Small school mourns for Eric
Pain of loss shared by 22 students after schoolmate dies in accident at his home
By Steve Bibler
Associate Editor
BRISTOL - The students at Kessington Community Christian School on C.R. 104 played Red Rover on the playground Monday in memory of Eric Lee Cobb, an outgoing fifth-grader who died overnight from an accident at his home on Sunday.
Red Rover was the 10-year-old boy's favorite playground game, a fellow student recalled as the entire student body - all 22 students - sat on the floor together with their teachers to remember Eric's life.
As best as anyone can remember, Eric is the first student to die in the 18-year history of the non-denominational school which serves grades preschool through 12. Eric attended since he was 4 and was one of two fifth-graders in the school.
"This has been an emotional day," said Cheryl Black, a Kessington teacher for 11 years. Students sat on the floor Monday morning and were told of Eric's death, how he was digging near his home at 65367 wade Road east of Calvin Center in Cass County when the soil caved in on him. He died early Monday in a Kalamazoo hospital.
Students talked about Eric, his favorite games, things they had done with him in class, on the playground and on field trips. Some drew pictures; others wrote poems. "We had a little discussion and let the kids dwell on their feelings," she said. Co-administrator Wilbur Stump led the school in prayer.
One student's parent brought a dozen roses and placed them on Eric's empty desk.
The kids decided to play Red Rover in memory of Eric; even some of the high schoolers participated, Black said.
She recalled Eric was an outgoing boy who loved to draw pictures.
"He always drew pictures for me. I have a lot of them. I kept almost every picture he ever drew for me" since he was in preschool, she said.l
Eric lived on a farm with his grandparents. "He was our life," said his grandmother, Ginny Koontz.
He would talk about the horses and other animals on the farm, Black recalled. "I know he helped his grandpa take care of the horses," she said.
Eric was up and down in the classroom through the years but this year "he was outstanding," said his current teacher, Melody Dunithan.
"He was the ideal student in my class. If he had a question, he asked. He got his work done on time. He excelled in math and in his handwriting," said Dunithan.
He had been to Canada several times with his grandfather on fishing trips and was using what he learned for a classroom project on Canada, Mrs. Dunithan said.
"I wished he could have finished the project," she said, choking back the tears. "The teachers are having a hard time with this, too."
The family plans no visitation or public service.
The school will have a memorial service at 2 p.m. on Friday and plans to erect a cross on the school grounds under a shady maple tree Eric liked to play under.
At the family's request, memorials may be given to the school.
Eric was an organ donor. Several children will receive the gift of life through his grandparents' decision.
The Elkhart Truth
Tuesday, October 20, 1998
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