Decatur High School - Ravelings Yearbook (Decatur, IN)

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Zin gmiemuriexm God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform, - He plants His foot-steps in the sea, And rides upon the storm. Deep in unfathomable mines Of never failing skill, He treasures up His bright designs, And works His sovereign will. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take, The clouds ye so much dread Are big with mercy, and shall break In blessings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace, Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face. His purpose will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour, The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower. Blind unbelief is sure to err, And scan His work in vain: God is His own interpreter, And He will make it plain. -WM. COWPER. MARTIN F. WORTHMAN Mr. Worthman was born on a farm in Preble township, Adams County, on April 20, 1883. He was the son of Lewis and Sophia tBloem- kerj Worthman and was the oldest in a family of eleven children. Mr. Worthman attended the public schools of Marion, the Angola Normal School, and the State Normal School at Terre Haute, from which he graduated in 1910. Prior to this he had taught in Preble Township. In 1908 he was made principal of the West Ward School in Decatur. During 1910 and 1911 he was associated with grade and high school work, and in 1912 he was made principal of the Decatur High School, where he taught mathematics. In 1916 he became superintendent of the Decatur Schools and under his supervision were five schools, the high school, Cen- tral, West Ward, North Ward, and South Ward, having a total enrollment of 1,000 pupils. In recent years Mr. Worthman took post graduate work at the University of Chicago. 1

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BLANCHE McCRORY, Commercial Subjects. International Business College, Ball State Teachers' Collegeg School Treasurerg Faculty Business Manager of Ravelings Staffg Senior Class Advisor. RAVELINGS FACULTY I SIGURD ANDERSON, Commercial Subjects. Ball State- Teachers' College, B. S., Sponsor Commercial Clubg Faculty, Advisor, Ravelings Staff. ANGIE MACY fMrs.J Secretary to Superintendent i 14 AMOS KETCHUM, Manual Arts, History. Ball State Teachers' College B. S. Indiana Extension Course Graduate Work. DOROTHY CHRISTEN, Secretary to Principal

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On September 26, 1907, Mr. Worthman was married to Miss Lydia Fruechte of Preble Township. They had three children, Mildred, Lillian, and Robert. Seven brothers and sisters survive Mr. Worthman. Mr. Worthman was an active member of the Zion Reformed Church. He served in the Sunday School as superintendent. Mr. Worthman al- ways responded whole heartedly to any task he was called upon to do. In fraternal circles Mr. Worthman was a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge, the Fort Wayne Scottish Rite, a past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias and member of the Loyal Order of Moose. Mr. Worthman was also a member of Decatur Rotary Club. He was chairman of the boy's work committee and his leadership in this respect was depended up- on by the club members. Mr. Worthman will always be remembered for his interest in young people. Excerpts from Reverend C. W. Prugh's funeral 'meditation How does a man reach the guarded heights of honor and esteem upon which he stood? Not by setting out in the world to make money. Nor can it be done by becoming a dictator over other men. One does not reach eminence by any kind of academic success or by mere intellec- tual power or prominence. No, the position which this man occupied in the hearts of thousands of people was reached by the path of unselfish service, by going about doing good. Service without any thought of per- sonal profit or gain, but because he possessed a perpetual passion to help somebody. Why are there tears in every schoolboy's eyes today and an aching in their hearts? Because everyone of them knew that their super- intendent had done his job not for himself but for them. He was not in this education business to get as much as he could but rather to give back to the world, to the boys and girls, infinitely more than he ever received. It was clear to all people that the rule of his life was not his own, but that it had been turned over to One who is more interested in making Christian men and women out of boys and girls. He had learned from his Master that in the Kingdom of Heaven he that is truly great is the servant of all. Let him be remembered by those of us who were fortun- ate enough to know him as one who literally laid down his life for his friends. 10