PAUL FUNKHOUSER WINS GOLD STAR
Evansville Courier, November 20, 1918

Local Officer After Taking Part in Numerous Battles
Doesn't Live to See War's End

PARENTS ARE NOTIFIED

Young Man Was One of the Most Popular in City
and Won Lieutenancy in Short Order

Had Happy Faculty of Putting Experiences in
Writing and Kept Friends Here Informed

Another of Evansville's valiant sons has answered the call of his country and has given his life after brave fighting on the front-most line of battle. A telegram received last night by Mr. and Mrs. Albert W. Funkhouser, 920 Washington Avenue, stated that Paul Taylor Funkhouser had been officially reported as killed in action on Oct. 20.

Paul Funkhouser was one of Evansville's most popular young men and word of his death spread like wildfire last night among his old friends and numerous acquaintances. Since his arrival overseas, in April, Lieutenant Funkhouser has kept his family and friends well posted as to his whereabouts and his activities in the war. Many of his interesting letters have been published, along with those of his brother, Albert, who is also in France.

Lieut. Funkhouser was born Feb. 21, 1895, and was a pupil in the Evansville schools. In the Fall of 1915 he entered North western University. In 1916 he entered the law department of Indiana University at Bloomington, but in May 1917, left school to enter the officers' training school at Ft. Benjamin Harrison, from which he graduated with the commission of second lieu tenant on Aug. 17.

Sailed on March 30

He was sent at once into the Third Division with the 59th Infantry assigned to the Regular Army for training at Gettysburg. Shortly after this, he was transferred to the Seventh Machine Gun Battalion at Camp Greene, going later to New York, from which point he sailed on March 30, 1918. Lieut. Funkhouser landed overseas on April 13.

While in New York he was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Lynn McCurdy and Miss Margaret Burns, formerly of this city. It was by Mrs. McCurdy and Miss Burns that he was taken in a Ford roadster at 3 o'clock in the morning of a gray day to the boat on which he sailed, Mr. McCurdy himself being on duty and unable to see his old friend aboard ship.

Lieut. Funkhouser went at once into battle after his arrival in France, being a member of the First American Army unit at Chateau Thierry. One of young Funkhouser's letters tells vividly of the Battle of Chateau Thierry and the Second Battle of the Maine, in which he saw active service. Later he was sent to the Verdun sector and played a part in the reduction of the St. Mihiel salient.

His death occurred, in all likelihood, at the Battle of the Meuse, the last great battle of the war. A letter received by Mr. and Mrs. Funkhouser from Gen. March, chief of staff, told of the location of their son on this sector, and was dated Sept. 26. Besides a lieutenant, young Funkhouser was a liaison officer in the machine gun battalion, it being his duty to nest the big guns.

Last Letter Oct. 12

The last letter received by the parents of the boy was writ ten on Oct. 12, and was mailed Oct. 16. Only a few days ago an envelope containing a Red Cross Christmas label was received by the mother. The envelope was dated Oct. 24.

The parents and relatives of the local boy were prostrated with grief at the word of the death last night. Besides his father and mother, Lieut. Funkhouser is survived by a brother, Lieut. Albert C. Funkhouser, and a sister, Alta, a pupil at the Central High School; and a younger sister, Ruth, a pupil at Stanley Hall.

Lieut. Albert Funkhouser when last heard from was at the Champagne front. This letter was dated Oct. 19.

Just an hour before the telegram arrived, bringing its sad news, Albert W. Funkhouser, father of the dead boy, was presiding at a dinner given at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. In his talk to the men who were initiated yesterday evening he mentioned the epochs and events in a man's life which he remembers with greatest pride.

"In my life," he said, "I remember best my first red-topped boots, my first day at school, my first sweetheart and my marriage. Then the birth of my two sons, the day I joined the Masonic order, the time when my boys went into service for their Country. Proudest of all will be the day when those two boys of mine come marching home."

PAUL FUNKHOUSER KILLED IN FRANCE
Evansville Journal-News, November 20, 19l8

Lieutenant Dies in Great Action on Battlefield in Late October

Lieut. Paul Taylor Funkhouser, the officer son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert W. Funkhouser, was killed in action Oct. 20, according to word received Tuesday night by his parents.

Word of the death of the young officer came as a shock to the thousands of Evansville people who had made them his friends by his most delightful and informing letters from France after he had gotten into the front lines, and had participated in many of the initial engagements of the American troops. These letters were undated and from "somewhere" in France, but one could keep in touch with the action described through reading the news reports of battles that were detailed in the press reports.

Paul Funkhouser was one of the most popular men in Evansville.

Lieut. Paul Funkhouser was born Feb. 21, 1895, and was a product of the Evansville public schools. He spent a term at Northwestern University in 1915 and in 1916 went to Indiana University, law department, leaving there in 1917 to go into an officers' training camp at Ft. Benjamin Harrison, from which he was graduated a second lieutenant in August last.

