OBIT: Valentine GRESS, 1948, formerly of Somerset County, PA File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library. Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer. Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/ ________________________________________________ VALENTINE GRESS Valentine Gress, former burgess of Meyersdale, died at the home of his son, Rev. Howard Gress, Crescent City, Fla., April 6, 1948, at the age of 83 years, 11 months and 4 days. He had been living in the Florida city for about four years and was in fair health up until about a month ago when he took to his bed. He was mentally alert until he lapsed into a coma about four days before his death. Born in Seifertshauzen, Germany, May 10, 1864, Mr. Gress entered the United States when he was 16. He came to this community where he had relatives and, in a short time, had earned money to pay the way for his father and family to follow him to this country. The father, George Gress, was a shoemaker, and Val had been required to learn that trade, too, but they did not follow it here. They worked at the coke ovens in Shaw Mines. Having the equivalent of a high school education in Germany, the young man did not go to school here, but he soon learned to read and write the English language. In 1880, he married Sarah Keeneman of Meyersdale. They made their home here and reared a fine family of children. They connected with Amity Reformed Church, of which Mr. Gress remained an active member as long as he lived here. Mrs. Gress passed away in 1925. Becoming an American citizen as soon as he was old enough, Mr. Gress valued his privileges as a citizen and took an active part in borough political affairs. He served on the town council and was president of it for several terms. He then was elected to the office of burgess for four terms. As burgess he served the borough with industry, efficiency and integrity, and was vigilant in seeing that the borough ordinances were carried out. He was always a staunch Republican. For about 20 years, he was connected with the State Highway Department, in charge of maintenance of Route 219 from Berlin to the Maryland line. It was while at work on the road that he was injured (a car ran off the road at the Cape Horn curve about halfway between Meyersdale and Garrett, while he was standing on the berm, and struck him), incapacitating him for further labor. After recovering from his injury so that he could again get around, he lived retired, going to Florida for the winters and finally about four years ago, remaining there permanently and registering there as a resident so that he could continue to exercise his rights of citizenship. Mr. Gress is survived by the following children: Henry G. Gress, attorney-at- law, Somerset; Emma, Mrs. L. C. Gardner, Philadelphia; Walter W. Gress, postmaster of Meyersdale; Mrs. Ellen Wenzel, Meyersdale; Rev. Howard D. Gress, Reformed Church minister, Crescent City, Fla.; the twin brother of the latter, Irwin S. Gress, professor in California State College, San Diego, Calif.; Ralph H. Gress, teacher in Bolles Academy, Jacksonville, Fla. All the family were in Meyersdale for the last rites for their father. Prof. Irwin left San Diego by plane, Wednesday noon, and was here in Meyersdale, Thursday noon. Also surviving are one brother, John Gress, and one sister, Mrs. D. T. Rector, both of Meyersdale; 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Mr. Gress was a member of the Knights of Malts Lodge and Modern Woodmen of the World. The body arrived in Meyersdale Thursday noon, and funeral services were conducted Friday afternoon at 3:30 in the W. C. Price & Son Funeral Home. Rev. George L. Roth, D.D., pastor of the Evangelical and Reformed Church of Somerset, officiated, the local Reformed Church being without a pastor at this time. Members of the Knights of Malta served as pallbearers. Burial was made in the family lot in Union Cemetery. Meyersdale Republican, April 15, 1948