Fink of Sharon Hill, PA; brother of Mrs. Lee W. Hall of Cape Girardeau, MO; Mrs. Gus O’Leary, Shelbyville, KY; Mrs. A.W. Dubourg, Ben & Arthur Kaltenbacher and Oscar Kaltenbacher of Shelbyville, KY. Funeral Thursday morning at 8:30 o’clock from the Carl E. Herbold Funeral Home, 20th and Broadway, at 9 o’clock at Sacred Heart Church. Interment Grove Hill Cemetery, Shelbyville, KY. Please omit flowers.
SHELBY NEWS OBITUARY – 04/24/1941
William Stephan Kaltenbacher, 71, who 50 years ago began his distinguished newspaper career as a member of The Shelby News staff, died at 11:10 p.m. Monday [April 21, 1941] at Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, Louisville, where he submitted to an emergency appendectomy April 10. Veteran political reporter, feature writer and for many years compiler of Who’s Who in the Kentucky General Assembly, Kaltenbacher was believed out of danger and well on the road to recovery when the end came suddenly. Born in Louisville, he was taken by his parents, Dominick & Sarah Kaltenbacher to Shelbyville at the age of six. He lost the sight of his right eye at 14 after an accident at play and at 20 took his first newspaper job on The News. Later he was employed by a Paducah newspaper and in 1905 became police reporter for The Louisville Times. A week’s work brought his assignment as a political writer, and in that capacity he attended local, district, state and national conventions and wrote a political column until 1918. At one time he was copyreader and assistant editor of The Times. In 1916, while attending the democratic convention at St. Louis, “Bill,” as he was known to thousands in public life, suffered an accident that blinded the sight of his left eye as well. But this misfortune did not daunt him, for he learned the “touch system” of typing and his great knowledge of politics continued to grace the columns of Louisville newspapers. His last writing was a feature article, prepared for a Sunday edition with the help of his wife, Mrs. Alice Dubourg Kaltenbacher. The deceased was a member of the governing board of the Kentucky Institute for the Blind and through a wide acquaintance and popularity obtained for the institution increased state appropriations and federal aid. He is survived also by a son Dominick, Bloomington, IN; daughter, Mrs. L.J. Fink, Sharon Hill, PA, grandson, William Fink, sisters, Mrs. A.W. Dubourg, Louisville, Mrs. Lillie K. Hall, Cape Girardeau, MO, and Mrs. Emma May O’Leary, Shelbyville, and three brothers, Police Judge O.T. Kaltenbacher of Shelbyville, Arthur of Louisville and Bernard of Henderson. Funeral services will be held at 8:30 a.m. today at Herbold’s chapel and 9 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, Louisville. Burial will be in Grove Hill Cemetery, Shelbyville.
SHELBY SENTINEL OBITUARY – 04/25/1941
William Stephen Kaltenbacher, former associate editor of the Sentinel, died at 11:10 p.m. Monday [April 21, 1941] at Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, Louisville, where he submitted to an emergency appendectomy April 10. The operation was successful, and apparently he was reported to be getting well, and then his sudden death. “Bill” Kaltenbacher was a superlative newspaperman, ranking with the best the state ever had and associated with such celebrated writers as Henry Watterson, W.B. Haldeman, Robert Brown, Irvin Cobb and others, who looked up to him because of his ability. From 1898 to 1903 he was associate editor of the Sentinel, under the ownership of Mr. James Guthrie and C.M. Lewis. His soul was wrapped up in the popularity and welfare of this paper. For every anniversary edition the Sentinel has gotten out in the last 40 years with the exception of the 100th anniversary edition last year (he wrote us that because of his health he could not) there has been a splendid article written by his pen. Going to Louisville in 1905 his first “beat” on The Times was as a police reporter at which he remained only a week before Gen. W.B. Haldeman, editor, assigned young Kaltenbacher to his “first love,” of writing political news. In that capacity he attended local, district, State and national conventions and wrote a political column for The Times until 1918. At one time he was copyreader and assistant editor of The Times. The strain