Gunshot Wound Fatal to Don Hatfield

Owens Valley was shocked last Friday with the untimely passing of Donald Edward Hatfield, 37, 
of Bishop, who died from an accidental gunshot wound.  Hatfield was opening the front seat of 
his car about 5:45 a.m. when a loaded shotgun fell against him and discharged.  He was struck 
in the left shoulder and died about an hour later at Northern Inyo Hospital.

Hatfield had borrowed the shotgun from Frank Penney of Bishop, and was intending to return 
the gun that morning.

Leo Castagno, a neighbor heard the shot and rushed to offer assistance.  Soon several 
neighbors responded and Dr. C. L. Scott and Ed Blake rushed Hatfield to the hospital.

Joint Methodist church and Masonic rites were conducted last Sunday, May 25, at Blake Funeral 
Chapel with Rev. Alford B. Chalk officiating for the Methodist church, and Wilfred Partridge, 
past master and chaplain of Winnedumah F. & A. M. lodge, in charge.  An overflow crowd the 
largest funeral group in years in Bishop, was on hand to pay last respects.  

Interment was in Valhalla cemetery in Burbank on Monday.

Hatfield was born in Whittier Oct. 9, 1909 and had lived most of his life in Los Angeles 
county.  He attended Lancaster schools where he gained considerable fame as a scholar and 
athlete, later operating a golf club in Lancaster.  In 1942 he came to Bishop as an associate 
of Borden Diesel Service, and later worked for G. & M. Hardware and Supply Co.  The past 
spring he started his own business, Don's Door Delivery, which he had operated successfully 
until his death.  Frank Stevens of Bishop is now carrying on in his behalf, pending 
disposition of the business.

He had been an officer of Bishop Lions club, the Izaak Walton League, Rainbow Club, and was a 
member of the Masonic order, Bishop Elks Lodge 1603, and the Methodist church.

Left to mourn his passing are his wife, Mildred; two sons, Donald and Harold; a daughter, 
Judy; and his mother, father and a sister of Huntington Park.

He had been an inspiration to the youth of the community, and was perhaps better known than 
other young resident of the area.  He had been most active as a leader of Lions could 
activities, helping organize soft ball and bowling teams, in promoting street signs and maps 
for Bishop; planting trees and lawn for Northern Inyo hospital, and in youth organization in 
the community.

The Inyo Register
Bishop, Inyo County, California
Friday, May 30, 1947 - Page one

Transcribed by Pat Houser for Inyo County GenWeb, September 1, 2004