Merle Ellsworth Bond, son of William H. and Clara Green Bond, was born January 11, 1899, at Farina, Ill., and passed away at the age of 28 years, 10 months, and 13 days, at Battle Creek, Mich., as the result of an automobile accident, which occurred November 24, 1927. He was the third of a family of six children, Howard of Napoleon, Ohio; Laura B. Metzger of Wood River, Ill.; Merle of Battle Creek, Mich.; Wallace and Hazel of Farina; and William H., a student at Milton College, Milton, Wis. The father departed this life December 27, 1909, since which time the mother has maintained the family home on the farm near Farina, keeping before the children the desirability of Christian character and education to meet the requirements of the age in which they were living. Under the influence of this home , all professes Christ in Baptism and became members of the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Farina, and all sought college education save Wallace, who remained at home, the faithful assistant and manager in the farm work. In 1917, Merle was graduated from the high school at Farina, in which class were Floyd Ferrill, Glen Whitford, Milton Clarke, and Oma Wells. Following service in the Student Army Training Corps at Milton College in 1918, he began a preparatory course in dental surgery at Chicago, Ill. While a student there, and later in Battle Creek, where he sought employment, he was affiliated with the churches of his faith. He loved music and sang with the male quartet and choirs of both Chicago and Battle Creek. The news of his sudden and tragic death, received at the Thanksgiving gathering of the family was a great shock to the mother, who was looking forward to a visit from her son in the near future, and to the other members of the family and the other relatives and friends. Aside from the members of his immediate family he is survived by his aged grandfather, James Green, his uncles, George, John and Roy Green, his aunt, Mrs. Gertie Tappe, and their families, of Farina, together with other relatives and a host of friends. Funeral services were held at the Seventh Day Baptist church Sunday afternoon at two o'clock, conducted by the pastor, Rev. Claude L. Hill, and burial was made in the Farina cemetery.