of reading was blamed for rupture of his left eye, which cost him his sight in 1916 after several operations, which proved unsuccessful. He learned the touch system of typewriting and in the years that followed those who handled his “copy” marveled at his perfection. Mr. Kaltenbacher was a member of the governing board of the Kentucky Institute for the Blind and through a wide acquaintance and popularity obtained for the institution increased State appropriations and Federal aid. His last writing was a feature article prepared with the help of his wife, Mrs. Alice Dubourg Kaltenbacher, for a Sunday edition of The Courier Journal. She had been typewriting his articles for him during the last six months after an attack of arthritis stiffened his fingers. Born in Louisville, he was brought by his parents, Dominic & Sarah Kaltenbacher, to Shelbyville at 5, and when he was 14 lost the sight of his right eye after an accident at play. Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Dominic M., Bloomington, IN; daughter, Mrs. L.J. Fink, Sharon Hill, PA; sisters, Mrs. A.W. Dubourg, Louisville; Mrs. Gus T. O’Leary, Shelbyville, and Mrs. Lee W. Hall, Cape Giraddeau, MO; brothers, A.G. of Louisville; Judge O.T. of Shelbyville, and B.D. of Henderson and one grandchild. The editors of this paper are deeply grieved at Mr. Kaltenbacher’s passing, realizing that they have lost a true friend to which they always looked up to for newspaper craft advice and as did our father before us. It has been an honor to know Mr. Will Kaltenbacher. Funeral services were conducted yesterday morning at 8:30 o’clock from the Carl E. Herbold Funeral Home, 20th and Broadway and at 9 o’clock at Sacred Heart Church. His body was brought here for burial in Grove Hill Cemetery.
WILLIAM S. KALTENBACHER, POLITICAL WRITER, DIES – WAS COLUMNIST FOR C. J.
William S. Kaltenbacher, 71, of 730 Dixie Highway, veteran political writer for The Louisville Times and writer of a folklore column for The Courier Journal for many years, died at 11:10 p.m. Monday [April 21, 1941] in Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital. He had undergone an operation for appendicitis ten days ago. Mr. Kaltenbacher, a native of Shelbyville, KY, was a correspondent for The Times a year or so previous to 1905, when he was employed on this staff. Two years later he became political writer for The Times, a position he held until 1922, when he was promoted to assistant city editor. Shortly after his promotion, Mr. Kaltenbacher, who in a boyhood accident had lost the sight of one eye, became totally blind. Within a remarkably short time, he adjusted himself to that condition, learned the touch system of typing and up to the time of his final illness continued to write a Sunday column for The Courier Journal, largely for the state editions. Mr. Kaltenbacher was considered one of the outstanding political writers of his day. He was closely associated with Gen. W.B. Haldeman, then editor and publisher of The Times. Newspaper men closely associated with Mr. Kaltenbacher during his services as political reporter, credited him with being kindly in his writings and of having a wider acquaintance throughout the state than any other man. He was considered a veritable walking political encyclopedia and even after he became blind his services were in demand at The Courier Journal offices on election nights in interpreting the returns. In Shelbyville as a youth, he was known as “Oklahoma” because he took part in some sort of a “rush” to that State when young men were seeking their fortunes in the West. But he apparently did not find what he was seeking and returned to Kentucky to take up newspaper work. For many years he edited “Who’s Who In the Kentucky General Assembly,” a handbook of information published by The Courier Journal. He wrote politics under the title of “What’s Doing Among Politicians.” He served three terms as a member of the board of the Kentucky School for the Blind. He is survived by a son, Dominic Kaltenbacher, Bloomington, IN; a daughter, Mrs. L.J. Fink, Sharon Hill, PA; three brothers, Judge Oscar Kaltenbacher, Shelbyville, KY; Ben Kaltenbacher and Arthur Kaltenbacher, and three sisters, Mrs. Lee W. Hall, Cape Girardeau, MO; Mrs. Gus O’Leary, Shelbyville, and Mrs. A.W. Dubourg.
