The  Shelbyville  Republican
Monday January 24, 1944
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LIEUT.  KERCHER  IS
VICTIM  OF  PLANE  CRASH
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          First Lieutenant Dale Kercher, age twenty-five, son of  Mrs. Estel McDonald, of 619 west South street, and husband of  Mrs. Donna Kercher, of 2108 North Meridian street, Indianapolis, was killed in a plane crash off the Maryland coast Saturday, according to information received from his commanding officer Saturday night.
          Lt. Kercher was a test pilot and a plane he was piloting on a check-up flight crashed into the ocean a short distance from Baltimore, the officer said, sinking without a trace.  The officer told  Mrs. McDonald that he was flying in another plane accompanying the local officer when the crash occurred, and he circled the crash site as long as possible and was there when crash boats arrived to continue the search.
          The officer told Mrs. McDonald that the official War Department telegram announcing the fatality was enroute here, and said he called to prepare them for the news.  He telephoned twice during the evening.
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14TH  COUNTY  CASUALTY
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          The casualty, which is the county's fourteenth in the present war, was almost identical to the death last week of  Lt. Charles Eades, who died in a crash during a routine flight over the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday.
          Lt. Kercher's wife, the former Miss Donnna Kersey, a registered nurse at Indianapolis, is here with the young man's mother.  Lt. and Mrs. Kercher have a son, Dale Charles Kercher, Jr., who was born only last October.
          The officer graduated from Shelbyville high school and was employed in the engineering department at the Chambers Corporation here and the J.D. Adams Company at Indianapolis.  Becoming interested in flying, he enrolled in a Civil Aeronautics Authority course at Indianapolis and then took additional training at the Roscoe Turner school, where he first earned his pilot's license.  He then enlisted in the Army Air Forces in March of 1942 and trained in Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi, and graduated with his commission at George Field, near Vincennes, Indiana.
          He was assigned as a test pilot at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, and then was transferred to Baltimore where he was working with the Glenn L. Martin Plane Company testing medium and light bombers.
          Lt. Kercher was born June 4, 1918 at Wolcott, Indiana and a son of  Charles W. and Bertha Kercher, and moved here with his parents when he was ten years old.  His father was killed in an accident during the construction of the Methodist building here.
          Surviving with the wife and child are the mother; his step-father, Estel McDonald, and three sisters, Mrs. Anna Copple  and Mrs. Mae Brunner, of this city and  Mrs. Helen Crosby, of Indianapolis.  [Buried Forest Hill Cemetery]
Submitted by Barb Huff


The Shelbyville Republican
 Monday February 11, 1929
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FALL  OFF  ROOF  PROVES  FATAL
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Injuries Received by Charles Kercher, 43, Thursday,
Result in Death
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SUSTAINED  CRUSHED  SKULL
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Deceased Man Had Been Resident of Shelbyville
Since October, 1927
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          Charles W. Kercher, 43 years old, 103 First street, died at the Major hospital at noon Sunday from injuries he sustained in a fall at the new Methodist office building Thursday morning at 9:00 o'clock.
          Mr. Kercher fell from the roof of the shed constructed on the sidewalk along the east edge of the building while he and some other workman were tearing down the structure.  The distance of the fall was about fourteen feet.  It was reported by workmen who saw the accident that Kercher's head struck a radiator, the right side of his skull being crushed.  He never regained consciousness.
          He and his family came to Shelbyville from Wolcott, White county, Indiana, in October, 1927.  He had been employed by the Shelby Construction company on the new Methodist building since the work on this building began. Mr.  Kercher was born in Rankin, Illinois, April 4, 1885, being 43 years, 10 months and 6 days of age at the time of his death. His marriage to  Miss Bertha Schott  took place on December 23, 1908.  He is survived by the widow, three daughters, and a son.
          The daughters, all of whom are living at the home on First street are:  Mrs. Anna Basey,  Miss Helen Kercher,  and  Miss Mae Arline Kercher.  The son, Dale, also lives at the home. 
In addition to these Mr. Kercher leaves three brothers and two sisters:  John,  Edward  and  Adam Kercher, all of Wolcott;  Mrs. Rose Bauman, of Rensellaer, and  Miss Tillie Kercher, of Elgin, Illinois.
          The funeral services will be held at the late home at noon tomorrow, a pastor of one of the Wolcott churches officiating.  The burial will be in the Forest Hill cemetery.  Morris Sleeth is the undertaker in charge.
Submitted by Barb Huff

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