Floyd Stevens, Jr.
January 29, 1924 – July 25, 1942
Niles Daily Star, July 25, 1942
Stevens, Ex-Bertrand Boy, Killed Cycling Near Elkhart
Paying with his life for a few moments of carelessness, Floyd Stevens, Jr., 18, Three Oaks, a former resident of the Bertrand community, suffered fatal injuries early this morning in a head-on bicycle-automobile collision near Elkhart.
The youth, son of Floyd Stevens, Sr., Route 1, Three Oaks, died at 1:35 this morning in Elkhart General hospital of a multiple skull fracture and other injuries suffered a half-hour earlier when the bicycle he was riding on US-33, two miles west of Elkhart, was struck by a car driven by James L. Wimberly, 45, Elkhart.
On Return Jaunt
With three companions, a cousin, Jay Frederick Stevens, 17, Rosalie Nagy, 17, and Cathryn Wolverton, all of Elkhart, the Stevens boy was returning to Elkhart after a bicycle ride to Mishawaka, when the accident occurred.
Stevens had been visiting his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. George Stevens, Elkhart, since Wednesday and was riding a new bicycle, with lights front and rear, when the two couples started out Friday night.
According to a statement made later by the Nagy girl, however, Stevens swapped bicycles with her ‘just for fun’ shortly before the accident. Riding her bicycle, without lights, Stevens put his feet on the handlebars and steered out into the center of the road to pass a parked car.
Passing Truck
At the moment Wimberly, driving in the opposite direction, swung into the left lane to pass a truck and his car struck the bicycle head-on. Wimberly, who reported he saw nothing in the road but stopped immediately when his car struck “something” and his windshield was broken by the impact was not held. Inquest arrangements are incomplete.”
Stevens was born in South Bend Jan. 20, 1924. Surviving with his father and stepmother, near Three Oaks, are two sisters, Mrs. Marie Cuthbert, Route 4, Niles, and Mrs. Enid Ramsby, Bertrand; a brother, George Stevens, at home, and the grandparents.
Rites here Monday
Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home where the services will be conducted Monday afternoon at 3. The Rev. Floyd W. Johnston, pastor of the First Baptist church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.