COURIER JOURNAL OBITUARY – 04/23/1941
William S. Kaltenbacher, Monday, April 21, 1941, at 11:10 p.m. at Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, in his 71st year, beloved husband of Alice Kaltenbacher (nee Dubourg); father of Dominic Kaltenbacher, Bloomington, IN, and Mrs. L.J. Fink of Sharon Hill, PA; brother of Mrs. Lee W. Hall of Cape Girardeau, MO; Mrs. Gus O'Leary, Shelbyville, KY, Mrs. A.W. Dubourg, Ben & Arthur Kaltenbacher and Oscar Kaltenbacher of Shelbyville, KY. Funeral Thursday morning at 8:30 o'clock from the Carl E. Herbold Funeral Home, 20th and Broadway, at 9 o'clock at Sacred Heart Church. Interment Grove Hill Cemetery, Shelbyville, Ky. Please omit flowers.
COURIER JOURNAL OBITUARY – 04/23/1941
KALTENBACHER – William S., Monday, April 21, 1941, at 11:10 p.m. at Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital in his 71st year, beloved husband of Alice Kaltenbacher (nee Dubourg); father of Dominic Kaltenbacher, Bloomington, IN, and Mrs. L.J. Fink of Sharon Hill, PA; brother of Mrs. Lee W. Hall of Cape Girardeau, MO; Mrs. Gus O’Leary, Shelbyville, KY; Mrs. A.W. Dubourg, Ben & Arthur Kaltenbacher and Oscar Kaltenbacher of Shelbyville, KY. Funeral Thursday morning at 8:30 o’clock from the Carl E. Herbold Funeral Home, 20th and Broadway, at 9 o’clock at Sacred Heart Church. Interment Grove Hill Cemetery, Shelbyville, KY. Please omit flowers.
SHELBY NEWS OBITUARY – 04/24/1941
William Stephan Kaltenbacher, 71, who 50 years ago began his distinguished newspaper career as a member of The Shelby News staff, died at 11:10 p.m. Monday [April 21, 1941] at Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, Louisville, where he submitted to an emergency appendectomy April 10. Veteran political reporter, feature writer and for many years compiler of Who’s Who in the Kentucky General Assembly, Kaltenbacher was believed out of danger and well on the road to recovery when the end came suddenly. Born in Louisville, he was taken by his parents, Dominick & Sarah Kaltenbacher to Shelbyville at the age of six. He lost the sight of his right eye at 14 after an accident at play and at 20 took his first newspaper job on The News. Later he was employed by a Paducah newspaper and in 1905 became police reporter for The Louisville Times. A week’s work brought his assignment as a political writer, and in that capacity he attended local, district, state and national conventions and wrote a political column until 1918. At one time he was copyreader and assistant editor of The Times. In 1916, while attending the democratic convention at St. Louis, “Bill,” as he was known to thousands in public life, suffered an accident that blinded the sight of his left eye as well. But this misfortune did not daunt him, for he learned the “touch system” of typing and his great knowledge of politics continued to grace the columns of Louisville newspapers. His last writing was a feature article, prepared for a Sunday edition with the help of his wife, Mrs. Alice Dubourg Kaltenbacher. The deceased was a member of the governing board of the Kentucky Institute for the Blind and through a wide acquaintance and popularity obtained for the institution increased state appropriations and federal aid. He is survived also by a son Dominick, Bloomington, IN; daughter, Mrs. L.J. Fink, Sharon Hill, PA, grandson, William Fink, sisters, Mrs. A.W. Dubourg, Louisville, Mrs. Lillie K. Hall, Cape Girardeau, MO, and Mrs. Emma May O’Leary, Shelbyville, and three brothers, Police Judge O.T. Kaltenbacher of Shelbyville, Arthur of Louisville and Bernard of Henderson. Funeral services will be held at 8:30 a.m. today at Herbold’s chapel and 9 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, Louisville. Burial will be in Grove Hill Cemetery, Shelbyville.
