On this Fifth Friday, I once more remember cowboys we’ve lost of late. This is not a definitive list, I’m sure, but rather only the ones of whom I’m aware.
Horace Autenrieth, d. January 24, 2015. S.S. F. J. Luckenbach, March 23, 1946, to Poland; S.S. Flagstaff Victory, May 18, 1946, to Greece.
Gordon W. Bucher, d. September 28, 2015. S.S. F. J. Luckenbach, June 24, 1945, to Greece.
Hartwell Benton Conklin, d. July 8, 2015. S.S. Rafael R. Rivera, August 26, 1946, to Poland.
Emlyn Harley Kline, d. July 20, 2015. S.S. Virginian, June 26, 1945, to Greece.
Paul Wesley Shetler, d. January 31, 2015. S.S. Charles W. Wooster, April 21, 1946, to Greece.
Howard E. Weaver, d. January 20, 2015. S.S. Beloit Victory, November 27, 1946, to Poland.
Lester Clayton Weber, d. April 19, 2015. S.S. Frederic C. Howe, November 15, 1946, to Yugoslavia, docking in Trieste, Italy.
I’d like to thank Gordon Bucher’s family for passing on to me his seaman’s papers and his wonderful journal from which I’ve shared stories in previous blogs. It will go with my collection to the Brethren Historical Library and Archives when I finish my writing projects so future researchers will have access to these historical documents.
I’d also like to thank the family of Alvin Zook who was included in the last “In Memorium” for naming my “Seagoing Cowboys Storytelling Project” as a memorial for Al. The funds received are helping me to continue to share this wonderful history.
Rest in peace, dear seagoing cowboys, knowing you have contributed to the betterment of the world.
The Seagoing Cowboys 
I was able to tell my father, John Cross, about Hartwell Conklin who was with him on the S S Rafael Rivera, before he passed away just this past Monday. Here is a link to Daddy’s obituary.
http://warnerfuneralhome.com/obitdisplay.asp?id=2297
I have Daddy’s diary typed up and his pictures from the 1946 trip to Poland if you are interested in them. Thanks so much for all you have done to let others know about these wonderful men that will soon all be gone.
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Cheryl, thanks for letting me know about your father. I’m sorry to learn of your loss. And I’m also sorry that I didn’t get to meet him in person. I appreciated my correspondence with him. He has shared the transcription of his diary and scans of his photos with me, so I have those already; but thanks for your offer. I’ll send you an email with additional thoughts. Thanks for being in touch.
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I’ll keep the families of the departed servicemen in my thoughts.
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Thank you, Peggy, for keeping in touch, it means so much. We are all getting older. A cowboy at 17 now 87. Nelson
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