Funkhouser Memorial
Albert Craig Funkhouser
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LIEUT. W. E. BARTON, Washington, D.C.
I can't tell you how grieved I was to hear of Albert's death. On my arrival at
New York, I received some newspaper clippings sent me by my mother, conveying
the sad news. It came to me as a shock, as I saw Albert at Brest, and was with
him the night which he received his orders to embark the next morning. He told
me that he had been in a hospital, but apparently he had recovered and was all
right. He reached Brest after most of his organization had left, and was ordered
to take home a small detachment. Mrs. Barton and I feel for you and yours the
most profound sympathy in your loss.
When I reach Evansville the latter part of this month, if I can give you any
additional information concerning Paul's resting place, I shall feel honored to
do so.
REV. W. G. ARCHER, Constantinople (to R. H. Pennington, City)
* * * Governor Durbin has just been over (in France) and he told me that Albert
Funkhouser lost his boy (Paul) in that last terrible hour in the Argonne. I was
there somewhere, and God knows how I wish I could have been some help to him. It
is one of the regrets of my life that I was not thrown with some of the boys
from home; but, as you know, I was with the 90th Division, all from Texas and
Oklahoma, and did not see an Indiana man until after I came back to Paris. But
they were brave boys, and the valor and glory of Indiana is written all over the
bloody fields of France. Please express my sympathy and sorrow to Albert in your
own way, for I haven't words to fit a case where such extreme sorrow and sense
of loss can only be tempered in part by the feeling of pride in the rich
American blood that makes heroes of all our boys. God bless them as they sleep
so far from home under the red poppies of France.
MRS. C. W. BISSETT, Los Angeles, Cal.
* * * I want to extend to you and family my heartfelt sympathy on your great
loss of both of your loving sons. Now, my dear friends, this is such a poor
effort of consolation in words, but there is none that feel more deeply with you
in your great trial.
I just had to write a line to you as I want you both to know that 1 am, as ever,
your friend in your great sorrow. I would so much like to be able to express
myself to you both, but 1 know you will take this little effort of mine as it is
meant.
JAMES H. BLACKBURN, Attorney, Mt. Vernon, Ind.
I want to tell you that I deeply sympathize with you in your great loss. You
know the pangs of a grief that cannot come to me, but you will always have the
comfort of proud memories that I can never know.
CAPT. SCOTT R. BREWER, Indianapolis, Ind.
I have been away and just heard of your terrible loss; and Oh, how much my heart
goes out to you and Mrs. Funkhouser! Albert was one of those I was proud to feel
were my best friends. He was a thorough man and I can hardly bear to think that
he, too, has been taken from you.
The last time I saw him was in October, 1917. I had asked him in to dinner we
were both at Ft. Harrison then, he in the motorcorps and we waited and waited
and he never did show up. I did not get another chance to see him, for the next
day I was ordered to Camp Gordon, Ga. You had two splendid boys and pride that
they gave their lives for their Country can do little to assuage your grief, I
know. It may help a little to think that they were loved by many, many friends;
that they lived and died splendidly and like men. Your sorrow is a terrible one
even so, and how I wish I could in some way share it with you and help to
lighten the load.
LIEUT. LUTHER W. COBBEY, North Platte, Neb.
You all know why I am writing this letter, I know; but for me to put into
writing what I want to, I cannot. My sympathy is all with you. I only wish that
I might be of some help to you; that I might cheer you a little at this time
about all that one can do is to say that I would like to help you, for one as
far away as I can do no more.
My sympathy, my thoughts, my love, all for you.
I have thought of you all so much and talked of you so much lately. I wish I
could do something to help you. If thinking about you would only help you, you
would certainly have lots of help.
I remain, with a friend's love and sympathy.
MR. AND MRS. E. L. COTHRELL, Indianapolis
(Telegram)
Mrs. Cothrell joins with me in extending sincere sympathy in your terrible
bereavement.
DR. MARY A. CROMER, Union City, Ind.
I want to say something to you, but what can I say? Words are so empty when it
comes to expression of grief like yours. But I do want you to know that among
your large circle of friends there is one over here in Union City. When I read
of your second son's death, in the Indianapolis Star, I grieved with you. It
seemed too much to think of him arriving from overseas then having to be taken.
