Kern County Obituaries Ernest T. Lewis Submitted by Don Stowell; 13 Feb 2008 This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter. All persons donating to this site retain the rights to their own work. Source Unknown; 29 Dec 1938 Auto Accident Kills Two, Injures Two Three Men From Golden Queen In Accident Which Cost 2 Lives Ernest T. Lewis, mine foreman at the Golden Queen and Jack Gibbs also employed there, were killed on Christmas eve a mile south of Mojave when their car side swiped a car driven by Reed Arrowsmith also of Golden Queen coming north and crashed into the front of a north bound truck and trailer which crushed them into the ditch. Wives of the two men were following in another car and witnessed the accident. They had finished their holiday shopping in Mojave a few minutes before and were on their way home to Rosamond with final preparations for Christmas dinner when the crash occurred. Gibbs who was thirty is survived by his wife Mrs Norma Gibbs. Mrs. Leone Lewis and four childlren, Ted 14, Bud 12, Bill 10 and Gaby 4, as well as his parents, five brothers and three sisters survive Mr. Lewis who was 40. Rudolph G. Maurin driver of the truck for Western Truck Line Ltd. sustained a sprained back and Arrowsmiths head was bumped. Gibbs dog, riding with them was also killed. Bodies of the two men were taken to the Mumaw Funeral Home in Lancaster pending the coroners inquest. Funeral services will be conducted for Ernie Lewis at the Church of Latter Day Saints in Riverside on Friday afternoon at one o'clock. . Services for Jack Gibbs will be conducted at Mojave Community church Thursday at 3:30 o'clock, with the Mine, Mill & Smelter Workers Union assisting Rev. Judson Oldfield in conducting the services. Burial will be in the local cemetery. Mojave Desert News; 5 Jan 1939 Jack Gibbs Buried in Mojave Cemetery by Union Comrades Mojave Community Church was unable to accommodate all who attended funeral services last Thursday for Jack Gibbs, local miner who was killed in an automobile accident on Christmas Eve in which his companion Ernie Lewis was also killed. Rev. Judson Oldfield preached the funeral sermon and Mmes. C. B. Cox and Lawrence Glintz sang. A profusion of flowers were sent by friends. Members of the Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers Union, Local 272 marched to the cemetery in a body after the church services and Union services were conducted at the grave by John Pengilley, president. Pallbearers included C. A. Cumke, superintendent of the Golden Queen mine , John Pengilley, Bill Rose, Julius Brown and LaMar Porter who were his friends and coworkers. Altho he was known here as a miner, having worked at the Golden Queen for three years, he was known for his ability as a pugilist , with many professional bouts and knockouts credited to him on his record. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, thirty years ago, he lost both of his parents and provided for himself since he was eleven years old. In the ring he was known as Gentleman Jack and the Bristeling Blond Tiger. Seven years ago he came west and married Miss Norma Staton of Eugene, Oregon. He continued boxing in San Francisco and Los Angeles until an arm injury forced him to give it up and he came to the desert to work at the mine. He was planning to undergo an operationon the injured elbow to enable him to box again, before the tragedy happened. His sister Mrs. W. W. Driskell of Brunswick, Georgia is the only surviving relative other than his wife, Mrs. Norma Gibbs, and her mother, Mrs. Flora Staton the Misses Ruby and Delores Staton, Mrs. Thelma Curtion and Norman Staton of Mojave, Neal Staton of Lancaster and Mrs. Freida Albro of Iola, Kansas.