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Vanderford was riding in a car driven by his son, traveling west on County Road 800S. It was reported that the car failed to stop for Indiana 9 and was struck by the southbound car operated by Jack S. Ford, 19, Leesburg R 2. Ford was taken to Parkview Hospital with severe lacerations to his face and head, fractured right ribs and abrasions.

In the crash, both father and son were thrown from their 1962 Ford sedan. The car upset in the southwest ditch. The Vanderford car was not equipped with seat belts, which investigating officers Deputy Sheriff Harold Taulbee and State Trooper Larry Poling said could have reduced their injuries. Ford's car had seat belts but they were not in use.

According to the county coroner, Dr. John S. Wilson, Roy E. Vanderford, for 24 years an employee at the American Hoist and Derrick Company, Inc. Fort Wayne, where he was a foreman in the steel fitting department, died en route to the hospital of multiple internal injuries including a crushed chest and also head injuries. His body is at the Smith Funeral Home here.

The 1964 Vanderford Ford (Falcon) was totally damaged, being struck in the right side by the southbound 1964 Chevrolet coach (Corvair) operated by the Leesburg man. Police said also that the Leesurg man's car was a total loss and fixed its approximate value at $1500.

Vanderford, the father of nine children, was a Troy Township native, born on November 22,1915, a son of Benona and Elsie (Johnston) Vanderford.

He was graduated from the Columbia City High School with the class of 1934 and became a employee of the Blue Bell Inc. For the past 24 years he has bee employed at American Hoist and Derrick Company, Inc., at Fort Wayne, where he was a foreman in the steel-fitting department.

On March 4, 1939, he was married to Bernice Kneller. They established their first home in Etna-Troy Township, and for the past 17 years have resided on R 7 three miles east of Columbia City. In addition to his work in Fort Wayne, Mr. Vanderford engaged in general farming.

He was a member of the Union Township Volunteer Fire Department, the Union Township Farm Bureau, and the AFL-CIO.

The surviving relatives, in addition to his wife, Bernice, included five sons, Herbert, now stationed with the Air Force in Labrador; Richard, R 7; James, R 1, Thomas, at home; Randall, at home; four daughters, Mrs. Barton (Doris) Swisher, R 7; Mrs. Estavon (Martha) Vasquez, Cherry Point, N. C. ; Janice and Carol, both at home; eight grandchildren; and one sister, Mrs. Barney (Hannah) Swieringa, Spring Lake, Mich. One sister, Mrs. Archie (Chloe) Pratt, has preceded him in death.

Obituary in Columbia City Post Monday April 4,1966, Pg 1. Buried Keister Cemetery, Whitley County, Indiana.">

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