HOWARD WENTZ DIES IN CAR CRASH; WOMAN INJURED

Huntington Man Victim As Cars Collide Near Barboursville
Howard Wentz, about 50 years old, of 153 Oakland avenue, was killed almost instantly when the automobile in which he was traveling side-swiped another automobile at the north limits of Barboursville last night at 7:35 o’clock and then rolled 240 feet along the highway.
            Miss Lorena G. Malcolm, of 132 Fifth avenue, an occupant of the other machine, suffered sever bruises and lacerations about the face, W.W. Smith, Huntington attorney, driver of the automobile in which Miss Malcolm was a passenger, escaped injury.
            According to witnesses Mr. Smith and Miss Malcolm were traveling east on the Midland trail at a slow rate of speed. Just at the north limits of Barboursville, a roadster driven by Wentz roared by to the left and sideswiped Smith’s machine.
            When the machines, hit, the Smith machine, a light sedan was thrown into the right embankment. The roadster rolled 240 feet up the highway and came to rest upside down pinning Wentz beneath the machine. He died almost instantly.
            The body of Wentz was removed to Heck Funeral home in Barboursville where Dr. F.X. Schuller conducted an inquiry. He returned a verdict of accidental death and placed blame of the accident on the dead man. He said Wentz suffered a crushed skull and fractures of both jaws.
            Miss Malcolm was rushed to Memorial hospital where she was treated for bruises and lacerations about the face. She was removed to her home after X-rays were taken. Physicians said her condition was not serious. Wentz is survived by the widow and one daughter.

On Tuesday, September 11, 1934 the following obituary was published in the Huntington Herald-Dispatch, page 2.  

“Howard Wentz- Fifty-one years old, of 153 Oakland avenue, an employee of C. & O. railroad for the past 24 years, who was killed almost instantly when his automobile overturned near Barboursville Sunday night, will be buried in Highlawn cemetery following services at Shelton Funeral home tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o’clock.  He is survived by the widow, Mrs. Blanche Wentz; a daughter Mrs. Catherine Chadwick of Pottstown, Pa.; a brother, Boyd Wentz of Huntington; and three sisters, Mrs. Edith Runyon of Wichita, Kan., and Misses Nannie and Loretta Wentz of Huntington.”

Buried in Highlawn Cemetery

Sent in by Martha Rehm