No doubt the wear of all his strenuous life in France reduced his resistance. We
don't know why these things come; perhaps to make the next world more real than
this. They cannot return to us but we can go to them.
With love and sympathy.
HON. SAMUEL CRUMBAKER, Washington, D. C.
I shall take this occasion to say that Mrs. Crumbaker and I desire to extend to
you and your good wife our sincere and very deepest sympathy in these hours of
your incomparable bereavement.
Next to the death of my parents, and possibly that of Col. Roosevelt, I have had
nothing to affect me more than the genuine sorrow that I have felt by reason of
the death of your estimable sons.
I know of no parents in Evansville who can in truth have better cause for
satisfaction and pride in the character and type of the children they have
reared. And after all there is no little consolation in knowing that these boys
had been reared right; and also that they died in one of the most righteous
causes in which any soldier ever fought, in any war or in any age. There is also
a consolation in the fact that they have gone to a far better world than this,
and the knowledge of this fact is destined to make those realms even more
alluring to you when the hour shall come that you are called upon to pass across
the bar. You will be ever mindful that you have treasures there of rare value,
no small part of this value being added by reason of the sacrifice which they
made, and also by reason of your sacrifice as well.
Albert, I know that through your trials you have exemplified a manly courage,
and a Christian bearing. I know this be cause I know you to be a Christian
gentlemen, and in nothing would you, even in the slightest degree, question the
will or the wisdom of the Father, though the cause cannot be conjectured by the
Finite Mind. * * *
JUDGE THOMAS DUNCAN, Princeton, Ind.
We noticed with extreme regret the untimely death of the son who first died, and
now note with deepened sorrow the death of your second son, Lieut. Albert C.
Funkhouser. Accept yourself and convey to your stricken wife the earnest and pro
found sympathy of myself and wife in your irreparable loss. We can sympathize
with you with some understanding of the terrible suffering that you have and
must endure. Fourteen years ago last January we lost a son, then just 14 years
of age. During all these long years there have been few days when we did not
have heart breaks as keen and merciless as they were the day he died. Time has
not decreased the keenness of the loss we feel, and that we know you must feel.
I have taken great comfort from many passages of Scripture that will readily
recur to you, and have found these words of Dickens literally true. He said:
"For every tear shed on these green graves some good is born, some gentler
nature comes. In the destroyer's steps there spring up bright creations that
defy his power."
A MAJ. WALLACE C. DYER, Camp Mills, N. Y.
The news concerning Lieut. Albert reached me this morning and my heart is full
to overflowing. May I extend to you the very deepest sympathy from myself and
Mrs. Dyer. I shall not attempt to tell you how deeply we feel but would like to
make you understand that we are trying to reach you through a genuine heart
message.
The news of Lieut. Paul's death came to me at the time when the mails were being
delayed and when it did finally reach, I knew you were counting so much upon the
return of the other son that I refrained from writing you at so late a date. And
then when we heard that Albert had reached our shores but was so ill we looked at
our toddler and knew just what was going on in your hearts.
Since it has to be this way, may you always be able to find solace in the fact
that your sons have done their duty as soldiers and gentlemen, and were not
found wanting when their Nation called them. To my way of thinking, a father and
mother could have no greater heritage but I know, too, it will be so hard for
you to understand and therefore my heart throbs for you tonight and will always.
REV. C. C. EDWARDS, Boonville, Ind.
It is with sincere sorrow that I see an account of Albert's sickness and death.
You have our most heartfelt sympathy. Your cup of suffering must be full to
overflowing.
We had hoped that you would have the one son spared to you. This staggers our
poor weak human reason; the questions will come, "Why? Why?" The best answer I
can find is in the last chapter in the Book, viz: (Cor. 13:12) "Now we see
through a glass darkly but then face to face; now I know in part, but then shall
I know even as I am known." It will take the light of two worlds to dispel the
darkness of this hour. It is certainly a source of gratification to you and Mrs.
Funkhouser that both of your sons died in the discharge of their duty as
patriots. May I assure you of the sympathy of my father's heart, knowing what it
meant to say to my sons, "Go, your Country calls and needs you." But I do not
know what it means to have them give up their lives for a cause that is as
sacred as any for which men ever gave their lives. I think I know how ambitious
you were for your sons and how high your hopes for them were in their chosen
profession. Had they lived am sure they would not have disappointed you. I
sincerely hope that you may find real comfort in the conscious presence in your
heart of the Holy Spirit. Who is the only one who can give real consolation in
sorrow.
