OBIT: Fletcher William CUNNINGHAM, 1942, Somerset, Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.
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FLETCHER WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM

Sudden Death of F. W. Cunningham
Veteran Mining Inspector Stricken by Apoplexy on Inspection Tour

  Fletcher William Cunningham, 69, of Somerset, dean of Pennsylvania state 
bituminous mine inspectors, died suddenly Tuesday morning, Nov. 24, as he was 
entering the shaft of the Hughes Coal Company at Portage, Cambria County.  His 
sudden demise was caused by apoplexy.
  He was chairman of a commission to make an inspection of mines at Portage and 
had journeyed as far as Ebensburg Monday night, where he remained until Tuesday 
morning before continuing the trip to Portage.
  He had apparently been in good health, but had contracted a slight cold and 
complained of feeling very tired, before he left his home in Somerset Monday, on 
his mission to Cambria County.
  Fletcher Cunningham started in his profession as mine inspector in the 
Pittsburgh district in January, 1902.  In 1908 he was transferred to Washington 
County, and was stationed in Charleroi until 1913, when he moved to Somerset 
with his family to serve as inspector of the 20th bituminous district, 
comprising all of Somerset County, except that portion north of Hyasota, in 
which Windber area is included, and also a part of Fayette County.
  He organized the first of the First Aid societies in Somerset County in 1913.
  He was president of the board of trustees of the Somerset Community Hospital, 
since its incorporation in April 1921, and was instrumental, along with others, 
in securing funds by subscription to buy the hospital, then privately owned, 
from Dr. J. T. Bowman.  For more than 20 years he was active in all affairs 
connected with the hospital and took a keen interest in making it one of the 
best small hospitals in the state.  He was almost a daily visitor in the 
hospital, and was one of the chief instigators in having the new hospital built 
several years ago.
  Fletcher W. Cunningham was born near Kingwood, Someset County, October 14, 
1873, a son of John A. and Margaret Romesburg Cunningham.  He attended public 
schools in both Somerset and Fayette Counties and Carnegie School of Technology, 
Pittsburgh.
  He was a trustee of the Somerset Methodist Church, a Knight Templar, a member 
of Syria Mosque of the Mystic Schrine, Pittsburgh, the Masonic lodge in 
Wilkinsburg, the Coal Mining Institute of America, and of the Coal Inspectors 
Institute of America.
  He was married 43 years ago, in Pittsburgh, to Miss Gertrude Flemming, of near 
Connellsville.  To them were born three children: Margaret, wife of H. E. 
Hixson, Cumberland, Md.; Roy, of Somerset and Mary Gertrude, wife of Earl 
Younkin, Somerset, all of whom survive.  These brothers and sisters also 
survive: Homer, Thomas and Paul, Connellsville; Robert, Meadville; Miss Bertha 
Cunningham, Connellsville; Mrs. Ethel Young, Uniontown, and Mrs. Paul Huskin, 
Connellsville.
  Hundreds of friends called at his residence on South Center Ave., Somerset, to 
view his remains and to show their respect.  Many others viewed the body at the 
Somerset Methodist Church where it lay in state from 1 to 2 Friday afternoon.  
Funeral services in the church at 2:30 p.m., Friday, were largely attended.  The 
rites were conducted by his pastor, Rev. W. L. Crawford, assisted by the Rev. 
Dr. I. Hess Wagner of Trinity Lutheran Church.  Interment in Somerset County 
Memorial Park, under the direction of Charles R. Hauger, Somerset mortician.

Meyersdale Republican, December 3, 1942