A Family of Four Killed

Effie May Peck was the daughter of Perrin M Peck & Olive M Wheeler. Born in Battle Creek, Michigan, she went on to marry Harold L Titus in 1892. Together then had 7 children - Charles, Naomi, Norma, Gladys, Doris, Harold & Donald.

Battle Creek Inquirer, 23 Feb 1927

courtesy of Carleen - Find A Grave

Mrs Effie May Titus, 49, of 61 Kingman Avenue, died at Lela Hospital this morning at 1:32. She is survived by her husband, Harold L Titus; four daughters, Mrs Don C Matheson, Mrs Laverne McComb and Mrs Charles Wagner, all of this city, and Mrs Loren Ruggles of Lansing; three sons, Charles Titus of Indianapolis, harold and Donald of this city; and nine grandchildren. Mrs Titus was a member of the Battle Creek Chapter OES and the LOTM. Her funeral will be held Friday afternoon at 3:30 at the First Baptist Church with Rev Stewart B Crandell and Elder Stevens in charge. Burial will be in Oak Hill.

After Effie died, Harold married Florence J Miller in March of 1928 ~~ tragically, on the 5th of August of the same year, the 2 of them and Harold's youngest sons were all killed in a train accident as they were heading out for holidays. And it's heartbreaking to discover that Harold Jr might have been driving

 

pictures courtesy of Keith Burkhead & Carleen - Find A Grave

Helena Independent, Mon, 6 Aug 1928
Family of 4 Wiped Out in Collison
Three Rivers, Mich - Aug 5 - (AP) - A family of four, a mother, father and two sons - was wiped out today when a New York Central passenger train struck their car at a crossing one mile from here.  The family was en route to Mishawak, Ind, on a vacation trip. The dead: Harold L Titus, Battle Creek Mich, his wife Florence; Harold Titus Jr, 13 and Donald Titus, 8.

newspapers.com - https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36887634/battle_creek_enquirer/?xid=865