Be ever assured of my prayers and brotherly regard for you and yours.
MR. H. P. EULER, Ft. Wayne, Ind.
(Telegram)
Mother and myself extend our sympathy to yourself and family.
FRED FORCHT, JR., Attorney, Louisville, Ky.
I deeply sympathize with you in your misfortune, and wish to extend to you and
your wife my sincerest sympathy.
MR. JOSEPH N. FOSTER, Lawrenceburg, Ind.
I have just learned of Albert's fate through my cousin, Mary Neiman, and wish to
extend to you and yours my heart felt sympathy at this time. Your loss is great.
I feel it, too, for I have lost a very dear friend.
In these dark hours our faith seems so weak, for we ask, "Why do these things
happen?" We do not receive an answer to this, but soon we are comforted by the
Almighty and look forward to the day when we shall all be together again.
May God in His infinite mercy draw near and comfort you all.
FOSTER & MESSICK, Indianapolis
* * * This has taken an awful toll of you and we wish you and your family to
know that we feel for you deeply.
We sincerely wish that some act or thought of ours could have made this cup pass
by you, or lighten the burden of grief which you must have.
MR. AND MRS. J. WILL GLEICHMAN, Chicago
We have been wanting to write you since your last deep sorrow, but our hearts
have been so sad and full of sympathy for you that we could not find words to
express same.
We hope you will be able to bear your loss knowing you have hosts of friends
that share your sorrow with you.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you always.
MR. RICHARD J. GRADY, Evanston, Ill.
The sad news of Paul's and Albert's deaths has just reached me. Never had any
one's death so affected me as has Albert's, for I considered him an exceptional
man as well as an exceptional friend. I have never met one I admired more and
even my own brother's death would not have made 'me sadder than the sad tidings
recording Albert's death.
The burden placed upon your shoulders by the World War is great, but I hope that
the realization that you sacrificed two real super-American boys to the cause
will give you strength to bear up under the burden and make the sacrifice less
burden some for Mrs. Funkhouser.
MRS. NORMA HAAS, South Bend, Ind.
Our deepest sympathy and sincerest love. May God comfort you, for words are
inadequate. Always your friend.
MR. JAMES W. HAUGHTON, Ft. Wayne, Ind.
I wish to express to you the deepest sympathy of both Mrs. Haughton and myself
for the loss of your gallant son. I realize how vain it would be for me to
attempt to lighten your sorrow with words, and yet we want you to know that our
hearts throb in sincerest sympathy for you at this time.
I sincerely hope that your grief may be made easier to bear by the knowledge
that both your brave boys did their full duty in upholding the honor of their
country and the rights of free men. Wherever men may hear of their services and
their unselfish devotion, their acts will inspire true patriotism and manhood in
others. The names of Paul and Albert Funkhouser deserve an hallowed place in
that bright galaxy of heroes who have made the name "America" shine as a beacon
light through all the world.
They did not lose their lives, they spent their lives, and in doing so have
shown the way to a truer, nobler manhood.
In closing I cannot fail to pay a just tribute to the noble father and mother,
of those heroic lads, who have at all times stood true and unflinchingly opposed
to everything that was un-American. Your lives and theirs are worthy the
emulation of all who would be true patriots.
May God strengthen you and help you to bear your sorrow and at last bring you
all together where only peace and justice shall rule.
MR. GEORGE H. HAUSER, Washington Court House, Ohio
It is with surprise and with a sense of personal loss, difficult to embody in
words, that I have today received from Evansville a newspaper clipping regarding
the afflictions which have come upon you and upon your household.
Without doubt, there is little or nothing which any one could possibly say to
you at a time such as this that would do much else than call renewed attention
to your great sorrow. The only reason I write to you at all just now is that
this thing strikes to the very roots of my heart, and somehow I can't quite
forbear trying to say something to you no matter how crude
or poor it may be to let you know that I am remembering you, just now, with the
heartfelt wish that I could see you, face to face and take you by the hand,
instead of trying to reach out toward you across these miles of distance.
Some time, before too great a while, I hope it may be granted me again to see
Evansville, and all my dear friends you and the rest whom I have not seen now for
well nigh fifteen months. Until that time comes I must wait in patience.