He was sent at once to the Third Division with the 59th Infantry' assigned to the Regular army for training at Gettysburg. He was then transferred to Camp Greene for instruction in the machine gun service, going thence to New York, sailing on March 30, 1918, for France, landing early in April. In New York, Lieut. Funkhouser was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Lynn McCurdy, the former having been a chum from early boyhood. Mrs. McCurdy and Miss Margaret Burns drove Lieut. Funkhouser to the boat, and bid him farewell on that morning when he sailed for the scene of the great conflict.

Arriving in France, Lieut. Funkhouser went almost immediately to the front with the American troops, being a member of the first machine gun battalion that took part in the Chateau Thierry battle, and also in the Second Battle of the Marne. Later he was in the Verdun sector and took part in the St. Mihiel battles. It was possible that his death occurred in the last great battle of the war, known as the Battle of the Meuse, a letter from their son having been written while located in this sector, dated Sept. 26.

Besides his parents, Lieut. Funkhouser leaves a brother, Lieut. Albert C. Funkhouser, now in France; and a sister, Alta, a pupil at the Central High School; and a sister, Ruth, who is a pupil of Stanley Hall. Albert C. Funkhouser's last letter was written from the Champagne sector, dated Oct. 12.

The parents, as well as the other relatives, are prostrated by the news. Their hopes had been high that both sons might return home soon, since the way to peace is now open, and the anticipation for a family reunion often spoken of by the young soldier was running high in the family circle. While at the Scottish Rite dinner on Tuesday night, Mr. A. W. Funkhouser, an hour before the receipt of the sad news, spoke of the tact that the return of his two boys from the war with honorable records would be the proudest moment of his life.

LIEUT. FUNKHOUSER KILLED IN BATTLE
Evansville Press, November 20, 1918

Paul Funkhouser Killed in Last Weeks of Fighting

After participating in the greatest battles of this world war - Chateau Thierry, the Second Battle of the Marne, fighting on the Verdun and later in the St. Mihiel's sectors - Lieut. Paul T. Funkhouser, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert W. Funkhouser, 920 Washington Avenue, was killed in action Oct. 20, in one of the last great struggles of the war, the Battle of the Meuse.

He was 23 years old.

Official news of the death of their son came to Mr. and Mrs. Funkhouser, from Washington, Tuesday night.

Young Funkhouser went to Evansville schools and graduated from the local high school in the class of 1915. He entered Northwestern University in the Fall of 1915, and 1916 became a student at Indiana University, in the law department.

He entered the first officers' training school at Ft. Benjamin Harrison in May, 1917, and was commissioned second lieutenant in the Regular Army in August. He was assigned to the Third Division, 59th Infantry, Regular Army, and went to Gettysburg for Regular Army training. March 30, 1918, he sailed, arriving overseas in April, where he went into battle at Chateau Thierry in May.

Was Liaison Officer

He was liaison officer besides being lieutenant in his machine gun company.

Lieut. Funkhouser after several months finally located his brother, Lieut. Albert C. Funkhouser, was near his regiment. Both boys wrote home at the time. Paul told his parents how well Albert looked and how much it meant to both of them to be able to meet. Albert wrote that "Paul was looking fine and every inch a hero."

Lieut. Albert Funkhouser's last letter was dated Oct. 19 and written from the Champagne sector.

The last letter received from Lieut. Paul Funkhouser was written Oct. 12 and received only a short time before his Christmas label.

Besides his parents, Attorney and Mrs. Funkhouser and his brother, Albert, Lieut. Funkhouser leaves a sister, Alta, a Central High School girl, and Ruth, a pupil at Stanley Hall.

OUR OWN KNIGHTS
Editorial, Evansville Courier, November 21, 1918

The name of Paul Funkhouser will be a golden memory and the story of his brave youth will live as long as Evansville lives.

His virtues were those of the days of chivalry, a young knight of the Twentieth Century - brave, valiant, gallant.

Such as he, won Liberty for the World.

Crushed as are those who loved him, by this sacrifice of the last battle, sad as it is to pay honor to the dead instead of the living, it is a solace to think that he did not die in vain.

The men, women and children of America owe a great debt to the heroes of the great war, and to Paul they will pay it in loving memory and gratitude, while his example will be one for Evansville. youth to emulate.

BAYARD PARK CHURCH
Evansville Journal-News, November 23, 1918

Corner Evans and Blackford Avenues; Rev. J. E. Murr, pastor. In the morning the pastor will preach on the theme, "The Supreme Sacrifice." This will be a memorial service in honor of Paul Taylor Funkhouser, and in the evening, at 7:30, "The True Estimate of Life." Sunday School at 9:15 A. M.; also at this hour, there will be a short memorial service in honor of Paul Funkhouser. * * * Every one invited.

