Small Town Paper Omits Son's Husband From Mother's Obit

[Nithavela]

After she died suddenly at 77 following a fall in February, Giles sent the obituary to her home town of Olton. The obituary he sent included the line "Those left to cherish her memory include her son, Barry Giles and his husband, John Gambill of Dallas." However, all mention of Gambill was reportedly removed by publisher Phillip Hamilton.

Small Town Paper Omits Son's Husband From Mother's Obit

 

[Landon Caeli]

Is it normal to include spouse names in an obituary? Typically, I think only children and grandchildren are included.

...Maybe Mr. Giles was eager to advertise his homosexuality?

 

[Nithavela]

Is it normal to include spouse names in an obituary? Typically, I think only children and grandchildren are included.

The article describes him as being especially close to his mother-in-law.

 

[Tanj]

Is it normal to include spouse names in an obituary? Typically, I think only children and grandchildren are included.

...Maybe Mr. Giles was eager to advertise his homosexuality?

...in the obituaries. Riiight.

 

[Willie T]

...in the obituaries. Riiight.

It certainly seems so. They seem to exploit ANY opportunity to flaunt it.

 

[Landon Caeli]

...in the obituaries. Riiight.

Which would be in exceptionally poor taste, hence the removal of it by the newspaper?

 

[Landon Caeli]

The article describes him as being especially close to his mother-in-law.

He's still not a descendant of hers, which is all obituaries typically include.

 

[Tanj]

Which would be in exceptionally poor taste, hence the removal of it by the newspaper?

Well, it would have to be true first.

 

[Desk trauma]

Is it normal to include spouse names in an obituary?

Yes.

.Maybe Mr. Giles was eager to advertise his homosexuality?

Mentioning their spouse counts as flaunting?

 

[PloverWing]

It's up to the person writing the obituary, but I mentioned my husband in my father's obituary. I've seen sons- and daughters-in-law mentioned in other obituaries. It depends some on how large the family is (you want to keep the list of relatives to a manageable size) and how close the in-laws were to the deceased.

 

[Nithavela]

Also worth mentioning is that they published this orbituary in other newspapers and it was only censored in this one.

 

[LaSorcia]

Newspapers suck. My family was once interviewed for a Christmas article. Apparently, the journalist didn't really pay attention because in the published article, my brother was named as my children's father...

 

[PloverWing]

Newspapers suck. My family was once interviewed for a Christmas article. Apparently, the journalist didn't really pay attention because in the published article, my brother was named as my children's father...

Obituaries tend to be better, because they are written by a family member, and the family pays for the obituary. In my experience, the paper usually runs exactly the obituary text they are given.

 

[Landon Caeli]

Yes.

No. You're dead wrong.

Obituaries tend to say who the person is "survived by", and that does not include childrens spouses. Only the deceased persons spouse would be mentioned, if they're still alive.

 

[Desk trauma]

No.

Why post the question if you already have your answer?

 

[Landon Caeli]

Why post the question if you already have your answer?

Why tell a non-truth to a question?

 

[Desk trauma]

Why tell a non-truth to a question?

In all the obituaries of those I have been close to survivors spouses have been included. In one case a same sex spouse.

 

[Nithavela]

In all the obituaries of those I have been close to survivors spouses have been included. In one case a same sex spouse.

I don't think that it matters if such things are usual or unusual. They could even mention the family dog if they want to.

 

[PloverWing]

I just looked up some obituaries in my local paper, for reference. One of the first ones I found mentions by name a niece, a nephew, two cats, and a dog.

It really is up to the family member who writes the obituary.

 

[iluvatar5150]

He's still not a descendant of hers, which is all obituaries typically include.

No. You're dead wrong.

Obituaries tend to say who the person is "survived by", and that does not include childrens spouses. Only the deceased persons spouse would be mentioned, if they're still alive.

Did it ever occur to you to read the article and any do any other research before making arguments that are factually incorrect?

The article in the OP is just a rehash of a Dallas News article:
Texas newspaper removed same-sex couple from obit for 'religious and ethical reasons' | News | Dallas News

In that article (and in the article in the OP), the publisher of the newspaper is quite explicit about why he deliberately removed the reference to this man's husband:

The paper's publisher, Phillip Hamilton, who is also a Baptist pastor in Plainview, declined KDFW-TV's request for an interview, but said in a statement, "It is my religious conviction that a male cannot have a husband. It is also my belief that to publish anything contrary to God's Word on this issue would be to publish something in the newspaper that is not true.

Additionally, the Olton News (the paper in question) has a web site that allows easy access to back issues, and you can see for yourself that they do mention spouses of family members:

https://oltononline.com/

https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/1960ae59-546e-46f2-9cbf-f97f42be178c/downloads/1c8j2stll_124001.pdf

https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/1960ae59-546e-46f2-9cbf-f97f42be178c/downloads/1c7elmoes_635754.pdf

This stuff isn't hard to find.