SHELBY SENTINEL OBITUARY – 04/25/1941
William Stephen Kaltenbacher, former associate editor of the Sentinel, died at 11:10 p.m. Monday [April 21, 1941] at Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, Louisville, where he submitted to an emergency appendectomy April 10. The operation was successful, and apparently he was reported to be getting well, and then his sudden death. “Bill” Kaltenbacher was a superlative newspaperman, ranking with the best the state ever had and associated with such celebrated writers as Henry Watterson, W.B. Haldeman, Robert Brown, Irvin Cobb and others, who looked up to him because of his ability. From 1898 to 1903 he was associate editor of the Sentinel, under the ownership of Mr. James Guthrie and C.M. Lewis. His soul was wrapped up in the popularity and welfare of this paper. For every anniversary edition the Sentinel has gotten out in the last 40 years with the exception of the 100th anniversary edition last year (he wrote us that because of his health he could not) there has been a splendid article written by his pen. Going to Louisville in 1905 his first “beat” on The Times was as a police reporter at which he remained only a week before Gen. W.B. Haldeman, editor, assigned young Kaltenbacher to his “first love,” of writing political news. In that capacity he attended local, district, State and national conventions and wrote a political column for The Times until 1918. At one time he was copyreader and assistant editor of The Times. The strain of reading was blamed for rupture of his left eye, which cost him his sight in 1916 after several operations, which proved unsuccessful. He learned the touch system of typewriting and in the years that followed those who handled his “copy” marveled at his perfection. Mr. Kaltenbacher was a member of the governing board of the Kentucky Institute for the Blind and through a wide acquaintance and popularity obtained for the institution increased State appropriations and Federal aid. His last writing was a feature article prepared with the help of his wife, Mrs. Alice Dubourg Kaltenbacher, for a Sunday edition of The Courier Journal. She had been typewriting his articles for him during the last six months after an attack of arthritis stiffened his fingers. Born in Louisville, he was brought by his parents, Dominic & Sarah Kaltenbacher, to Shelbyville at 5, and when he was 14 lost the sight of his right eye after an accident at play. Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Dominic M., Bloomington, IN; daughter, Mrs. L.J. Fink, Sharon Hill, PA; sisters, Mrs. A.W. Dubourg, Louisville; Mrs. Gus T. O’Leary, Shelbyville, and Mrs. Lee W. Hall, Cape Giraddeau, MO; brothers, A.G. of Louisville; Judge O.T. of Shelbyville, and B.D. of Henderson and one grandchild. The editors of this paper are deeply grieved at Mr. Kaltenbacher’s passing, realizing that they have lost a true friend to which they always looked up to for newspaper craft advice and as did our father before us. It has been an honor to know Mr. Will Kaltenbacher. Funeral services were conducted yesterday morning at 8:30 o’clock from the Carl E. Herbold Funeral Home, 20th and Broadway and at 9 o’clock at Sacred Heart Church. His body was brought here for burial in Grove Hill Cemetery.
COURIER JOURNAL OBITUARY – 04/22/1941
WILLIAM S. KALTENBACHER, POLITICAL WRITER, DIES – WAS COLUMNIST FOR C. J.
William S. Kaltenbacher, 71, of 730 Dixie Highway, veteran political writer for The Louisville Times and writer of a folklore column for The Courier Journal for many years, died at 11:10 p.m. Monday [April 21, 1941] in Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital. He had undergone an operation for appendicitis ten days ago. Mr. Kaltenbacher, a native of Shelbyville, KY, was a correspondent for The Times a year or so previous to 1905, when he was employed on this staff. Two years later he became political writer for The Times, a position he held until 1922, when he was promoted to assistant city editor. Shortly after his promotion, Mr. Kaltenbacher, who in a boyhood accident had lost the sight of one eye, became totally blind. Within a remarkably short time, he adjusted himself to that condition, learned the touch system of typing and up to the time of his final illness continued to write a Sunday column for The Courier Journal, largely for the state editions. Mr. Kaltenbacher was considered one of the outstanding political writers of his day. He was closely associated with Gen. W.B. Haldeman, then editor and publisher of The Times. Newspaper men closely associated with Mr. Kaltenbacher during his services as political reporter, credited him with being kindly in his writings and of having a wider acquaintance throughout the state than any other man. He was considered a veritable walking political encyclopedia and even after he became blind his services were in demand at The Courier Journal offices on election nights in interpreting the returns. In Shelbyville as a youth, he was known as “Oklahoma” because he took part in some sort of a “rush” to that State when young men were seeking their fortunes in the West. But he apparently did not find what he was seeking and returned to Kentucky to take up newspaper work. For many years he edited “Who’s Who In the Kentucky General Assembly,” a handbook of information published by The Courier Journal. He wrote politics under the title of “What’s Doing Among Politicians.” He served three terms as a member of the board of the Kentucky School for the Blind. He is survived by a son, Dominic Kaltenbacher, Bloomington, IN; a daughter, Mrs. L.J. Fink, Sharon Hill, PA; three brothers, Judge Oscar Kaltenbacher, Shelbyville, KY; Ben Kaltenbacher and Arthur Kaltenbacher, and three sisters, Mrs. Lee W. Hall, Cape Girardeau, MO; Mrs. Gus O’Leary, Shelbyville, and Mrs. A.W. Dubourg.
