Charles Lincoln Surprise, Sr. (1911-1987)
 graduation |
 with wife |
 1955 |
A copy of the following newspaper article, hand-identified as being from the Jan. 3, 1957, Tribune, was found in a scrapbook owned by Town Historian Richard Schmal:
- The Cedar Lake-Lowell communities mourn the death of Ernest Taylor, 64, who died at St. Margaret's hospital, Hammond, at 8:10 p.m. Thursday evening, Dec. 27, following injuries suffered about 5:20 when hit by a car as he crossed the Lowell-Cedar Lake road going from his home to that of his son's, Clyde and family.
The accident occurred just north of Reeder Road. This extremely hazardous unlighted road has continuous deep dips for a two-mile span which limits visibility. The area is posted at 30 miles per hour.
Driver of the car was Charles Surprise, publisher of the Lowell Tribune, accompanied by his wife, Lucile. They were enroute to Cedar Lake, Crown Point and Hebron to deliver Tribunes to postoffices. A young hitchhiker in an ROTC uniform who was standing on the edge of the road at the base of the hill below Reeder Road, said the Surprises were traveling about 20 or 25 miles per hour when they passed him. However, contemplating on picking him up, they slowed almost to a stop, then decided the ride wouldn't be far enough to help him as they planned to stop at Annello's for supper, as is their usual Thursday evening custom. As they neared the crest of the hill they met a car traveling south. As the Surprises' car mounted the hilltop and the lights beamed down on the road they saw before them Mr. Taylor standing in the center of the road. Surprise, traveling less than 15 miles per hour, applied his power brakes and seemed to stop immediately as Mr. Taylor lunged in front of the car. However, his head struck the right front light and he died of a cerebral concussion about three hours later.
Mrs. Clyde Taylor called Eller ambulance and Mrs. Surprise called the Sheriff's office, both responding promptly.
Driver of the southbound car said Mr. Taylor was standing in the center of the road when he passed him seconds earlier and he swerved off the road to avoid hitting him. The only explanation is that undoubtedly he became terrified and made a lunge for the east side of the road.
Ernest Taylor was a respected and loved resident of this region. He did carpenter work and drove a school bus for Center Township. He was born August 21, 1892, at Cedar Lake. His parents were Alfred and Mary Taylor. His mother survives with his wife Lillian (Fronek) Taylor, his son and family, Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Taylor and three children; also a brother, Tom Taylor, all of Cedar Lake.
The following April 8, 1987, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 1, columns 1-3:
Former Tribune Publisher Charles L. Surprise Dead at 76
Charles L. Surprise, former publisher and editor of The Lowell Tribune for 20 years, died March 31 at his home in Dunedin, Florida, following a lengthy illness. He was 76.A native of Lowell, Surprise was a member of one of the area's pioneer families. He was born Feb. 12, 1911*, at the Surprise family home northeast of Lowell, on land homesteaded by his great-grandfather, Peter Surprise, in 1834.
While still a schoolboy, he began working for The Lowell Tribune, the weekly newspaper established in 1886 by his maternal grandfather, H.H. Ragon. Ragon began publishing the newspaper after his retirement as superintendent of the South Lake County Schools, where he also served as a teacher for 30 years.
Carrying on the tradition of his grandfather, Surprise served his community tirelessly through publication of the family newspaper, which concentrated on local news and events, and as a member of numerous civic groups.
Honored at a banquet in 1952, Surprise was the recipient of the first annual Most Distinguished Citizen of Lowell Award presented by the Junior Chamber of Commerce.
For over 20 years, he was a member of the Lowell Lions Club, the Kiwanis, the Optimist Club, the Lowell and Indiana State Chambers of Commerce. He was active in the Hoosier State Press Association and other organizations affiliated with newspaper publishing and was an original member of the Board of Directors of Mutual Savings and Loan Assn. (now Mutual Federal Savings Bank) before leaving Indiana.
An avid sportsman, Surprise sponsored youth teams in various sports and was a strong supporter of all local school activities.
Planning retirement, Surprise sold The Lowell Tribune to Lyle H. Pilcher in 1961, but the "printer's ink in his bloodstream" led Surprise to purchase a newspaper in Seminole, Florida, near St. Petersburg, in 1967. He later sold The Seminole Courier and moved with his wife to Dunedin, where he worked at Dunedin Printing until June 1986.
