The Life of Benjamin Ward J Worrall
FIRST SOLDIER BURIED HERE
Lieut. Worrall Was a, Physician at Stanley Two Years.
Lieutenant B. W. J. Worrall, late of Excelsior Springs, Mo., surgeon on the United States training ship Yantic, was killed in an automobile accident at Buffalo, New York, September September 15. 1917. Lieutenant Worrall was thirty-eight years of age, the son of Mrs. Delia J. Worrall of Kansas City, Mo., and a grand son of Liberty F. Jefferson, late of Spring Hill township, in Johnson county, Kansas.
When called into service he was practicing his profession at Excelsior Springs, Mo., and had been unusually successful. He graduated from Kansas University in 1906 and later graduated in medicine, surgery, optometry, and chiropractics. He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Delia J. Worrall of Kansas City. Mo., his widow, Mrs. Lida B. Worrall of Excelsior Springs, Mo., and his sister Mrs. W. Salter of Denver, Colo.
Dr. Worrall''s funeral services were held at the home of his mother in Kansas; City and he was buried in Olathe cemetery at noon, today, Wednesday. The funeral services at the grave were attended by a large number of the friends and old neighbors of the family from Spring Hill, Oxford and McCamish township.
The services were very sad and impressive from the fact that he was the first member of the U. S. Army or Navy to be buried at this place during the present war. His death and burial brings home to our people the fact that a state of war really exists and that soldiers and sailors, are always in danger, even while in training and before the battles really begin.
Doctor Worrall was very popular as ship''s physician of the Yantic, a U. S. training ship at the Great Lakes training station, and leaves a host of friends to mourn his untimely death. Although his death occurred very early, his family and friends may always remember, with saddened pride and pleasure, his many successes and the fact of his enlistment in the service of our Government where skill, courage and loyalty are necessary.
Olathe Mirror
September 20, 1917
Page 1, Col 5
2nd Addition, Block 1, Lot 105, N3