COURIER JOURNAL OBITUARY – 04/23/1941
William S. Kaltenbacher, Monday, April 21, 1941, at 11:10 p.m. at Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, in his 71st year, beloved husband of Alice Kaltenbacher (nee Dubourg); father of Dominic Kaltenbacher, Bloomington, IN, and Mrs. L.J. Fink of Sharon Hill, PA; brother of Mrs. Lee W. Hall of Cape Girardeau, MO; Mrs. Gus O'Leary, Shelbyville, KY, Mrs. A.W. Dubourg, Ben & Arthur Kaltenbacher and Oscar Kaltenbacher of Shelbyville, KY. Funeral Thursday morning at 8:30 o'clock from the Carl E. Herbold Funeral Home, 20th and Broadway, at 9 o'clock at Sacred Heart Church. Interment Grove Hill Cemetery, Shelbyville, Ky. Please omit flowers.
COURIER JOURNAL OBITUARY – 04/23/1941
KALTENBACHER – William S., Monday, April 21, 1941, at 11:10 p.m. at Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital in his 71st year, beloved husband of Alice Kaltenbacher (nee Dubourg); father of Dominic Kaltenbacher, Bloomington, IN, and Mrs. L.J. Fink of Sharon Hill, PA; brother of Mrs. Lee W. Hall of Cape Girardeau, MO; Mrs. Gus O’Leary, Shelbyville, KY; Mrs. A.W. Dubourg, Ben & Arthur Kaltenbacher and Oscar Kaltenbacher of Shelbyville, KY. Funeral Thursday morning at 8:30 o’clock from the Carl E. Herbold Funeral Home, 20th and Broadway, at 9 o’clock at Sacred Heart Church. Interment Grove Hill Cemetery, Shelbyville, KY. Please omit flowers.
SHELBY NEWS OBITUARY – 04/24/1941
William Stephan Kaltenbacher, 71, who 50 years ago began his distinguished newspaper career as a member of The Shelby News staff, died at 11:10 p.m. Monday [April 21, 1941] at Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, Louisville, where he submitted to an emergency appendectomy April 10. Veteran political reporter, feature writer and for many years compiler of Who’s Who in the Kentucky General Assembly, Kaltenbacher was believed out of danger and well on the road to recovery when the end came suddenly. Born in Louisville, he was taken by his parents, Dominick & Sarah Kaltenbacher to Shelbyville at the age of six. He lost the sight of his right eye at 14 after an accident at play and at 20 took his first newspaper job on The News. Later he was employed by a Paducah newspaper and in 1905 became police reporter for The Louisville Times. A week’s work brought his assignment as a political writer, and in that capacity he attended local, district, state and national conventions and wrote a political column until 1918. At one time he was copyreader and assistant editor of The Times. In 1916, while attending the democratic convention at St. Louis, “Bill,” as he was known to thousands in public life, suffered an accident that blinded the sight of his left eye as well. But this misfortune did not daunt him, for he learned the “touch system” of typing and his great knowledge of politics continued to grace the columns of Louisville newspapers. His last writing was a feature article, prepared for a Sunday edition with the help of his wife, Mrs. Alice Dubourg Kaltenbacher. The deceased was a member of the governing board of the Kentucky Institute for the Blind and through a wide acquaintance and popularity obtained for the institution increased state appropriations and federal aid. He is survived also by a son Dominick, Bloomington, IN; daughter, Mrs. L.J. Fink, Sharon Hill, PA, grandson, William Fink, sisters, Mrs. A.W. Dubourg, Louisville, Mrs. Lillie K. Hall, Cape Girardeau, MO, and Mrs. Emma May O’Leary, Shelbyville, and three brothers, Police Judge O.T. Kaltenbacher of Shelbyville, Arthur of Louisville and Bernard of Henderson. Funeral services will be held at 8:30 a.m. today at Herbold’s chapel and 9 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, Louisville. Burial will be in Grove Hill Cemetery, Shelbyville.
