Author: Family Post

From the Berks County Reading Eagle, August 24, 1947.

Four Killed as Plane Explodes in Virginia

GALAX, Va. Aug 23 [AP] A single-engine plane, groping through the mists that shrouded the rugged peaks of southwest Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains exploded and smashed into a hillside 20 miles west of here today killing its four occupants.

First reports identified the aircraft as an army ship but state police said later it was a Beechcraft civilian trainer from the McKeen Flying School in Columbus, Ga.

The dead were identified as: Maj. Neil Taylor, Greenwood, Miss.; Capt. W. M. Lavancher, Columbus, Ga.; Lieut. George Kish, Fort Benning, Ga.; and Gary Wood King, Columbus, Ga.

Note: McKeen Flying School should probably be King’s Flying School; there were no schools by the name of McKeen in the area. See King’s School of Aviation.

The death certificate of William Henry Harp lists his date of birth as September 20, 1858 and death as September 10, 1923. His death was due to paralysis from unknown causes. His spouse is listed as Minnie Harp, his father as Lafayete Harp, and his mother as Callie King. The informant was R. L. Harp.

The death certificate of Peter Green Wilkinson lists his date of birth as March 22, 1848 and death as July 31, 1926. His cause of death was uremic poisoning due to kidney insufficiency, after a sickness of several months. His spouse is not listed. His father is listed as W. G. Wilkinson and mother as Eliza Ann King. The informant was Mary Rogers.

The death certificate of Miriam Elizabeth Cody lists her date of birth as May 19, 1870 and death as March 26, 1925. Cause of death was hypostatic pneumonia, with a secondary cause of paralysis. Her spouse’s name is listed as W. E. Cody, her father as Wood King, and her mother as Alice King. The informant was Garry W. Cody.

The death certificate of Garry Wood King lists his date of birth as July 7, 1836 and death as December 8, 1925. His cause of death was influenza, of 7 days duration, with senility listed as a contributory cause. His spouse is listed as Alice King, father as Henry King, and mother’s last name as Lee. The informant was G. W. King, Jr.

The World War I Draft Registration Card of Geronimo Way King lists his date of birth as October 24, 1886. His occupation is listed as supply merchant and farmer. He notes that he has attained the rank of private in the state military and has served three years. He is of medium height and build, with dark hair and grey eyes.

The World War I Draft Registration Card of Big John King lists his date of birth as August 15, 1888. His occupation is listed as farmer, and he claims a wife and two children solely dependent upon him for support. He is of medium height and slender build, with black hair and brown eyes.