Miss Gertrude E. Fast, one of Princeville’s best known and best loved characters, passed away Friday at the home here, following a long illness.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the Methodist church, conducted by Rev. A.H. Northdurft. Music was furnished by Mrs. Wilda Schaad and pallbearers were Bryon Wear, Ed Calhoun, Bryon DeBord, Frank Graves, Armond Foster and Chas. Sears. Interment was in the Princeville cemetery.

Gertrude E. Fast was born August 9, 1887, on the Fast homestead, two miles northwest of Princeville, where she resided with her parents until they moved to Princeville in 1913. She received her education first at the Henry country school and then attended Princeville high school for several years she was a prominent member of the girls’ basketball team.

Later she was employed by the Chesesman Bros. store fro almost 20 years, where she was in charge of the dry goods department. She continued her position with Earl Hibbs, who boughs the Cheseman store last fall until her illness in January.

She was a member of the Eastern Star for more than 30 years and had served in many stations in the order.

Hers was the first death in a family of ten children. The survivors are; Mrs. Rena Dart of Bellflower, Calif., Mrs. H. D. Neff of Princeville, Miss Harriet Fast of Princeville, E. N. Fast of Stamford, Conn., Dr. H. D. Fast of Mackinaw, Ill., B. N. Fast of Clearfield, Pa., E. E. Fast of Los Angeles and L. A. Fast of Beardstown, Ill. She also leaves her mother, who is past 91 years of age. In she leaves 21 nieces and nephews, of whom six are in the service.

By her death the community loses one of its best loved characters.