William Jefferson Blythe Jr. lost control of his 1942 Buick on U.S. Route 60 outside of Sikeston, Missouri, after one of his car's tires blew out. He survived the accident after being thrown from the car, but drowned in a drainage ditch as he tried to pull his way out of the three feet (1 meter) of water in the ditch. Three months later, Blythe's widow, Virginia, gave birth to their son, whom she named William Jefferson Blythe III in honor of his father and grandfather. In 1950, Blythe's widow married Roger Clinton Sr.; 12 years later, Blythe's posthumous son legally adopted his stepfather's
Mabel Blythe time. Blythe married Ranjith Anthony and settled in Nuwara Eliya subsequently relying on a Tower Hall pension. She was presented the Sarasaviya Rantisara Award in 2002. Mabel Blythe Mabel Blythe (1930–2004) was a popular Sri Lankan actress and singer who appeared in early Sinhala films opposite Eddie Jayamanne. Blythe was born on March 28, 1930. Actress Jemini Kantha introduced her to B. A. W. Jayamanne who cast Blythe in "Hadisi Vinishchaya" (1949) opposite Eddie Jayamanne. She subsequently had similar roles in "Sengawunu Pilithura" (1951), "Umathu Wishwasaya" (1952), "Kele Handa" (1953), "Iranganie" (1954), "Matha Bedhaya" (1955), "Perakadoru Bena" (1955), "Daiwa Wipaakaya"