Car Skids, Throwing Robert Boulis Out, Companion Spared

Robert Boulis, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Raleigh Boulis, died Monday morning, Oct. 6, in the Heller Memorial hospital in Napoleon of injuries sustained when the car he was driving overturned near Bortel’s Grove on Route U. S. 24. The accident occurred Saturday night., Oct. 4, at about 11 p. m.

According to reports, Robert and Junior “Bud” Spiess, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Spiess, were traveling westward on U. S. 24 on their way home when the accident occurred. The youths were traveling at a moderate rate of speed when the car skidded on the wet pavement, turned sideways, rolled completely over and landed on its wheels facing east.

Robert was thrown completely out of the car, suffering fatal injuries when he landed on the road. Hospital reports indicated that his death was due to a brain concussion. His companion, Bud Spiess, miraculously escaped injury when he was thrown into the back seat of the car as it overturned.

Young Spiess suffered slightly from shock and was irrational for a short time after the accident, but did not receive any serious injuries. Several persons living near the scene of the crash heard the noise and hastened to the scene. Boulis was removed to the Napoleon hospital, where he succumbed.

Bob Boulis was a graduate of the local high school with the class of 1940, and prior to the time of the accident had been employed at the Lippincott plant in Napoleon. Junior Spiess was a graduate here with the class of 1939.

Funeral services were held for the deceased youth at St. John’s church on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 8, at 2. Rev. L. L. Young was the pastor. Interment was made in Young's cemetery here.

The youth is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Raleigh Boulis, one sister, Lorena, and one brother, Russell; by his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Anna Boulis, and maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. George Graner, besides numerous other relatives here.