COUNTY ROAD ENGINEER PASSES. PROMINENT IN LOCAL POLITICS.
Aaron Fanning, 59 years old, died at his home here lated Friday afternoon, November 20, after a long illness of complication of diseases. Mr. Fanning had been in declining health for the past two years and was confined in a hospital at Lexington for several months more than a year ago, after which he recovered sufficiently to resume his duties as county road engineer until slightly more than a month ago when he was again taken ill. For the past two weeks he had been in critical condition and little hope was held for his recovery. A native of Bath county, he was a son of John (and) Rhoda Crosswaite Fanning, born near Yale March 25, 1877. For many years he was engaged in the mercantile business at Salt Lick with his brother, Ed Fanning. He was appointed county road engineer by the Bath fiscal court during the administration of the late County Judge J. L. Ewing and served continually, except during his recent illness, until his death. One of the bitterest legal battles in Bath county's history raged among members of the fiscal court over Mr. Fanning's appointment as county road engineer. The controversy came up in the fall of 1934 when County Judge Alexander suggested Mr. Fanning for re-appointment and was opposed by two members of his court, forming a dead-lock. The case was taken to the courts and was twice passed on by the court of appeals. The last decision of the State's highest court upheld Mr. Fanning's appointment after two years of litigation. Surviving him are his widow, Mrs. Mayme Colliver Fanning; three daughters, Mrs. Edward Sorrell, North Middletown, Ky; Mrs. F. B. Wilborn, Paducah, and Mrs. Byrd Perry, Salt Lick; two sons, Hubert and Harold Fanning, of Owingsville and two brothers, Ed and Walter Fanning, both of Salt Lick. Funeral services were held at the Christian Church at Salt Lick Sunday afternoon, November 22, conducted by the Rev. Henry S. Ficklin. Interment was in the family lot in the Polksville cemetery. Pallbearers were: Active, Wm. Fox, Claude Staton, Clyde Alexander, Tom Duff, Walter Shrout, Omer Rogers; Honorary, S.M. Estill, W.S. Thomas, Walter Jones, C.H. Cheap, E.L. Byron, J.S. Caudel, G.C. Ewing, Sherman Gullett, T.B. Staggs, Waller Sharp, E.A. Swartz, W.B. White, Harold Swartz, Dr. D.C. Dotson.
Bath County News-Outlook, November 26, 1936, front page.