OBIT: Richard "Dick" Alexander DIVER, 1930, Meyersdale, Somerset County, PA

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

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RICHARD ALEXANDER DIVER

"Taps" Sounded for "Dick" Diver
Popular World War Veteran and Esteemed Citizen Succumbs to War's Ravages

  Richard Alexander Diver, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Diver of Baltimore, 
and husband of Florence Boyer Diver of Meyersdale, died Friday, May 9, in the 
U.S. Veteran's Hospital at Aspinwall, Pa., to which place he had been taken from 
his home here two weeks before he passed away.  The cause of his death was 
tubercular meningitis.
  Mr. Diver was born in Baltimore, May 25, 1892, and died at the age of 37 
years, 11 months and 14 days.  At the time the United States entered the World 
War, Mr. Diver enlisted in the Maryland National Guard April 4, 1917, and was 
mustered into Company E, 115th U.S. Infantry, and was sent with that company to 
France on the 15th of June 1918.
  He took part in many severe engagements with the enemy, and one month before 
the Armistice was signed, Nov. 11, 1918, while the battle of the Argonne was 
being fought, he was wounded and gassed.  He received several shots in his face, 
one in an eye and another in his chin, and was later hurled into a forty-foot 
dugout when a shell exploded nearby.  He was left for dead by the ambulance, but 
later regained consciousness sufficiently to fire his pistol off several times, 
which brought the Red Cross to his rescue.  He sustained severe injuries to his 
back and feet as the result of this encounter. For many months he was a patient 
in a hospital in France, and was finally brought back to the United States in 
January, 1919, and received his discharge from the army on the 10th of March, 
1919.
  He was overseas 217 days and in the military service altogether 435 days.  He 
enlisted voluntarily, from purely patriotic motives, and was a brave and gallant 
soldier.
  Before being sent overseas, the Maryland National Guard company, of which Mr. 
Diver was a member was sent to Meyersdale to guard the Western Maryland Railway 
tracks and property in this county.  The company was stationed here for several 
months before being sent to a training camp for overseas service, and during 
that time Mr. Diver made many friends in Meyersdale by his sociability, 
gentlemanly conduct and evidently good character.  It was during that period 
that he became acquainted with Miss Florence Mabel Boyer, music teacher and 
organist of the Main Street Brethren Church, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. 
Boyer, and one of the most attractive, popular and accomplished young ladies of 
Meyersdale.  Their friendship ripened into love and their romance culminated in 
marriage some time after his return from the war. 
  They were married Sept. 16, 1920, and established their home with Mrs. Diver's 
parents on Meyers Avenue.  Soon after their marriage, Mr. Diver, his brother-in-
law Earl Boyer, and friend, Harold Bean, purchased the J. M. Cook & Son candy 
factory and wholesaling business of Meyersdale.  Mr. Diver took an active part 
in the management of the business until his health failed to such a degree that 
he could no longer carry on.  Before his complete physical breakdown, he and 
Albert C. Englehart bought the interests of Earl Boyer and Harold Bean in the J. 
M. Cook & Son Co., and Mr. Englehart assumed the management after Mr. Diver 
became too ill to attend to business.  He retained his interest in the business, 
however, until his death.
  Although Mr. Diver had apparently recovered from his wounds and gassing when 
he was mustered out of the army, he was not out of the service very long before 
the hardships he suffered during the war began to tell on him, and he spent much 
time in hospitals and under the care of physicians and surgeons.  About 6 1/2 
years ago he developed tuberculosis, and since April, 1929, he was confined to 
his home, and to his bed since last September.  As a last resort to secure some 
relief from his sufferings, he was taken to the U.S. Veterans' Hospital at 
Aspinwall two weeks before his death.
  Mr. Diver is survived by his wife, and 6-year-old son, Richard Boyer Diver, 
two sisters, Mrs. W. J. Wiseman and Miss Dorothy Diver and two brothers, 
Harrison M. and Charles F., all of Baltimore.
  Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Willis E. Ronk on Monday morning at 
10:30.  W. C. Price was the undertaker in charge.  Interment was made in the 
Union Cemetery.
  Among Mr. Diver's relatives who came from Baltimore to attend the funeral were 
Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Diver and son, Charles, Mrs. W. J. Wiseman, Miss Dorothy 
Diver, Charles F. Diver, Mrs. Charles E. Diver, Mrs. Milton Tolle, Thomas F. 
Diver and Sidney Buff.
  Mr. Diver was a member of Charles E. Kelly Post, 112, American Legion and of 
Somerset County Voiture, 40 and 8, and took a very active interest in all local 
welfare and civic movements.  He was a member of the Brethren Church and useful 
and highly esteemed citizen. At his own request he was not buried with military 
honors, to which he was so worthily entitled.  It was his expressed desire that 
he should be laid to rest with as little display and pomp as possible.  
Nevertheless, many of his comrades in arms attended the obsequies and in every 
way possible showed their esteem and respect for a beloved comrade.  The funeral 
was largely attended and there were many beautiful floral tributes.

Meyersdale Republican, May 15, 1930