Surprise married his childhood sweetheart and classmate, Lucile Searle, two years after his high school graduation, and they were a devoted couple, having celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary on May 23, 1986. She shared his dedication to the newspaper business, and worked with him at The Lowell Tribune. I
In addition to his wife, Surprise is survived by one son, Charles L. Surprise, Jr., of San Diego, California, and two grandchildren, Charles E. Surprise of Dunedin and Stephanie (Richardson) Trump of San Diego. Other survivors include one sister, Myrtle (Joe) Fulford of Palm Harbor, Florida; two brothers, Albert (Edith) Surprise of Dunedin and Harry (Evelyn) Surprise of Sacramento, California; three sisters-in-law, Mrs. Oliver Surprise of Orlando, Florida, Mrs. Roger Surprise of Chicago, Illinois, and Mrs. Kenneth Surprise of Lowell; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church for the past 14 years, Surprise was remembered at a requiem Mass in Dunedin. A brief memorial service was held April 4 in Lowell before Surprise was laid to rest in the family plot at Lowell Memorial Cemetery.
Also, a memorial Mass was celebrated at 10 a.m. April 5 at St. Edward Catholic Church in Lowell, with Msgr. Timothy Doody, pastor, officiating. Many friends and relatives attended.
"Lowell is our home, and I was overwhelmed by the love and generosity shown by our friends and family here," said Lucile Surprise, who returned to her Florida home after the local services. "Charles and I always kept track of our hometown, and I can never adequately express the depth of my gratitude to everyone who welcomed us back."
* NOTE -- The 1920 Cedar Creek Twp. Schools Enumeration listed the birthdate of Charles Surprise as Feb. 12, 1910.
The following obituary was found in the April 8, 1987, issue of the Lowell Tribune (page 18, column 6):
- Charles Lincoln Surprise, age 76, of Dunedin, Fla., formerly of Lowell,
passed away Tues., Mar. 31, 1987, at his home, following a lengthy
illness. He is survived by his wife, Lucile (nee Searle) Surprise; one
son, Charles L. Surprise, Jr. of San Diego, Calif.; one grandson,
Charles E. Surprise of Dunedin; one granddaughter, Stephanie
(Richardson) Trump of San Diego; one sister, Myrtle (Joe) Fulford of
Palm Harbor, Fla.; two brothers, Albert (Edith) Surprise of Dunedin and
Harry (Evelyn) Surprise of Sacramento, Calif.; three sisters-in-law,
Mrs. Oliver Surprise of Orlando, Fla., Mrs. Roger Surprise of Chicago,
Ill., and Mrs. Kenneth Surprise of Lowell; and many nieces, nephews,
cousins and loving friends. A requiem Mass was held at 11 a.m. Apr. 3
at Moss Funeral Home in Dunedin. A funeral service was also held at 2
p.m. Apr. 4 from Sheets-Love Funeral Home, Lowell, with Msgr. Timothy
Doody officiating. Burial followed in the family plot at Lowell
Memorial Cemetery. A memorial Mass was celebrated at 10 a.m. Apr. 5, at
St. Edward Catholic Church in Lowell with Msgr. Doody, pastor,
officiating. Charles Surprise was born Feb. 12, 1911, in the Surprise
family home northeast of Lowell. He married classmate Lucile Searle on
May 23, 1931. A 1929 graduate of Lowell High School, he worked for his
maternal grandfather, founder of The Lowell Tribune, and later served as
publisher and editor of the newspaper for over 20 years. A member of
the Lowell Lions Club, Lowell and Indiana State Chambers of Commerce,
Kiwanis, Optimist Club, and Hoosier State Press Assn., he was an
original member of the Board of Directors of Mutual Savings and Loan
Assn. In 1952, he was the first recipient of the Most Distinguished
Citizen of Lowell award, presented by the Junior Chamber of Commerce.
He sold The Lowell Tribune in 1961 and, in 1967, purchased The Seminole
(Florida) Courier. In 1873, he sold that newspaper and moved from
Seminole to Dunedin, where he was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes
Catholic Church. He worked at Dunedin Printing until 1986.
Go to CharlesLincoln Surprise, Sr., "Pioneer History Index," for further information.
Return to Lowell Biographies.