Died in Naval Service. Radio chief Willard Wellman of the US Navy laid at rest last Sunday A gloom fell over the hearts of Friendship people last Thursday when a wire was flashed that Willard Wellman had died in a hosp. in NY. Smiles were changed to a shadow in a twinkling and sadness which was almost sickness entered the hearts of all who had known him. But four weeks prior to his writing Willard had been home on his first leave since his enlistment. He had again met and talked with his many friends and had again impressed them all with his burning interest in his work and intense patriotic desire to do his best in his line for his country. First to enlist from our town he is first chosen to pay the supreme sacrifice and the debt we the community and we as a nation owe his flower of our youth will never be forgotten and his memory will be cherished as one who went and died that we might live and have our being in a world of peace and safety. At the first call of his country for volunteers the patriotism of this spendid young man could not be leashed. His beautiful devotion to his mother which as so marked and admired by all, his love of education which he gained in our school his plesant relations with a host of friends and relatives in this place all these as dear to him as they were were only surmounted by his love of country and in April 1917 he hastened to New York to enlist. He had been a wireless enthusiast and had erected a receiving station at his home on Depot St. He knew the code and was very conversant with the theories and practices of this line of work. He first applied to the Marconi Co in NY and was taken on at once for service.His first experience was one of great privation and sacrifice. He was put aboard a coast patrol in charge of the wireless and for months went up and down the Atlantic coast on a commandered tug manned by a Captain and mate who were given to excessive liquor and at times abusive. The food was hardly fit to eat and his quarters uncomfortable nevertheless he stuck to the ship and performed his duty for the whole two months without leave. Upon landing at Providence he left and went back to NY and entered Columbia University for training. He was there about six weeks and during a good share of this time was an instructor in wireless telegraphy. Next he was given a Listening-In Station in Manhatten, a very exciting and important postion as German submarines were then infesting the Atlantic and our coast. After completing his training at this place he was placed in Bush Terminal in Brooklyn where he remained having full charge of this station until his leave as in the Navy it is called leave instead of furlough the first week of October. He remained here for 10 days Upon return he was transferred to Whitehall Station,NY where he contracted his final sickness on the 17th of Oct. He was taken to Willard Parker Hosp. in Manhatten suffering from a acute attack of influenza which rapidly developed Toxic Pneumonia causing death on Thursday last Oct 24th. The remains were brought here from the home of Mrs Wellmans sister Mrs W O Kingsbury Rev C W Posey of Hamburg officiating. Draped in the Flag and bearing his service cap which he wore the body was escorted to its final resting place in the family plot in Maple Grove Cem by the local NY Guard and a long line of loving friends and relatives. Only immediate relatives were allowed in the house owing to the prohibition of public gathering. Willard held the title of Radio chief and was commander of the men of his station. He was listed for overseas service a distincitive honor mark of which he was duly proud. He was cited by his officers as one of the most faithful competent and industrious workers in his line and it was conceded that in his fervor he had virtually worked himself to death.His loss is not only one that brings sadness and grief to the home folks but one that will be felt by the Navy of which he served until he died.He was born in North Tonawanda,NY 4 Feb 1898 the only son of Mr Harold Robinson Wellman and Mrs Victoria Wellman. His father died suddenly in Chicago in 1906. After this great blow to mother and son they went to Ann Arbor where Mrs Wellman thought to give Willard the best advantages of an education. They remained there until 2 years ago when they moved to this place the old home of both Mr and Mrs Wellman.Those from out of town who attended the funeral were Mrs AA Pearse of Pittsfield,Mass., grandmother of the deceased,Miss Cora Wellman of Pittsfield Mass, his Aunt, Mr and Mrs George Robinson, Mrs S M Norton, Mr and Mrs G Norton of Buffalo Mr W N Renwick, Mrs Helen Hills and Margaret King of Cuba NY Elaine s88897@aol.com