William Carroll Gower, BHS 1920

William Carroll Gower, BHS 1920

Burbank Daily Evening Review, Friday, September 9, 1932

NERVOUS BREAKDOWN CAUSES SUICIDE IN PROMINENT FAMILY

Wm. C. Gower, aged 31 years, a resident of this locality for more than 20 years and favorably known throughout the community,passes away this morning at his home at 1345 Justin street in Glendale, death being due to shooting by his own hands.

The tragedy was enacted in the garage at his own home about 6 o'clock and is supposed to have been brought about by despondency due to ill health, his physician having recently ordered him to dispose of his business and take a long rest by reason of a threatened nervous breakdown.

Mr. Gower was the son of Mrs. Florence Gower, 617 North Angeleno avenue, and a nephew of Miss Octavia Lesueur of this city. His wife, Mrs. Esther Viney Gower and three brothers survive.

The coroner's office has decided that no inquest will be necessary. Arrangements for the funeral which are in the hands of L.C. Scovern of Glendale, has not been completed at the time of this writing.
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The Los Angeles Times, Saturday, September 10, 1932

GLENDALE MAN KILLS HIMSELF

Glendale - Sept 9, Despondency caused by a nervous breakdown was held by police to have been the cause of the suicide early this morning of William Carroll Gower, 31 years of age,in the garage of his home at 1345 Justin street.

Gower, who was manager of the Doctors' Business Bureau of Los Angeles, suffered a nervous breakdown about three months ago,and had been in a despondent state since that time,according to police. 

Mr. Gower had been a resident of Southern California for the past twenty-one years. He leaves his widow, Mrs. Esther Gower; his mother, Mrs. Florence Gower, who lived at the family home here,and a brother, L. Gower of 1221 Elmwood street, Burbank. The body was removed to the L.G. Scovern mortuary here.
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Burbank Daily Review, Saturday, September 10, 1932

Funeral services were conducted this afternoon for William C. Gower who passed away suddenly early yesterday at his home, 1345 Justin avenue, Glendale.

The rites were held at 4 o'clock in St. Jude's church with Rev. John C. Donnell, rector, officiating. Interment followed in the family plot in Grand View cemetery.

The deceased was born 31 years ago in Marshall, Missouri. When a child, he moved with his parents to Durant, Oklahoma, but twenty-two years ago came to Burbank, where the family located at Hollywood Way and Victory boulevard, then ranch property. For several years he had conducted a doctors' business bureau with offices in Los Angeles. Lodge affiliations included membership in the Burbank Masonic order.

Immediate survivors  of the young man are his wife, who was Ester Viney; his mother, Mrs. Florence L. Gower; a sister, Mrs. Florence Edgerly, and two brothers, Lesueur and James Gower, all of this city.