Poplar Branch, Aug.8—About fifteen hundred people gathered here Friday afternoon to attend the funeral of D.W. Woodhouse, prominent farmer and merchant of this place, who died suddenly at his home here Thursday afternoon at the age of 62 years.
Simple but very impressive funeral services were conducted by the Masonic Lodge of Coinjock and the Odd Fellows Lodge of Poplar Branch at the old Dunton burying ground about two miles from Poplar Branch where Mr. Woodhouse was laid to rest by the side of his daughter. Rev. E.W. Hurst Jr., pastor of Poplar Branch Baptist Church, offered prayer.
A slow sprinkling of rain began just as the long line of cars left the Woodhouse home from the burying grounds, but the shower held up just about the time that the last car drove up to the grounds.
The active pall bearers were: William Poyner and Winton Poyner of Poplar Branch; J. Edmund Woodhouse, Clinton Woodhouse and Earl M. Woodhouse of Virginia Beach; and Johnnie F. Woodhouse of Princess Anne County, Virginia. All of them were nephews of D.W. Woodhouse.
Honorary pall bearers were: E.L. Hampton, B.B. Bateman, S.D. Griggs, J.W. Poyner, W.A. Doxey, and C.C. Crank, all of Poplar Branch.
D.W. Woodhouse has been in business in Poplar Branch for 39 years and for 35 years he has served as postmaster at this place. During his long career at Poplar Branch, he has always been interested in community affairs. During this time he served as justice of the peace, member of the board of education, trustee of Poplar Branch High School, and member of the county Exemption Board during the World War. He was also an official of the Currituck Telephone Company.
Mr. Woodhouse was always a champion of good roads and good schools. He was the friend of teachers and preachers and give freely of his time and his means and his very life for the uplift of the community. He aided many who needed help in a financial way and was known for his square dealing in business.
Mr. Woodhouse was a man of positive character. He was active in politics and has his warm friends and bitter enemies. He took sides on almost every community or political issue and fought hard for what he believed to be the right cause.
Mr. Woodhouse’s death was caused by acute indigestion which provoked a heart attack. He became ill about 1 o’clock Thursday morning. His physician, W.T. Griggs, was summoned and he improved by daybreak and went down to his store about 7 o’clock in the morning. At about 11 o’clock he went to his home again when he began to feel his illness returning. He went to bed and the physician was again summoned. Just before 1 o’clock Dr. Griggs thought his patient was better and left him for a few minutes. When the doctor returned about 15 minutes later, Mr. Woodhouse was dead.
Mr. Woodhouse is survived by his widow, Mrs. Sarah Jane Dunton, who has been in ill health for several years but was able to attend the funeral Friday. One son survives him, W.D. Woodhouse of Poplar Branch who was associated with his father in business. Other immediate relatives are two sisters, Mrs. J.W. Poyner and Mrs. Mary Poyner, both of Poplar Branch; two brothers, Captain J.E. Woodhouse, retired, former keeper of the Virginia Beach Coast Guard Station; Lucien Woodhouse, keeper of the Sand Bridge Club at Sigma Virginia; and one half-brother, J.M. Woodhouse of Norfolk.
Miss Ethel Gregory, who has served as assistant at the Poplar Branch postoffice for several years, will serve as postmistress until a successor to Mr. Woodhouse has been appointed.
From the front page of The Daily Advance, Elizabeth City, N.C., Saturday evening, August 8, 1925
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92074042/1925-08-08/ed-1/seq-1/
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