OBIT: Samuel D. CRAMER, 1940, Meyersdale, Somerset County, PA File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library. Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer. Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/ ________________________________________________ SAMUEL D. CRAMER No Fire Alarm Can Awaken Chief Cramer From His Present Sleep Beloved Chief Cramer's Death Was Attributed to Celebral Hemorrhage - He Became Critically Ill While Driving His Car on Highway Between Berlin and Garrett, and Died in Wenzel Hospital - His Untimely Departure is Mourned By Entire Community and A Multitude of Fireman Friends Throughout Western Pennsylvania The entire Meyersdale community is grieved at the loss of its beloved and efficient Fire Chief, Samuel D. Cramer, who died suddenly Tuesday evening. His death was attributed to cerebral hemorrhage, encountered while driving his car on the highway between Berlin and Garrett, in company with his wife, son Dickie and a neighbor's boy. Chief S. D. Cramer, a local automobile dealer, had a business transaction in Berlin Tuesday afternoon, so he urged Mrs. Cramer, son Dickie and his companion to accompany him for the ride. It was while on their return that Mrs. Cramer noticed the car swerve to the side of the road, which was something unusual with Sam behind the steering wheel. She commented about this to her husband and he replied, things appeared hazy before his eyes. It was only a few seconds later that he said, "I'm awfully sick," and slumped down in the seat, unconscious. The fact that Mrs. Cramer realized that all was not well when her husband let the car drift to the side of the road, enabled her to avoid a serious accident by shutting off the ignition and applying the emergency brake, as he slumped by her side in the driver's seat. A motorist, following closely at the rear of the Cramer car, stopped to investigate the cause of the peculiar movements of the car ahead, and assisted Mrs. Cramer in bringing her husband into the Wenzel hospital at Meyersdale, where he died without recovering consciousness. The entire community was deeply moved when word was passed around Tuesday evening announcing the sudden death of Mr. Cramer. His untimely death was a decided shock to the community as a whole, and especially to the Meyersdale Volunteer Fire Department, which he so consciensciously served as chief for over thirteen years. Samuel D. Cramer was aged 45 years, 5 months and 18 days. He is survived by his wife, Florence (Mitchell) Cramer, three sons, Donald, Samuel and Richard, and by his mother, Mrs. D. R. Cramer, and one sister, Mrs. Angeline McDaniels. The eldest son, Donald, drove home from Baltimore where he is employed, Tuesday evening, when informed of the serious illness of his father. Mr. Cramer was one of the leading servants of the community. There was never an end to his deeds of kindness to others. He always gave freely of whatever he had to give, and enjoyed making others happy. Intimate friends often remarked that they wished Sam Cramer had a million dollars, and they would feel assured the entire community would be made happy. Sam's most cherished pleasures were while serving the community through the medium of the fire department. He was a real leader among his fellowmen, which had considerable bearing on the present efficiency of the local department. Even those who resented his stern orders in line of duty say, Sam was the best Chief any volunteer fire department could have had. A pair of boots, an old pair of trousers and a heavy sweater hung by the side of Sam's bed every evening before he retired. A kind and considerate husband and father, his strictest orders in the home were that no one dare move his fire fighting wardrobe from the side of his bed. To Sam it was nothing short of sacrilegious to fail to respond promptly at the sound of the fire alarm. Fire fighting was Sam Cramer's hobby. The weather was never too cold, too wet, or too hot to keep Sam away from a blaze that endangered the property of the rich or the poor. And it did not of necessity take a ravaging fire to attract Sam's attention when life or property were endangered. He led his heroic crew of "fire-eaters" into flooded areas to rescue the helpless and destitute in times of high waters. Sam, as a fireman, will be missed in more ways than one. He had a mental map of every highway shortcut and every water hole in the vicinity of Meyersdale. Before the trucks left the firehouse to answer a call he knew what route would get them there the quickest and where to find the most available water supply. He was the spokesman for the local fire department at every county or district meeting. The leaders in every department in the Western Pennsylvania Firemen's Association knew Sam Cramer of Meyersdale, although they may not have known any other member of this company. At every community meeting where the firemen were represented, it was Sam who expressed the voice of the department. He represented his group before the Borough Council, the Township Supervisors and wherever the interests of his department required a spokesman. After the death of his father, D. R. Cramer, who had been constable in Meyersdale for a number of years, Samuel D. assumed the duties of constable as a sideline to his automobile business. He also held a commission as deputy sheriff under Sheriff Fred P. Hare, Sr. In the capacity of a law enforcement officer Sam was often criticized for being too lenient. No hardened criminal was ever too hard to cause Sam to shirk his duty in bringing him to justice, but he was often slow to enforce a landlord's warrant on a poor destitute family. At times, when Sam's automobile business flourished, he was known to give a friend the money to pay the rent, instead of carrying out his duties as a constable. Futhermore, Sam's prisoners never went hungry while in his charge. If he did not have money of his own in his pocket, he would borrow some from a friend to buy something to eat for his prisoner, before leaving the jail. The ability to organize and direct welfare projects made Mr. Cramer a valuable servant to the community especially during the Christmas season. The beautiful evergreen tree that was a annual decoration in the town's business square did not grow there previous to each Christmas. Someone had to go to a landowner and get permission to cut a community Christmas tree each year. Arrangements had to be made for dragging the tree out of the woods, load it on a truck and trailer, to transport it to town. It was Sam Cramer and his faithful co-workers who supplied the annual community Christmas tree. Sam had a way with men that enabled him to accomplish no small amount of service to the community. Of course, Sam was criticized - but, perhaps no more than anyone else who accomplishes so much good for the general welfare of his fellowman. It will take a good man to fill his empty boots. Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon, 2:30 o'clock, in the Lutheran church, by the Rev. H. K. Hilner. The pallbearers will be the officers of the Meyersdale Volunteer Fire Department, Ralph Rosenberger, Norman Walker, Gus Tatterelli, Carl Miller, N. G. Fike, John Imhoff, Richard Reich and Tony Tatterelli. Other members of the local department and all visiting firemen will be honorary escorts. Funeral arrangements are in charge of W. C. Price & Son. Meyersdale Republican, April 11, 1940