W. R. PACK
DIED FRIDAY
Former County Merchant
Passes at River, Ky.
Nature was at the peak of October lovliness and the sun cast its warm rays of
friendliness over the scene when W. R. Pack, native of Johnson County, was laid
to rest Sunday at River, Ky. He died at 7:30 o’clock last Friday night at the
Memorial Hospital in Huntington after an illness of about two months.
Mr. Pack, formerly a Johnson County merchant and well known resident of this
section, had been living at Huntington for several years. He was a valued
employee of the electrical railway company there and for years had been a
motorman on the Huntington-Ashland run.
He was a member of one of the county’s most prominent families. Mr. Pack was the
son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Pack of Williamsport and a nephew of George W.
Pack, prominent merchant of that place.
Mr. Pack married Iuka Welch, daughter of the late Captain John Welch and Mrs.
Elizabeth Welch, a prominent steamboat pilot of the bygone "river days" and one
of the country’s best citizens, who died about a year ago. Mrs. Welch still
lives with her daughter, Mrs. Pack, in Huntington. Mr. Pack worked until about
two months before his death. He had been removed from his home to the hospital
about three weeks before death. Although his family was aware that his condition
was serious, his death was not expected at the time. He had been unusually
talkative during all day Friday.
His daughter, Mrs. Ruby Oxley, was at his bedside at the time. Other members of
his family had left just a few minutes before.
Mr. Pack had just asked his daughter to fix the bed covers when he suddenly
threw his head back and died, apparently of a heart attack, without any sign of
pain or struggle, it was said.
The friendship won in the West Virginia metropolis by the Pack family was
evidenced by the huge array of beautiful floral offerings and the large crowd
from Huntington, Ashland and other nearby points who attended the funeral and
burial services.
The funeral was conducted at River Sunday afternoon by the Rev. Arthur Green of
Ashland, at the home of W. J. Walters, life-long friend of Mr. Pack.
The Masonic lodge of Paintsville conducted the last rites at the grave under the
direction of Paul Calvert, Master.
Besides his daughter Ruby, Mr. Pack is survived by his wife, another daughter,
Mrs. C. T. Skeer, of Huntington; a brother Charles Pack of Betsy Layne, Ky., and
grandchildren, Betty Zoe and Thomas Skeer, and John Oxley of Huntington.
Besides his immediate family among those from Huntington and Ashland who
attended the services were Mr. and Mrs. Lucian Burke, Mr. and Mrs. Russell
Arrowood and daughter Carroll Jean, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Brammer; Mrs. Iuka
Thompson,; Josephus Ward; Mr. and Mrs. Herman Preston, Jeff Stafford, Mrs. Julia
Ward and others.
A large crowd from Paintsville attended.
PAINTSVILLE HERALD
THURSDAY
NOV. 5 1936
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