OBIT: Bruce I. FLEAGAL, 2004, native of Somerset County, PA 
  
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Meyersdale Library 
  Transcribed by Crystal
  
  Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/
  _______________________________________________
  
  BRUCE I. FLEAGAL
  
  Bruce I. Fleagal, 95, longtime resident of Somerset, died April 23, 2004,
  in North Reading, Mass.  He was born in Stoystown, son of James and
  Elizabeth Fleagle. His father worked in the mines.  He was the last to
  survived of eight brothers, Charles, Blaine, Harry, Paul, William, Donald
  and Edward.  They all lived in Somerset for most of their lives.  Dedicated
  to his family, Mr. and Mrs. Fleagal were married for 68 years.  He is
  survived by his wife, Rosemond (Burkholder) Fleagal, North Reading, Mass.,
  and two daughters and two sons-in-law, Princess V. and the Rev. Dr. Adelard
  P. Everton, of Reading, Mass., and Dr. Helen E. and Dr. Alan R. Gruber,
  Cohasset, Mass.  He is also survived by four grandchildren, Steven B.
  Everton of Melrose, Mass., Dr. Wendi J. Everton, Lebanon, Conn.; Elizabeth
  A. Gruber, Cohasset, Mass.; and Dr. Kerry L. Gruber-Vella, Toowoomba,
  Australia.  He was the beloved great-grandfather of Anya E. Gruber, Sarah R.
  Gruber and Zoe H. Cashmore-Everton.  Enlisting in 1927, Master Sgt. Fleagal
  was career military and a decorated veteran of World War II.  He earned
  three battle stars for invasions in Libya/North Africa, Naples and Rome, as
  well as many other military awards.  He was among the troops who chased
  Rommel, "the Desert Fox," halfway across Africa. On the battlefield, he was
  known for his quiet determination and that was his hallmark throughout his
  life.  He served with Field Marshall Montgomery and General Patton in the
  Army Tank Corps.  Following the war, he served in the occupation forces in
  the Pacific.  He worked on the development of the railroad in Alaska and,
  over the course of his military career, he served in Europe, Africa, the
  Pacific Islands, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland and Colorado.  He retired from
  active service in 1953.  After his retirement from the military, Mr. Fleagal
  worked for Exxon Oil Company.  He was a constable in Somerset County and a
  security officer at Somerset Community Hospital.  He was a member of the
  Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Somerset County Grange and a life member of
  the National Rifle Association.  He and his wife were active members of the
  community and belonged to the Missionary Alliance Church.  They enjoyed
  traveling and, after retirement, circumnavigated the world.  Prior to moving
  to Massachusetts to be closer to their children, Mr. and Mrs. Fleagal lived
  at Chapel Pointe in Carlisle for seven years.  He was an avid hunter and
  collector of rifles.  He was known for his encyclopedic knowledge of weapons
  and military history.  Bruce said, "Working in the mines was no life for me,
  so I left to join the Army."  He never changed his mind.  The spelling of his
  name, from Fleagle to Fleagal, was changed by accident in the Army in 1927
  and stayed that way for the rest of his life.  Donations can be made in his
  memory to American Lung Association of Middlesex County, 5 Mountain Road,
  Burlington, Mass. 01803.
  
  Daily American, April 27, 2004