OBIT: Bruce LICHTY, 1941, Meyersdale, Somerset County, PA

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

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BRUCE LICHTY

Beloved Physician, Citizen and Soldier - Death's Shining Mark

Dr. Bruce Lichty succumbed to Heart Attack Two Weeks After Being Driven Out of 
His Fine Home and Office by Devastating Fire - Meyersdale Mourns Loss of One of 
Its Most Worthy and Popular Residents in Last Forty Years - Tragic End of Well-
Rounded and Successful Career in Serving His Fellowmen.

  For more than thirty years it has been the sad privilege of the senior editor 
of this newspaper to write the obituaries of many dear friends who lived long 
and happily in Meyersdale and adjacent communities, and who during their life's 
span contributed much to the welfare and happiness of their fellow citizens.  
But never has it been his sad lot to report the passing of a more worthy friend 
and citizen than Dr. Bruce Lichty, who became Death's shining mark at 6:30 
o'clock, Saturday morning, March 8, 1941, in the Hazel McGilvery Hospital, to 
which he was admitted the previous Wednesday, following a severe heart attack 
suffered at the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Harry 
Hostetler.
  Dr. Lichty had been afflicted with paralysis for several years, his left arm 
and leg having been crippled by several strokes.  During most of that time, 
however, he was able to be up and around and to walk with the aid of a cane.  
Before he was stricken he was the dean of Meyersdale physicians and had a large 
medical practice, most of which he was obliged to give up after being stricken.  
Up to two weeks before his death, however, he continued to minister to patients 
who were able to come to his office.

Death Hastened by Fire

  Early on Saturday morning, Feb. 22, fire almost completely ruined the interior 
and contents of his large two story brick residence, in which he also had his 
medical offices.  Awakened by suffocating smoke he and Mrs. Lichty were able to 
make their escape from the burning building without personal injury.  Until the 
damage to their home could be repaired, Dr. and Mrs. Lichty were being cared for 
in the home of the Doctor's daughter Hilda, and her husband, on Beachly Street.
  Although the aged physician escaped from his burning home unharmed and he 
seemed to take his loss philosophically and went about daily attending to 
business and visiting in the homes of friends, the excitement and worry over his 
misfortune undoubtedly affected his weakened condition due to paralytic strokes 
in the last few years, and hastened his end.

A Country Boy

  Dr. Lichty was the third of seven children of David and Elizabeth (Keim) 
Lichty.  He was born Aug. 4, 1865, on the Nicholas Keim farm in Addison 
Township.  His parents moved to what later became known as the Keystone Mines 
farm in Elk Lick Township, when Bruce was still a mere infant.  He lived there 
until the spring of 1878 when his father retired from farming and moved with his 
family into Salisbury Borough.
  Young Bruce Lichty got his first schooling in the little old red school house 
near Boynton, known as the Lichty school.  He finished his elementary education 
in the Salisbury public and local normal schools.  It was this writer's 
privilege to have him as a pupil for several terms in Salisbury.  He was an apt 
and diligent student.
  It was the pleasure of this writer while teaching in Salisbury to have as 
pupils at the same time four Lichty boys, nearly related to one another, all of 
whom in after years became successful physicians, namely: Dr. Albert M. Lichty 
of Salisbury, Dr. Bruce Lichty of Meyersdale, Dr. John A. Lichty of Pittsburgh 
and Dr. Milton J. Lichty of Cleveland, O. (John and Milton were brothers).  All 
are now deceased, Dr. Bruce being the last survivor of the notable quartet.
  After his school days in Salisbury, Bruce Lichty attended Mount Morris 
College, Illinois; taught school at Morrill, Kansas, and in Grantsville, Md., 
and then entered the University of Pennsylvania Medical College, Philadelphia, 
from which he was graduated with the M.D. degree in 1892.
  
Marriage and Career

  After his graduation he began the practice of medicine in Grantsville, Md., 
where he had been principal of schools several years before.  While teaching in 
Grantsville he became very much interested in his charming assistant, Miss Fanny 
Getty, whose beauty and liveliness won the admiration of all who knew her.  Miss 
Getty became the young doctor's bride in 1894, and brought him much happiness.
  In 1897 Dr. Lichty moved to Rockwood, Pa., then a booming railroad town, as a 
more lucrative field for the practice of his profession.  But at the turn of the 
century Meyersdale, then in the height of its greatest prosperity, beckoned Dr. 
Lichty to the then metropolis of Somerset County.  His first home and office in 
this town was on Main Street a few doors below Cherry.  Here he soon built up a 
large practice and prospered, so that a few years later he built and moved into 
the fine mansion on Meyers Ave., where he spent most of the best years of his 
life.
  His home, one of the finest and most commodious in Meyersdale, was the scene 
of many enjoyable social events.  Mrs. Lichty was a charming hostess and joy 
ruled supreme in the Lichty home until she was stricken with a fatal illness in 
December, 1931.

