Rufus was a high school principal in Dixon, Kentucky, and later was a part owner and editor for The Greenville Leader-News newspaper. He sold his portion of the paper when his health began to fail, and moved to his farm in Bremen, Kentucky.
Children
Anna Louise Batsel, born 1914
Second Marriage
Eunice's middle name, LaEurah is spelled like that in the Batsel Family Bible. In fact, her parents thought they were naming her "Eunice Laura," but they mispronounced Laura.
Eunice worked as a recreational worker in the Paducah, Kentucky branch of the Work Projects Adminitration. One day she baked a pie for the minister of her church. He and his family were not at home, so she left the pie there, then went out to use the out-house. While there, lightening struck it, killing her instantly.
Children
Lee Hill Batsel, born 1923James Lovett Batsel, born 1923
William Moorman Batsel, born 1924
Barbara Batsel, born 1925
Nancy Batsel, born 1926
Linda Rufus Batsel, born 1928
Jack Henson Batsel, born 1929
Rebecca Batsel, born 1932
John David Batsel, born 1933
Obituaries
Jack Batsel, three and one half years old, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Batsel, Jr., South Main Street, this city, died at 2:30 o'clock last Saturday afternoon, following an operation for appendicitis which was performed here Friday. A funeral service was held at the Methodist Church at 4 o'clock last Sunday afternoon, conducted by Dr. A. M. Parriah, pastor of the First Baptist Church and the Rev. Roy H. Short, pastor of the Methodist Church. Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery here. Besides the parents, two brothers and four sisters survive.CARD OF THANKS
Friends, when the death angel came to our home and snatched one of the brightest jewels we possessed, Little Jack, then it was that you proved your worth and we were made to feel anew the true value of friendship. The professional skill of the physicians, the tender ministrations of the nurses, the simple prayer of a pastor in the sickroom; the tender words of sympathy, the silent handclasps, the glistening tear in the eye, the bringing of flowers, the quiet, efficient work of the undertaker, the comforting words from the ministers and the kindly deeds of neighbors, all helped us to bear, with fortitude, the crushing burden of sorrow. We appreciate all, and thank you from the depth of our hearts.
Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Batsel, Jr. and Family
MRS. EUNICE BATSEL, 55, HURT FATALLY WHILE IN BATHROOM OF MINISTER'S HOME
Paducah, Ky., July 27 (AP)--Mrs Eunice Batsel, about 55, Work Projects Adminitration recreational worker, here, was killed instantly Monday afternoon when she was struck by lightening while in the bathroom at the home of the Rev. A. P. Shepherd and Mrs. Shepherd, Lone Oak.
The house was not damaged. Mrs. Batsel, who had been stationed in Paducah only a short time, previously had worked in Murray, Bowling Green, Elizabethtown and Louisville.
BRAIN TUMOR IS FATAL TO R. W. BATSEL
Former Head of Local School Dies Monday In Louisville; Rites Held At Greenville
Funeral Here Wednesday
R. W. Batsel, Jr., 50, former resident of Dixon, and principal of the school here, died at 2:40 Monday afternoon in the Baptist hospital in Louisville of a brain tumor. Death came twenty minutes before the hour set for an operation in the effort to save his life.
He had been in declining health for some time, but became seriously ill only a few days before his death.
Mr. Batsel served a head of the school here from 1922 until 1927 and he and his family endeared themselves to Dixon people during that time. He was a loyal member ofthe Baptist church while here, a teacher in the Sunday school, a Mason, and he and Mrs. Batsel were members of the Eastern Star chapter, filling the biggest offices in the chapter for several years.
His contribution to education and to community life in general while he lived in Dixon was very great. He worked faithfully for many improvements that have been realized in the school. Those who knew him best were his most ardent admirers, and all who knew him held him in highest esteem.
He left Dixon in 1927 to assume joint ownership and editorialship of the Greenville Leader with Mack Newman and continued in this work until a few months ago when ill health caused him to sell his interest in the paper, and move to his farm at Bremen.
He is survived by his wife, eight children, Mrs. C. B. Greenwood of Central City, Lee Hill, Billy, Barbara, Nancy, Linda, Rebecca and John Batsel; one granddaughter, his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Batsel, Sr., of Central City; five brothers and four sisters.
Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the Baptist church in Greenville, with the pastor, Rev. C. H. Warren, in charge, assisted by the Rev. O. B. Bush, pastor of the Central City Baptist church, and the Rev. M. H. Stroud, pastor of the Greenville Methodist church.
Rites at the grave were in charge of the Masonic order, palbearers were his five brothers and Paul Henson, brother of Mrs. Batsel. Interment was in the Greenville cemetery.
R. W. Batsel, Jr., 50 years old, of Bremen, died at the Kentucky Baptist Hospital, Louisville, at 3 P.M. Monday. He became critically ill at his home last Saturday, and was removed to the hospital last Sunday afternoon. Funeral services were conducted at the First Baptist church here at 3 p.m. Wednesday by the pastor, the Rev. C. H. Warren, who was assisted by Rev O. P. Bush, pastor of the Central City Baptist church, and the Rev. Morris H. Stroud, pastor of the Greenville Methodist dhurch. Burial was in Evergreen cemetary here, with Masonic rites. For several years Mr. Batsel was in charge of the Boy Scouts here, and the local troop attended the funeral in a body.
Surviving Mr. Batsel are the widow, Mrs. Eunice Batsel, and seven children; the parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Batsel, of Central City, Five Brothers and four sisters. A daughter by a former marriage, Mrs. Charles Bennett Greenwood, of Central City, also survives.
For nine years Mr. Batsel was associated with Mack Newman as publisher of the Greenville Leader. For more than a year his health had been failing, and last April he sold his interest in the paper and bought a farm near Bremen to which he moved.
EDUCATOR DIES
Before R. W. Batsel, Jr. , former editor of the Greenville Leader, entered newspaper work, he was superintendant of the high school at Dixon. His several years spent in Webster county were pleasant. As head of the school system in the county seat and as a neighbor Batsel was popular. He left the school room to enter the newspaper field from which ill health forced him. He moved to the farm but instead of recovering the decline continued and he died last Mondayin a Louisville hospital. The county that knew him in youth and in his later years will be the final resting place of the former school man who turned to newspaper editing in middle life. His ideals were high, his purposes noble. He died at 50 with many plans still being made for the future. © Owensboro Messenger, Owensboro, KY
1. Rufus W. Batsel, Jr. Family Bible
2. Kentucky death certificate #16640 (Eunice Batsel)
3. Kentucky death certificate #6513 (James Lovett Batsel)
4. Kentucky death dertificate #17350 (Jack Henson Batsel)
5. Newspaper clippings (newspapers unidentified, except where noted).