OBIT: Merle Ray LECKEMBY, 1943, native of Somerset County, PA

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

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MERLE RAY LECKEMBY

  Merle Ray Leckemby, 49, World War I veteran and former Somerset County 
detective, died July 8th in the Veteran's Hospital, Bronx, N.Y., where he had 
been a patient for 10 months.
  A son of Councilman James E. Leckemby of Meyersdale, he was born April 16, 
1894, in Meyersdale.  His mother, Mrs. Martha (Witt) Leckemby, died three years 
ago.
  He was a member of Co. C., 110th Infantry and took part in the Second Battle 
of the Marne when the Germans made their last thrust at Paris, July 16, 1918.  
Along with the major portion of the company he was taken prisoner and underwent 
many hardships in a prison camp in Germany from which he never fully recovered.
  In addition to serving as county detective, after the war he also was health 
officer and a former justice of the peace of Meyersdale Borough.
  Surviving in addition to his father are his wife, Mrs. Martha (Weimer) 
Leckemby of Meyersdale; a son, Ray, at home; a sister, Mrs. Sylvester Stouffer, 
Akron, O., and three brothers - Ross, McKeesport; James, Akron, O., and Harry, 
Ambridge.
  Mr. Leckemby was a member of the Amity Evangelical and Reformed Church.
  His body was brought from New York and prepared for burial by Mortician H. R. 
Konhaus who had charge of the funeral arrangements.
  Services conducted in Amity Church at 2:30 Sunday afternoon by the pastor, 
Rev. N. C. Brown were largely attended, among those present being about 35 
members of old Co. C., including Captain W. Curtis Truxal, who served with 
Comrade Leckemby in battle.  Six of his army comrades - A. L. Gates, Walter 
Jones, Alvey Martz, Elmer Nichol, Peter Stutzman and Norman Zimmerman - acted as 
pallbearers.
  A large delegation of Charles E. Kelly Post, American Legion, also turned out 
for the obsequies and furnished the color bearers and firing squad, and 
performed the burial rites of the Legion in Union Cemetery where the remains of 
Comrade Leckemby were laid to rest, with military honors.

Meyersdale Republican, July 15, 1943