OBIT: William Luther WICKER, 1933, Altoona, Blair County, PA

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Death is Caused by Motor Mishap

  Suffering a fracture of the skull when the automobile in which he was 
riding down the Buckhorn road was overturned in a collision with another car 
about 8.30 o'clock Sunday evening, William Luther Wicker, aged 56, of 2326 
Eleventh avenue, died in the Mercy hospital at 10.15 o'clock Sunday night.
Members of his family were with him at the hospital when he expired.  He had 
been rushed to the institution following the accident by another motorist 
but failed at any time following his admission to rally from his injuries.
The accident occurred during the heavy downpour of rain, accompanied by 
lightning and thunder on Sunday evening.  Mr. Wicker was en route down the 
Buckhorn road in an automobile driven by H. J. Hetrick, aged 25, of 1510 
Third avenue, with several bags of potatoes which they had purchased up the 
mountain.
  Just above the sharp turn in the road, known as the "Devil's elbow," the 
Hetrick automobile and one driven up the mountain road by J. J. Slemmer, 
aged 20, of 314 East Logan avenue, hooked hubcaps in passing, the Hetrick 
car being thrown over on its side and Mr. Wicker out onto the highway.
The seriousness of Mr. Wicker's condition was realized as soon as the 
occupants of the two cars found him, and he was rushed to the hospital, 
where it was found that he had suffered a fracture of the skull in addition 
to minor injuries.
  Yon was also injured slightly, being treated in the Mercy hospital 
dispensary for a laceration of the nose, but neither Hetrick nor Slemmer 
required hospital treatment.  Coroner Chester C. Rothrock is investigating 
the accident, along with the state highway patrol.  Both drivers state, it 
is said, that their vision was obscured by the heavy rain.
William Luther Wicker was born in the city on October 11, 1875, a son of 
Frederick and Margaret (Powell) Wicker, and had been employed since his 
youth by the Pennsylvania Railroad company, working in the finishing shop of 
the Altoona machine shops.
  He was married thirty-seven years ago to Miss Jennie CONRAD, who survives, 
along with five daughters, Mrs. Gertrude Snyder, Mrs. Margaret Conrad and 
Mrs. Marion Hunter, all of the city, Misses Helen and Minnie, at home.  Two 
brothers and one sister: John and Samuel Wicker and Mrs. Elda Carland, all 
of the city, and two grandchildren, also survive.
  Mr. Wicker was a member of the First Lutheran church.  The body may be 
viewed at the Tobias & Laughlin funeral home where funeral services will be 
held at 2.30 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.  Interment will be made in Rose 
Hill cemetery.

Archie Claar Obituary Collection, Vol. 1 (1933), page 39