SHELBY SENTINEL OBITUARY – 04/25/1941
William Stephen Kaltenbacher, former associate editor of the Sentinel, died at 11:10 p.m. Monday [April 21, 1941] at Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, Louisville, where he submitted to an emergency appendectomy April 10. The operation was successful, and apparently he was reported to be getting well, and then his sudden death. “Bill” Kaltenbacher was a superlative newspaperman, ranking with the best the state ever had and associated with such celebrated writers as Henry Watterson, W.B. Haldeman, Robert Brown, Irvin Cobb and others, who looked up to him because of his ability. From 1898 to 1903 he was associate editor of the Sentinel, under the ownership of Mr. James Guthrie and C.M. Lewis. His soul was wrapped up in the popularity and welfare of this paper. For every anniversary edition the Sentinel has gotten out in the last 40 years with the exception of the 100th anniversary edition last year (he wrote us that because of his health he could not) there has been a splendid article written by his pen. Going to Louisville in 1905 his first “beat” on The Times was as a police reporter at which he remained only a week before Gen. W.B. Haldeman, editor, assigned young Kaltenbacher to his “first love,” of writing political news. In that capacity he attended local, district, State and national conventions and wrote a political column for The Times until 1918. At one time he was copyreader and assistant editor of The Times. The strain of reading was blamed for rupture of his left eye, which cost him his sight in 1916 after several operations, which proved unsuccessful. He learned the touch system of typewriting and in the years that followed those who handled his “copy” marveled at his perfection. Mr. Kaltenbacher was a member of the governing board of the Kentucky Institute for the Blind and through a wide acquaintance and popularity obtained for the institution increased State appropriations and Federal aid. His last writing was a feature article prepared with the help of his wife, Mrs. Alice Dubourg Kaltenbacher, for a Sunday edition of The Courier Journal. She had been typewriting his articles for him during the last six months after an attack of arthritis stiffened his fingers. Born in Louisville, he was brought by his parents, Dominic & Sarah Kaltenbacher, to Shelbyville at 5, and when he was 14 lost the sight of his right eye after an accident at play. Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Dominic M., Bloomington, IN; daughter, Mrs. L.J. Fink, Sharon Hill, PA; sisters, Mrs. A.W. Dubourg, Louisville; Mrs. Gus T. O’Leary, Shelbyville, and Mrs. Lee W. Hall, Cape Giraddeau, MO; brothers, A.G. of Louisville; Judge O.T. of Shelbyville, and B.D. of Henderson and one grandchild. The editors of this paper are deeply grieved at Mr. Kaltenbacher’s passing, realizing that they have lost a true friend to which they always looked up to for newspaper craft advice and as did our father before us. It has been an honor to know Mr. Will Kaltenbacher. Funeral services were conducted yesterday morning at 8:30 o’clock from the Carl E. Herbold Funeral Home, 20th and Broadway and at 9 o’clock at Sacred Heart Church. His body was brought here for burial in Grove Hill Cemetery.
WILLIAM S. KALTENBACHER, POLITICAL WRITER, DIES – WAS COLUMNIST FOR C. J.
