OBIT: Frank HELSEL, 1922, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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FRANK HELSEL IS INSTANTLY KILLED

Altoona Coal Dealer is Crushed to Death Between Backing Truck and 
Canan-Knox Dock.

  Caught between the chute at the coal dock of the Canan-Knox Building 
Supply company at Margaret avenue and Seventeenth street and the cab of 
his five-ton motor truck, Frank Helsel, aged 39 years, a coal trucker 
residing at 3025 Pine avenue, was instantly killed at 9.35 o'clock last 
night. His neck was broken and he was otherwise crushed against the 
road of the truck cab.
  Accompanied by his son, Howard, and nephew, Jack Fetter, residing at 
the Helsel home, Mr. Helsel had gone to the coal dock to load the 
truck. The boys climbed in the car to shove the coal down the chute, 
while Mr. Helsel remained in the truck below to level off the coal as 
it came down.
  While they were thus engaged the boys noticed the truck backing under 
the wharf and when the engine kept running they thought something 
unusual was happening and they went down to investigate. They found the 
father wedged between the cab roof and the bottom of the dock chute and 
apparently lifeless.
  It is not known just what caused the heavy machine to start backward. 
It may be that the brakes had not been put on. At all events, before 
Helsel could save himself his head and body were caught as the truck 
moved backwards. Help was summoned from passersby and the body was 
found tightly wedged between the truck and the chute. It required the 
efforts of seven men to get the body out.
  Coroner Chester C. Rothrock was summoned and conducted an 
investigation of the fatality. He has not decided whether or not an 
inquest will be held. The body was taken in charge by Undertakers Roher 
& Mauk.
  Edward Frank Helsel was born at Roaring Spring, the son of George and 
Harriet Helsel, the latter deceased, and he would have been 40 years 
old on Feb. 12. He had resided in Altoona for more than twenty-two 
years and was engaged in the coal business for about twenty years.
  Mr. Helsel was twice married. His first wife died nine years ago. He 
is survived by a widow, his aged father of this city, two sons, Jesse 
and Howard, a daughter, Ardis, a sister, Miss Nellie Helsel, who kept 
house for him, his nephew, Jack Fetter, two half-brothers, Earl and 
Cloyd Helsel, and two half-sisters, Mary and Bertha Helsel, all of this 
city. The children are to the first marriage and their ages range from 
10 to 18 years.
  He was a member of the First United Brethren church.
  The funeral will be held with services at the home at 2 o'clock 
Friday afternoon. Interment will be made in Fairview cemetery in the 
plot where his first wife is buried.

Altoona Mirror, Wednesday, February 1, 1922

CARD OF THANKS.

  We desire in this manner to thank friends and neighbors for their 
kindness shown us in our sad bereavement of our dear father and 
brother. We desire to thank those especially for the donation of cars. 
And also for the beautiful floral tributes.

JESSE, HOWARD AND ARDIS HELSEL AND SISTER NELLIE, AND NEPHEW JACK.

Altoona Mirror, Wednesday, February 8, 1922