Phillip Leroy Erlewine

9-Year-Old Phillip Erlewine Dies Tuesday of Polio

Phillip Erlewine, 9, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Erlewine, died of polioensephalitis Tuesday afternoon while being rushed to Douglas to the aid of an iron lung. He was a fourth grader in Lusk Schools. It is believed the first death occurring in this county from polio.

Five weeks ago the child had the mumps and never recovered his health after that, having been a patient at the Lusk Hospital two different times since then. His condition became alarmingly worse on Easter Sunday and he was taken back to the hospital and on Tuesday the effort was made to get him to the iron lung in Douglas but he died as they arrived in that city. The trip was made in the Peet ambulance accompanied by his physician, the child's father, Kenneth Erlewine and Paul Thurmond.

Philip Leroy Erlewine, was born September 1, 1940 in Lusk the son of Kenneth and Lucille Erlewine. Beside his parents he is survived by a two-year-old sister, Shelia Lu, his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Morgan and Mrs. Ada Erlewine, five uncles, Glenn, John and James Erlewine and Paul and Voyne Morgan all of Lusk and two aunts, Blanche Erlewine of Lusk and Mrs. Ernest Mass of Casper. He is also survived by a number of cousins and other relatives residing here.

Funeral services will be conducted from the Peet Chapel on Thursday afternoon, April 13 at 2:00 p.m. by the Rev. H. T. Clark. The Cub Scouts of which he was a member will attend in a group.

The casket has been hermetically sealed and the services will be held under the approved regulations of the state board of health.

The Lusk Herald
April 20, 1950
Services Held for Phillip Erlewine

Last rites for 9-year old Phillip Erlewine, polio victim, were conducted from the Peet Mortuary on Thursday afternoon at two o'clock with the Rev. H.T. Clark, pastor of the First Baptist Church officiating.

The songs "Safe In The Arms Of Jesus" and "Jesus Loves Me" were sung as duets by Mrs. A.F. DeCastro and Miss Bessie Lumsden accompanied by Mrs. H. J. Templeton.

Members of the Cub Scouts and the fourth grade class attended the services in a group, as also did members of the Elks Lodge.

Interment was made in the Lusk cemetary and the casket bearers were Virgil Quinn, H.W. "Huck" Baldwin, Ben Wolfe and Joe Leimser.

Phillip Leroy Erlewine son of Kenneth and Lucille Erlewine was born in Lusk, Wyoming on September 1, 1940. Passed away from the Douglas hospital April 11, 1950. Age nine years, seven months and eleven days.

He lived all his life here in the town of Lusk. He was a member of the fourth grade class in the grade school, Miss Bessie Lumsden, teacher.

He belonged to the Cub Scouts and Mrs. E.L. McKnight was his Den Mother. He attended Sunday School at the Baptist church and Mrs. Polly Ladshaw was his teacher.

In spite of the many physical handicaps he took great interest in life. He enjoyed all kinds of sports. He made many friends especially among the little folk his own age.

Philip took seriously ill March 7, and entered the hospital three weeks later. After one week he returned home and seemed much better for a short time, then became very ill again and was returned to the hospital April 9, and passed away two days later.

He is survived by his father and mother and one sister, Shelia, his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Ada Erlewine of Lusk, and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Morgan of Lusk, and many aunts and uncles and other relatives and a host of friends.

Among the out-of-town friends and relatives here for the services were Mr. and Mrs. Erni Mass of Casper, Mrs. A.B. DeCastro and Mrs. Paul Morgan of Hay Springs, Nebr., and Mrs. Edith Bassford of Torrington.

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