header 1
header 2
header 3

In Memoriam

Roland Hugh "Hugh" Irvin - Class Of 1950

Roland Hugh Hugh Irvin

Roland Hugh "Hugh" Irvin was the son of Rolland Hugh (12 September 1907-12 March 1987) and Frances Lois (Hadley) (10 September 1909-31 March 2004) Irvin.  He was born 9 June 1932, Ingham County, Michigan and graduated in 1950 from Okemos High School.  Hugh succumbed to a heart attack 14 June 1950 while swimming with friends.  He was interred Glendale Cemetery, Okemos.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Thursday 15 June 1950

OKEMOS BOY IS DROWNED

CORONER ATTRIBUTES DEATH TO HEART ATTACK; WAS SWIMMING NEAR MASON

Mason, June 15 - An Okemos youth suffered a heart attack and drowned Wednesday evening whle swimming in a pool at the William Dart home, Dart rd., just west of the city limits.

The vicitim was Roland Hugh Irvin, 18, of VanAtta rd., sheriff's officers said.  The pool is located adjacent to the residence, just north of US-127.

Juctice Roy Adams, summoned to act as coroner, said Irvin was swimming with companions when he apprently slipped below the surface.  Other swimmers summoned help when his absence was noted and Rollin and Bill Dart, Jr., dived repeatedly to finally recover the body at the deep end of the outdoor pool.

Rescue efforts were hampered, officers said, by virture of the fact it was nearly dark.  The fire department inhalator was summoned but firemen first applied artificial respiration prior to working on the body with the inhalator for more than an hour.

Justice Adams said Dr. A. V. Smith, also summoned, reported the youth had very little water in his lungs and attributed death to a heart attack.

The body was recovered in 12 feet of water, between 15 and 20 minutes after his absence was first noted about 8:25 p.m.  The inhalator crew was composed of Patrolman Kenneth Merindorf and Firemen Eric Spenny, Ray Phillips and Ralph Silsby and Hugh Silsby, Jr.

Justice Adams said Irvin was swimming with Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Cornell of R. 2, Okemos and Rosane Faye of 823 Johnson ave. Lansing.

The body was removed to the Jewett funeral home and from there to the Gorsline-Runciman funeral home, Lansing.

Irvin was born in Ingham county June 9, 1932, and graduated from the Okemos school in June of this year.  He is survived by his father and stepmother, Mr. and Mrs. Rolland Irvin of East Lansing; his mother and stepfather, Mr. and Mrs. James Salmon of Okemos; two sisters, Joyce Ellen and Virginia Mae of Okemos; two half brother, James Salmon and Terry Wayne Irvin, and his grandparetns, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Irvin of Fenton.

Funeral services will be held at the Gorsline-Rumnciman funeral home Saturday at 1 p.m.   Rev. Harold Jayne of the Okemos Community church will officiate.  Interment will be in Glendale cemetery.