You and Mrs. Funkhouser have been called upon to make a sacrifice which is,
indeed, a great and heavy one. In this, your time of bitter sorrow and loss, I
am sure that you yet will re member the promises of God, which I firmly believe
are valid and will be fulfilled: "Sorrow may endure for a night; but joy cometh
with the morning."
Paul and Albert have paid the blood-price, to the end that freedom might not
perish from this earth. For the time being they are with God; but presently, you
and those others there about you who loved these boys so dearly and who miss
them now so sharply will be reunited with them, nevermore to be parted. Jehovah
made this promise, and I cannot find it in me to doubt that He will keep it to
the letter.
The Lord lift up the light of His countenance upon you and yours, and give you
peace.
With most faithful remembrance, deep regard, and the earnest hope that you may
soon be led toward better and happier days I am, ever faithfully your friend.
MR. JOE HERR, Lancaster, Pa.
* * * I wish to extend my most heartfelt sympathy to you and your family.
God knows you have given more than your just share.
MRS. LAURA M. HICKS, Bloomington, Ind.
When we heard of the great sorrow that has come to your home the second time, I
felt I must write you at once, but somehow my pen refused to move.
It is hard for us to understand why our loved ones should be taken from us, and
why we should meet these sorrows with a feeling of submission, and bow to the
Will of Providence, and say, "Thy Will be done."
The distance between life and death is short, at best. Gather all the sunshine
that comes your way. The kindred feeling of thousands of mothers will surely be
a comfort to you in your loneliness.
MAJ. CHARLES F. HOUGHTON, 7th M.G. Bn., Kell, Germany
* * * I can't begin to express my sympathy for you and your family at your loss,
but please believe that I am sincerely sorry for you all. I felt the loss of
Paul deeply, as he and I were together a great deal, and while I did not know Albert
I realize that he must have been a fine fellow, being Paul's brother.
MR. FRED G. JOHNS, Indianapolis
My family joins me in sending our deepest sympathy to you and your good family
in the loss of Albert.
At the time of reading of his illness in the papers and of your going to his
bedside, we hoped and prayed that his life would be spared, so that he might
return to you. But when the news finally came that he had passed away, it cast a
gloom over our entire family.
May God bless and strengthen all of you in this, no doubt, the most trying time
of your lives, are the sincere wishes of your friends.
JUDGE ROBERT S. KIRKHAM, Corydon, Ind.
When I heard of your son having been killed in battle my heart went out to you
and I thought then I would send you a word of condolence, but pressing business
engagements at the time, as is often the case, prevented me from giving due
consideration to the feeling of even my best friends.
When the sad news came that you had lost another boy in the service I felt you
had been called upon to do more than your share in the great struggle for world
freedom and I was deeply moved with compassion for you and Mrs. Funkhouser. I am
writing you this brief note with a prayer that both of you may be sustained some
way in your great bereavement.
The thought that your brave sons died in a noble cause will partially sustain
you, but the assurance that King David had when his son died that he should go
to him will afford you a hope that will be an anchor to your troubled souls.
I have learned that Time is a doctor that heals many wounds. both physical and
mental, and as the days, months and years come and go, may each new day bring
relief to your aching hearts.
MISS ELOISE MARY KOCH, Mountain Lakes, N. J.
Although I know that nothing I could do or say would comfort you, I want you to
know that I am thinking of you and that my heart is full of sympathy for you in
this, your second great sacrifice.
MISS MINNIE S. KRAMER, Henderson, Ky.
Words fail to convey my feelings of sorrow on receipt of news of the death of my
friend, your son. I know how futile it is to address words, idle words, to you
in this moment of supreme anguish, with which it has pleased God to visit you,
and I shall not say more than that the loss of your dear son is a source of deep
sorrow to the numerous friends who had the privilege of knowing him, and to none
more than, yours in deep sympathy.
HON. 0. R. LUHRING, M. C., Washington, D. C.
I have just learned through the newspapers of Lieut. Albert's death. I cannot
adequately express in words just how sorry I am for you and Mrs. Funkhouser. It
would be vain, indeed, to even attempt to gild a grief, such as yours, with
words.
I do want you to know that I sympathize most deeply with you and your family.
Source:
Funkhouser Memorial
c. 1920
pp. 76-92
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Christopher D. Myers
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September 14, 2000