Obituary

Kansan, Friday, April 14, 1939

William Madison Bledsoe was born March 17, 1879 in Elkton, Tenn., and passed away April 11 at the Santa Fe hospital in Mulvane, Ks. He was 60 years and 24 days old at the time of his death.

He was the son of Oliver and Amanda (Honeycutt) Bledsoe and one of eight children. In later years he with his parents lived in Texas where he joined the Missionary Baptist church, of which he was a valuable member. Some years later he went to Oklahoma and there he met and married Miss Adella Ray and to this union were born four children, the oldest having died in infancy.

Mr. Bledsoe was then ordained in the ministry and served for a lengthy time, after which he gave up active preaching. He came to Kansas in 1912 with his wife and youngest daughter. Two years later the two older children came and Newton remained his home until his death, which was due to a heart attack, later followed by a stroke of apoplexy.

Mr. Bledsoe was a member of the Masonic lodge of this city and one of the past masters. He was an employee of the Santa Fe, working for the railroad until his recent illness. He was a member of the Second Baptist church and just before his last illness he filled the pulpit in the absence of the minister. He was loyal and courteous and a loving husband and gentle father. He will greatly missed by his family and the community at large.

He leaves to mourn his death, his widow three children, Mrs. Henry Oliver and Thomas Bledsoe of Newton, and Mrs. Jesse Dickinson of South Bend, Ind., a brother, Clifton Bledsoe of Longston, Okla.

Funeral services for Mr. Bledsoe were conducted Thursday afternoon at the Second Baptist church with Rev. John W. Hays of the Baptist church of Wichita in charge, assisted by the local pastore. Music was furnished by a sextet of ladies from the church choir.

Pallbearers were Ed Webb, H. Spencer, McKinley Webb, M. Linly, Joe Mewborn and R. W. Williams. The burial service was in charge of Rising Sun lodge, No. 69, at the church and grave. Interment was in Greenwood Cemetery.