William S. Kaltenbacher, 71, of 730 Dixie Highway, veteran political writer for The Louisville Times and writer of a folklore column for The Courier Journal for many years, died at 11:10 p.m. Monday [April 21, 1941] in Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital. He had undergone an operation for appendicitis ten days ago. Mr. Kaltenbacher, a native of Shelbyville, KY, was a correspondent for The Times a year or so previous to 1905, when he was employed on this staff. Two years later he became political writer for The Times, a position he held until 1922, when he was promoted to assistant city editor. Shortly after his promotion, Mr. Kaltenbacher, who in a boyhood accident had lost the sight of one eye, became totally blind. Within a remarkably short time, he adjusted himself to that condition, learned the touch system of typing and up to the time of his final illness continued to write a Sunday column for The Courier Journal, largely for the state editions. Mr. Kaltenbacher was considered one of the outstanding political writers of his day. He was closely associated with Gen. W.B. Haldeman, then editor and publisher of The Times. Newspaper men closely associated with Mr. Kaltenbacher during his services as political reporter, credited him with being kindly in his writings and of having a wider acquaintance throughout the state than any other man. He was considered a veritable walking political encyclopedia and even after he became blind his services were in demand at The Courier Journal offices on election nights in interpreting the returns. In Shelbyville as a youth, he was known as “Oklahoma” because he took part in some sort of a “rush” to that State when young men were seeking their fortunes in the West. But he apparently did not find what he was seeking and returned to Kentucky to take up newspaper work. For many years he edited “Who’s Who In the Kentucky General Assembly,” a handbook of information published by The Courier Journal. He wrote politics under the title of “What’s Doing Among Politicians.” He served three terms as a member of the board of the Kentucky School for the Blind. He is survived by a son, Dominic Kaltenbacher, Bloomington, IN; a daughter, Mrs. L.J. Fink, Sharon Hill, PA; three brothers, Judge Oscar Kaltenbacher, Shelbyville, KY; Ben Kaltenbacher and Arthur Kaltenbacher, and three sisters, Mrs. Lee W. Hall, Cape Girardeau, MO; Mrs. Gus O’Leary, Shelbyville, and Mrs. A.W. Dubourg.
COURIER JOURNAL OBITUARY – 04/23/1941
William S. Kaltenbacher, Monday, April 21, 1941, at 11:10 p.m. at Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, in his 71st year, beloved husband of Alice Kaltenbacher (nee Dubourg); father of Dominic Kaltenbacher, Bloomington, IN, and Mrs. L.J. Fink of Sharon Hill, PA; brother of Mrs. Lee W. Hall of Cape Girardeau, MO; Mrs. Gus O'Leary, Shelbyville, KY, Mrs. A.W. Dubourg, Ben & Arthur Kaltenbacher and Oscar Kaltenbacher of Shelbyville, KY. Funeral Thursday morning at 8:30 o'clock from the Carl E. Herbold Funeral Home, 20th and Broadway, at 9 o'clock at Sacred Heart Church. Interment Grove Hill Cemetery, Shelbyville, Ky. Please omit flowers.
COURIER JOURNAL OBITUARY – 04/23/1941
KALTENBACHER – William S., Monday, April 21, 1941, at 11:10 p.m. at Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital in his 71st year, beloved husband of Alice Kaltenbacher (nee Dubourg); father of Dominic Kaltenbacher, Bloomington, IN, and Mrs. L.J. Fink of Sharon Hill, PA; brother of Mrs. Lee W. Hall of Cape Girardeau, MO; Mrs. Gus O’Leary, Shelbyville, KY; Mrs. A.W. Dubourg, Ben & Arthur Kaltenbacher and Oscar Kaltenbacher of Shelbyville, KY. Funeral Thursday morning at 8:30 o’clock from the Carl E. Herbold Funeral Home, 20th and Broadway, at 9 o’clock at Sacred Heart Church. Interment Grove Hill Cemetery, Shelbyville, KY. Please omit flowers.
