OBIT: Oliver G. "Bud" HOSTETLER, 1931, native of Somerset County, PA

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

Copyright 2011.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/
________________________________________________


OLIVER G. HOSTETLER

"Bud" Hostetler Loses His Life While Doing a Friendly Service
Tragic Fate of Popular Young Meyersdale Man Employed in Pittsburgh

  That death loves a shining mark and is no respecter of persons - that the Grim 
Reaper singles out as his victims the young and strong just as readily as the 
old and feeble - is strikingly exemplifed in the tragic fate of Oliver G. 
Hostetler, popularly know as "Bud", eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene C. 
Hostetler, well known residents of Meyersdale.
  To see an attractive youth of less than 23 years - physically perfect and 
mentally bright, of sterling character, healthy and happy as a young man can be, 
favored by his employers and beloved by his parents, brothers, sisters and 
associates - lose his life almost in the twinkling of an eye and without a 
moment's warning, is a tragedy of appalling pity, almost beyond the power of 
mere words to describe.
  
Stunning News

  When the news came to Meyersdale last Sunday afternoon that "Bud" Hostetler 
was dead, his relatives and friends were stunned with grief and amazement.  It 
did not seem possible that one so young and strong and bouyant with life could 
be called hence so suddenly.  The fact that his life was sacrificed in the 
performance of a friendly service for a neighbor hardly softened the blow, yet 
must ever remain a consolation to those who mourn for him that he gave his life 
in trying to do a good turn for a friend.
  "Bud" Hostetler was employed the last few years by the Van de Venter Shoe 
Company, retailers of Florsheim shoes, in Pittsburgh.  He and two other 
Meyersdale boys, Karl Schultz and "Bud" Stotler, occupied an apartment together.  
In a adjoining apartment lived a young man named Polansky, employed as a 
technician in the Carnegie Library, and several companions.  The occupants of 
both apartments were good neighbors and friends, always willing to do a good 
turn for one another.
  Last Sunday Polansky and his companions left their apartment, leaving the door 
fastened with a spring lock.  About 3:30 p.m. Polansky returned to the apartment 
and discovered that he had left his key inside.  He told his trouble to his 
friend, Hostetler, who happened to be at home in the adjoining apartment, and 
who had helped him before in a similar emergency.  "Bud" volunteered, as he had 
done before, to climb out of a window of his apartment, step across a narrow 
court to a roof and window ledge and climb through a window of Polansky's 
apartment to open the door from the inside.
 
Dashed to Death

  With one foot on a projecting roof and the other on the corner of a window 
sill of Polansky's room, young Hostetler made a spring to get hold of the top of 
the window frame.  In doing so his entire weight was thrown on the foot he had 
on the corner of the window sill, which suddenly broke off, and before he could 
get hold of the window frame, he plunged headfirst to the cement-paved court 
below, a fall of 15 or 20 feet.  His skull was crushed and he died in about 20 
minutes without regaining consciousness.
  Upon receipt of a telegram apprising him of the fatal injury of his son, the 
father, "Gene" Hostetler, hastened to Pittsburgh to investigate and to take 
charge of the body of his son.  Charles Reich, undertaker of Blairsville, Pa., 
former schoolmate and intimate companion of "Bud" Hostetler, was called to 
Pittsburgh and entrusted with the sad task of preparing the body of his friend 
for burial and conducting the funeral.  Mr. Reich brought the body on Sunday 
night to the morgue of his father, Joe F. Reich, Meyersdale undertaker, where it 
was prepared for burial.   Although the skull was badly crushed, the skillful 
young undertaker fixed it up so that the injury was not noticeable.

Funeral Services

  Funeral services, held at the home of the bereaved parents, at Trans-
Meyersdale, at 1 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, were largely attended, and 
hundreds called at the home before the funeral to pay their respects and express 
their sorrow and sympathy.  There was a wealth of floral tributes, probably 
never exceeded at a local funeral.  Beautiful floral pieces were sent by his 
employeers, his high school classmates, Ashland (O.) College and many relatives 
and friends.   Rev. Willis E. Ronk, pastor of the First Brethren Church, of 
which the deceased was a member, conducted the funeral service.  Solos were sung 
by Mrs. Grace Bowman Getty and Harry M. Cook.  The pall-bearers were high school 
classmates of the deceased: Karl Shultz, Bud Stotler, Potter Shaw, Joseph 
Thomas, Robert Rosenberger and Carl Hare.  Interment was made in Union Cemetery.
 
Namesake of Grandfather

  Oliver Getty Hostetler, second child and oldest son of Eugene and Lulu Getty 
Hostetler, was born in Meyersdale, Sept. 15, 1908, and was called hence at the 
age of 22 years, 7 months and 18 days.  He was named in honor of his maternal 
grandfather, the late Dr. Oliver G. Getty, but was popularly known as "Buddy" 
and "Bud".  He was graduated from the Meyersdale High School with the class of 
1926.
  After leaving school he went to work in the shoe store of his uncle, James B. 
Hostetler, in Meyersdale, where he was employed for about one year.  He then 
went to Pittsburgh and obtained employment as a clerk in one of the Florsheim 
shoe stores of the Van de Venter Shoe Company.  His services were very much 
appreciated by his employers and he was repeatedly promoted.  He was very 
popular with his employers, his fellow employees and the patrons of the store.  
His courteous manners and accommodating disposition won him many friends and he 
developed into an adept salesman.
  He was kind, considerate and helpful to his parents, sisters and brothers, who 
mourn his loss deeply.  The surviving sisters and brothers are:  John and 
Eugene, both students at Ashland College, Ashland, O.; Mrs. Walter Campbell, of 
Parnassus, and Eleanor and Alice Hostetler, both at home.

Meyersdale Republican, May 7, 1931