The Muncie Morning Star, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 1941
BOOKKEEPER HANGS SELF IN APARTMENT
Mrs. Vada Harmon Despondent Since Husband's Death.
Mrs. Vada LaVaughn Harmon, 28, took her own life yesterday afternoon by hanging, while
despondent over the loss of her husband, Walter E. Harmon, who died July 21.
A sister, Mrs. Ila Ford, left Mrs. Harmon's apartment at 103 1/2 South High street at
1 o'clock yesterday afternoon and forty minutes later a neighbor discovered the door
locked. When entry was made Mrs. Harmon was found unconscious. Efforts of artificial
respiration by police and firemen failed and Mrs. Harmon was pronounced dead at 3:10
o'clock.
She was employed at the Rodgers-Yohey Auto Body Corporation as a bookkeeper and was
formerly employed by the old Thomas furniture manufacturing company. She was a native of
Randolph County but had lived in Muncie for the past twelve years. The body was removed to
the Potter-Stephens funeral home and will be returned to the home where friends may call
after 7:30 o'clock Tuesday night. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.
Surviving are the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lon Silvers, of Muncie; eight sisters, Mrs.
Jennings Meranda, of Farmland; Mrs. Harold Mull, of Grand Rapids; Mrs. George Alexander,
of Dayton; Mrs. Roy Vandervander, Mrs. Cecil Ford, Mrs. Kermit Frazee, Mrs. Horald Baker
and Miss Annabelle Silvers, of Muncie; and two brothers, John Silvers, of Muncie and
Kenneth Silvers, of Oakland, Cal.
The Muncie Evening Press, Wednesday Dec. 16, 1941
YOUNG WIDOW TAKES OWN LIFE
Mrs. Walter Harmon Hangs Self in Uptown Home.
A 28-year-old widow, apparently despondant over the recent death of her husband, committed
suicide by hanging Monday afternoon in her second-floor apartment in the 100 block, South
High St.
The woman, Mrs. Vada LaVaughn Harmon, was found unconscious a few minutes after 2 p.m.
when a neighbor discovered she had locked herself in her room. Rescue squads worked over
her almost an hour before she was pronounced dead shortly after 3 o'clock.
She had hung herself with the cord of an electric iron.
Husand Died in July.
The young woman's husband, Walter (Buck) Harmon, died last July. Mrs. Harmon was
employed at the Rodgers-Yohey Body Corporation, as a bookkeeper. She married Walter Harmon
five years ago, her husband having been employed as a plant policeman at the
Chevrolet-Muncie plant.
Since the death of her husband Mrs. Harmon had been living with a sister, Mrs. Ila Ford,
in the High St. apartment.
Surviving are the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lon Silvers of Muncie; eight sisters, Mrs.
Jennings Meranda of Farmland, Mrs. Harold Mull of Grand Rapids, Mich. Mrs. George
Alexander of Dayton, Ohio, and Mrs. Roy Vandervander, Mrs. Cecil Ford, Mrs. Kermit Frazee,
Mrs. Harold Baker and Miss Annabelle Silvers, all of Muncie, and two brothers, John
Silvers of Muncie, and Kenneth Silvers of Oakland, Calif.
Mrs. Harmon had lived in Muncie 12 years, coming here from Randolph County. The body was
removed to the Potter-Stephens mortuary.