SHELBY NEWS OBITUARY – 04/24/1941
William Stephan Kaltenbacher, 71, who 50 years ago began his distinguished newspaper career as a member of The Shelby News staff, died at 11:10 p.m. Monday [April 21, 1941] at Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, Louisville, where he submitted to an emergency appendectomy April 10. Veteran political reporter, feature writer and for many years compiler of Who’s Who in the Kentucky General Assembly, Kaltenbacher was believed out of danger and well on the road to recovery when the end came suddenly. Born in Louisville, he was taken by his parents, Dominick & Sarah Kaltenbacher to Shelbyville at the age of six. He lost the sight of his right eye at 14 after an accident at play and at 20 took his first newspaper job on The News. Later he was employed by a Paducah newspaper and in 1905 became police reporter for The Louisville Times. A week’s work brought his assignment as a political writer, and in that capacity he attended local, district, state and national conventions and wrote a political column until 1918. At one time he was copyreader and assistant editor of The Times. In 1916, while attending the democratic convention at St. Louis, “Bill,” as he was known to thousands in public life, suffered an accident that blinded the sight of his left eye as well. But this misfortune did not daunt him, for he learned the “touch system” of typing and his great knowledge of politics continued to grace the columns of Louisville newspapers. His last writing was a feature article, prepared for a Sunday edition with the help of his wife, Mrs. Alice Dubourg Kaltenbacher. The deceased was a member of the governing board of the Kentucky Institute for the Blind and through a wide acquaintance and popularity obtained for the institution increased state appropriations and federal aid. He is survived also by a son Dominick, Bloomington, IN; daughter, Mrs. L.J. Fink, Sharon Hill, PA, grandson, William Fink, sisters, Mrs. A.W. Dubourg, Louisville, Mrs. Lillie K. Hall, Cape Girardeau, MO, and Mrs. Emma May O’Leary, Shelbyville, and three brothers, Police Judge O.T. Kaltenbacher of Shelbyville, Arthur of Louisville and Bernard of Henderson. Funeral services will be held at 8:30 a.m. today at Herbold’s chapel and 9 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, Louisville. Burial will be in Grove Hill Cemetery, Shelbyville.
SHELBY SENTINEL OBITUARY – 04/25/1941
William Stephen Kaltenbacher, former associate editor of the Sentinel, died at 11:10 p.m. Monday [April 21, 1941] at Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, Louisville, where he submitted to an emergency appendectomy April 10. The operation was successful, and apparently he was reported to be getting well, and then his sudden death. “Bill” Kaltenbacher was a superlative newspaperman, ranking with the best the state ever had and associated with such celebrated writers as Henry Watterson, W.B. Haldeman, Robert Brown, Irvin Cobb and others, who looked up to him because of his ability. From 1898 to 1903 he was associate editor of the Sentinel, under the ownership of Mr. James Guthrie and C.M. Lewis. His soul was wrapped up in the popularity and welfare of this paper. For every anniversary edition the Sentinel has gotten out in the last 40 years with the exception of the 100th anniversary edition last year (he wrote us that because of his health he could not) there has been a splendid article written by his pen. Going to Louisville in 1905 his first “beat” on The Times was as a police reporter at which he remained only a week before Gen. W.B. Haldeman, editor, assigned young Kaltenbacher to his “first love,” of writing political news. In that capacity he attended local, district, State and national conventions and wrote a political column for The Times until 1918. At one time he was copyreader and assistant editor of The Times. The strain of reading was blamed for rupture of his left eye, which cost him his sight in 1916 after several operations, which proved unsuccessful. He learned the touch system of typewriting and in the years that followed those who handled his “copy” marveled at his perfection. Mr. Kaltenbacher was a member of the governing board of the Kentucky Institute for the Blind and through a wide acquaintance and popularity obtained for the institution increased State appropriations and Federal aid. His last writing was a feature article prepared with the help of his wife, Mrs. Alice Dubourg Kaltenbacher, for a Sunday edition of The Courier Journal. She had been typewriting his articles for him during the last six months after an attack of arthritis stiffened his fingers. Born in Louisville, he was brought by his parents, Dominic & Sarah Kaltenbacher, to Shelbyville at 5, and when he was 14 lost the sight of his right eye after an accident at play. Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Dominic M., Bloomington, IN; daughter, Mrs. L.J. Fink, Sharon Hill, PA; sisters, Mrs. A.W. Dubourg, Louisville; Mrs. Gus T. O’Leary, Shelbyville, and Mrs. Lee W. Hall, Cape Giraddeau, MO; brothers, A.G. of Louisville; Judge O.T. of Shelbyville, and B.D. of Henderson and one grandchild. The editors of this paper are deeply grieved at Mr. Kaltenbacher’s passing, realizing that they have lost a true friend to which they always looked up to for newspaper craft advice and as did our father before us. It has been an honor to know Mr. Will Kaltenbacher. Funeral services were conducted yesterday morning at 8:30 o’clock from the Carl E. Herbold Funeral Home, 20th and Broadway and at 9 o’clock at Sacred Heart Church. His body was brought here for burial in Grove Hill Cemetery.
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