OBIT: Ronald JUSTHAM, 1948, Cambria County, PA

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Altoona Mirror
Thursday Evening
July 8, 1948
page 27

Barnesboro Miner Killed In Rock Fall
(Special to Altoona Mirror) 

BARNESBORO, July 8. - Two Cambria county miners were killed in rock falls 
yesterday and a third was critically injured in a mine accident Tuesday.

Ronald Justham, aged 44, of Barnesboro was crushed to death in the Springfield Coal 
company mine 4 near Spangler yesterday afternoon at 12.45 o'clock. Cambria county coroner, 
Joseph Govekar said the man died instantly although he was not pronounced dead until brought 
to the surface an hour and a half later.

Govekar said that Justham had been passing through a heading when a mine cat broke 
loose from a string of three others and struck a bar which in turn knocked a roof support loose. 
Justham, the coroner reported, was crushed under a section of rock, 30 feet high, 11 feet wide 
and four feet thick.

Justham's buddy, Earl Farabaugh of Carrolltown, R. D., escaped a similar fate when he 
stopped a minute to get a drink of water and saw the rock fall on his co-worker.

Peter Nazaruk, aged 50, also was killed at the Hillman Coal and Coke company mine at 
Jerome yesterday.

 John Andrifak, aged 54, of Barnesboro, who was admitted in a critical condition 
Tuesday afternoon to the Miners hospital in Spangler, suffering from a fractured skull, pelvis and 
chest fractures, as a result of a mine accident in the Barnes and Tucker Coal company mine 12, 
was reported slightly improved this morning.

Mine safety authorities, in cooperation with Cambria County Coroner Govekar and mine 
officials, have launched investigations into all three of the mine accidents.

Ronald Justham was born July 18, 1903, in Barnesboro, the son of James and Minnie 
(Ransey) Justham. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. May Myers Justham; his mother and these 
brothers and sisters: William, Albert, Joseph and Mrs. James Barton, all, of Akron, O.; James of 
Conemaugh and Robert of Barnesboro. Friends are being received at the home.

Altoona Mirror
Thursday Evening
July 8, 1948
page 27