Bereaved Relatives

  Mr. and Mrs. Lichty were blessed with two charming daughters, both of whom 
survive - Helen, Mrs. Leland Becker of Wheelwright, Ky., and Hilda, Mrs. Harry 
Hostetler, of Meyersdale.
  Dr. Lichty also leaves one granddaughter, Miss Margaret Becker, in training to 
be a nurse, in Baltimore, Md.; and two sisters, Mrs. Annie Beachy, widow of 
Frank P. Beachy, at present living in California, and Mrs. Frank F. Petry of 
Salisbury.  Three brothers, Ross, Stewart and Harvey, preceded him in death.  He 
also leaves a widow, his second wife, who before her marriage was Miss Fannie 
Graves, a native of Meyersdale and professional nurse of Cleveland, O., to whom 
he was married on Sept. 12, 1933, and who gave him devoted companionship and 
care during his years of illness.

Ranked High in Profession

  As a country doctor, Dr. Lichty achieved notable success.  He was especially 
skilled in obstetrics and for many years he ushered more live babies into the 
world than any other physician practicing in Meyersdale or any of the 
neighboring towns.  It was said of him that in many difficult labor cases he 
never lost a mother.  There probably are more people under 40 years of age 
living in Meyersdale and vicinity who gasped their first breath in Dr. Lichty's 
hands than were acouched by any other physician.  He was good at diagnosis and 
his general medical practice was large and varied before his health failed.  He 
made friends of his patients and many were helped back to health by the magic of 
his cheery disposition as much as by the medical treatment he gave them.
  He was also skillful in minor surgery and for many years was on the surgical 
staffs of the Baltimore & Ohio and the Western Maryland railroads.
  He ranked high in his profession and was a member of the Somerset County 
Medical Society, the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, the Tri-State Medical 
Society of Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia, and of the American Medical 
Association.
  For a number of years he served as president of the Meyersdale Board of 
Health, and as free medical adviser of the Meyersdale Baby Clinic and head of 
the local Tuberculosis Clinic.

Patriot and Soldier

  When the United States entered the World War in 1917, Dr. Bruce Lichty, 
although past military draft age, volunteered for service in the Medical Corps 
of the United States Army, as did also his cousins, Dr. John A. Lichty of 
Pittsburgh and Dr. Milton J. Lichty of Cleveland, O.  All were accepted and 
commissioned with the rank of Captain.  Dr. Milton Lichty died in war service 
while ministering to the Ohio National Guard troops in a training camp in 
Kentucky.  Dr. John Lichty of Pittsburgh helped organize an ambulance corps for 
service in France, but was not permitted to accompany it abroad, as the War 
Department deemed his services more valuable in training young doctors for the 
Army at the University of Pittsburgh.  Dr. Bruce Lichty trained for overseas 
service in an Army Medical Corps camp in Georgia and served 18 months in 
surgical work with the A.E.F. in France.

Active in Civic Work

  During his many years' residence in Meyersdale Dr. Lichty took an active 
interest in the civic and business life of the community.  He served as a town 
councilman, school director, president of the Meyersdale Fair Association, 
officer of the Chamber of Commerce and similar bodies, president of the Sand 
Spring Water Company, director of the Second National Bank, and was an alert and 
progressive citizen in all respects.

Active Churchman

  Dr. Lichty also was active in religious work and took lively interest in all 
movements for moral uplift and righteous living.  He was nurtured in the Church 
of the Brethren and united with it in his boyhood, but after locating in 
Meyersdale affiliated with Amity Reformed Church and was an elder and member of 
the church board and regular attendant at services for many years.
  Funeral services for him were conducted by his pastor, Rev. Nelson C. Brown, 
assisted by his former pastor, Rev. Dr. B. A. Black, in Amity Evangelical and 
Reformed Church, at 2:30 o'clock, Monday afternoon.  A guard of honor from the 
local American Legion post, of which he was a member, stood at his bier while 
his body lay in state in the church from 12:30 until the services began.  The 
obsequies were largely attended by sorrowing friends.  Interment was made in 
Union Cemetery under direction of Morticians W. C. Price & Son.
  Pallbearers were T. Boone Browne, W. H. Baldwin, W. H. Holzshu, Dr. B. H. 
Hoke, Dr. C. C. Glass, Clarence Moore and John I. Meyers.  Honorary pallbearers 
were N. E. Miller, S. B. Philson, W. H. Dill and Dr. W. H. Ryland.

Meyersdale Republican, March 13, 1941