CHURCHES MOURN THEIR HERO DEAD
Evansville Courier, November 25, 1918

Four Congregations Hold Memorial Services for Local Boys Who Recently Fell

GOLD STARS ARE PLACED

Paul Chamier, William Hayden, Lieut. Funkhouser and Capt. Loer Are Honored

Tributes Are Paid to Men by Pastors - Allied Flags Are Decorations

Gold stars, patriotic music and addresses, the display of the Star Spangled Banner, the flags of the Allies, floral tributes and obituary records marked the four memorial services held for the city's most recently fallen heroes, in churches of the city yesterday.

* * * * *

MEMORIAL FOR LIEUT. FUNKHOUSER

Had Lieut. Paul Funkhouser lived he would have been in the expedition that is crossing the Rhine under Maj. Gen. Dickman and is now taking possession of the fortress at Coblenz. This story developed at the memorial honors held for the valient soldier at Bayard Park M.E. yesterday morning. For the battalion of the Third Division, in which Lieut. Funkhouser fought so many battles and which was decorated for distinguished bravery and efficient service, is now going over the Rhine.

Bayard Park Church was crowded to its utmost capacity yesterday with friends of the popular young soldier who fell in action Oct. 20. A feature of the services was the reading of excerpts of a few of the 200 letters, telegrams and communications that have been received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert W. Funkhouser 920 Washington Avenue. Levi Hooker read from a dozen or more of the messages.

The communications from Rev, and Mrs. C. E. Edwards and Dr. L. F. Freeland, former pastors while Paul was growing up in the church, were read by the present Bayard pastor, Rev. J. Murr. Lieut. Albert Funkhouser's last letter home also was read. A record of Paul's life and his military achievements was given by Rev. Murr just preceding the sermon, entitled "The Supreme Sacrifice."

The immediate relatives present were the parents and two sisters, Alta and Ruth; and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Funkhouser, brother of the soldier's father; Dr. and Mrs. Albert T. Funkhouser, and Paul's grandmother, Mrs. Sarah Craig, of Chicago.

The parlor of the home is almost filled with flowers and missives that tell of sympathy for the family.

CITY'S CHURCHES REMEMBER HEROES
Evansville Journal-News, November 25, 1918

Four Congregations Hold First Memorial
Services for Dead Soldiers

Memorial services were held in four Evansville churches Sunday, for four of the gold star heroes.

In honor of Lieut. Paul Funkhouser, news of whose death was received in the midst of the rejoicing over peace, Bayard Park M. E. Church held memorial services, during which parts of the letters which Lieut. Funkhouser had written his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Funkhouser, were read by Levi Hooker.

Rev. Murr delivered the sermon, "The Supreme Sacrifice." The boy's parents, his two sisters, Ruth and Alta; his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Funkhouser; his grandmother, Mrs. Sarah Craig, of Chicago; and his cousins, Dr. and Mrs. Albert T. Funkhouser, and their son, Arthur T., were present.

* * * * *

TO HAVE MEMORIAL SERVICE AT HIGH SCHOOL
Evansville Press, November 25, 1918

Philip Loewenthal and Jack Brand will be the speakers for a memorial chapel service in honor of Capt. Lige Worsham and Lieut. Paul Funkhouser, to be held at Central High School Wednesday morning. Special music is to be furnished by the newly organized orchestra, and the military service will be used at the close of the hour.

CHAPEL, WEDNESDAY, November20
The Centralian, November 26, 1918

Mr. Benezet urged every one to be out at the Thanksgiving game and to bring friends and relatives. At this time last year 300 athletic tickets had been sold and this year only 240. He also spoke of the death "on the field of honor" of Lieut. Paul Funkhouser, a former Central High School student and star football player.

Central High School has again been plunged into gloom by the news of the death of Lieut. Paul Funkhouser. Our sorrow is mingled with a sense of pride as we place a fourth gold star in our service shield for one more son of Central High School who gave his life that future generations may live as free men in peace and security.

LIEUT. BLEMKER TALKS TO STUDENTS
Evansville Press, November 27, 1918

* * *

Memorials for two more Central High School boys who have given their lives in service were held. Jack Brand paid tribute to the memory of Capt. Lige Worsham and Philip Loewenthal spoke in honor of Lieut. Paul Funkhouser. Gold stars were placed beside their names on the shield by Assistant Scoutmaster Bennett Montgomery, and the entire audience stood while taps were sounded, as an impressive conclusion to the service.

PAUL FUNKHOUSER IS KILLED IN BATTLE
Corydon Republican, November 28, 1918

Son of Former Harrison County Citizen Gives Life for the Flag

Lieut. Paul Funkhouser, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert W. Funkhouser, of Evansville, was killed in action in France Oct. 20. His father, who was born and reared in Harrison County and served a term as prosecuting attorney of this circuit, is now a leading attorney of Evansville. The Evansville Courier of November 20 prints a picture of the gallant young man who gave up his life for his country, and says: (Here follows Evansville Courier article, November 20, 1918.)