OBIT: Anna Matilda MILLER, 1930, Greenville Township, Somerset County, PA

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

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ANNA MILLER

Death Relieves Long Suffering
Miss Anna Miller Succumbs to Injuries Received Four Months Ago

  Miss Anna Matilda Miller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson A. Miller, prominent 
residents of Greenville Township, died in the Wenzel Hospital on Saturday, Aug. 
23, at 1:30 a.m., after a four months' suffering due to an automobile accident 
in which she was seriously injured on Sunday evening, April 27th.
  Miss Miller was born August 18, 1910, in Greenville Township, and at the time 
of her death was 20 years and 5 days old.  She attended school at the 
Hochstetler school and after passing the township examination entered the 
Meyersdale High School from which she was graduated at the early age of 16 years 
in the class of 1927.
  At the time of the accident which caused her death she was employed as a 
telephone operator in Meyersdale for the Western Pennsylvania Telephone Company, 
for whom she had worked since last Christmas.  She was on duty Sunday evening, 
April 27, until 10 o'clock.  When she reported off duty for the night, some 
young friends called for her with a car to take her for a short ride before 
taking her home.  The car, a Ford sport roadster, which was owned by Roy Herring 
of Shaw Mines, was borrowed and driven by Frederick Hook, a young man from 
Romania.  With young Hook in the front seat was Miss Mary Gerhard, daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. John Gerhard, of Meyersdale.  With Miss Miller in the rumble seat 
of the car was Lester Bittner, a young man from Berlin.
  They started toward Salisbury and when about halfway up Hundsrick Hill, they 
were met by a Dodge roadster driven by James Schardt, who was unable to control 
it on account of the brakes being out of order. The Dodge was running very 
rapidly and collided with the Ford roadster in such a manner that the latter was 
whirled completely around and badly wrecked.  Schardt's car ran to the bottom of 
the hill before he could stop it.  It was not damaged very much, and after 
Schardt got it under control he turned around and returned to the scene of the 
collision to see what damage was done to the other car and to offer help if 
needed.
  The occupants of the Herring car were all badly shaken up by the impact and 
sudden stopping of the car they were riding in.  At first none seemed to be 
seriously injured.  Miss Miller was thrown violently against the rim of the 
tonneau in front of the rumble seat and complained of a pain in the chest, but 
thought she would soon be all right again.  Miss Gerhard had a few slight cuts 
and bruises, and Lester Bittner had an ugly cut on the forehead.  Hook was 
uninjured and insisted on the others going to a hospital to have their injuries 
attended to.
  Miss Miller, Miss Gerhard and Mr. Bittner were taken to the Hazel McGilvery 
Hospital.  An examination there showed that Miss Miller had a badly ruptured 
spleen and a slight fracture to three ribs.  The hospital staff operated on her 
and made her as comfortable as possible.  Miss Gerhard and Mr. Bittner's 
injuries proved slight and they were discharged from the hospital Monday 
morning.
  Miss Miller's condition grew worse and Dr. William Gracie of Cumberland was 
called for examination and operation if necessary.  She was under Dr. Gracie's 
care at the above mentioned hospital for forty-eight days and was then moved to 
the home of her sister, Mrs. Quinter Gnagey, where her sister, Miss Mary Miller, 
who had been in training to be a nurse in a hospital in Akron, Ohio, took care 
of her.  Miss Mary had been in constant attendance on her sister from the time 
of the accident.
  After being at the home of her sister, Mrs. Gnagey, for a week the family and 
physicians thought it advisable to take the injured girl to Cumberland where she 
was placed in the Memorial Hospital under the care of Dr. Gracie, and underwent 
another operation.  She remained there two weeks and was again brought to the 
home of her sister, Mrs. Gnagey, but remained again only a week and was then 
placed in the Wenzel Hospital where she remained until the time of her death.
  In addition to the injuries she received in the wreck, she developed pneumonia 
and later anemia.  After seventeen weeks of intense suffering, she finally 
succumbed early Saturday morning.
  Miss Miller was a very beautiful and perfect specimen of young womanhood.  She 
was always very active in her school and church work and was the pride of her 
parents, sisters and brothers.  She had many friends who were deeply devoted to 
her and who mourn her loss from their midst.  Last Monday a number of her 
friends helped her celebrate her 20th birthday by sending her lovely gifts and 
cards.  She was very happy over these kind remembrances and hoped to soon be 
well enough to mingle again with her family and friends and to voice her 
appreciation. 
  She was engaged to be married to Ralph Fike, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Fike, 
of York, Pa., former residents of Shaw Mines.  Miss Miller and Mr. Fike were to 
be married this spring.  She was laid to rest in her wedding dress.
  She united with the Church of the Brethren on the 24th day of June, 1923, and 
remained a true and faithful member.
  After her body was prepared for burial by Undertaker Joseph L. Tressler, it 
was taken to the home of her brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. R. 
Snyder, where it lay in state until 2 o'clock Monday afternoon when the funeral 
services were conducted in the Church of the Brethren by Rev. George L. 
Detweiler, pastor, and was later laid to rest in the Hochstetler Cemetery in 
Greenville Township.
  She was preceded to the grave by two brothers and two sisters and is survived 
by her parents, eight sisters - Mrs. Melvin Lindeman, Mrs. Quinter Gnagey, Mrs. 
W. R. Snyder, Mrs. Hiram Walker and Mrs. James Shockey, all of Meyersdale, Mrs. 
Robert Shockey, of Grantsville, Md., Miss Mary Miller, Akron, Ohio and Leah, at 
home - and one brother, Earl Miller.
  The sad fate and suffering of Miss Miller aroused the sympathy of the entire 
community for her and her family, fiance and friends, who feel their bereavement 
through the death of this fine girl most keenly.  They have solace, however, in 
the fact that her sufferings are over and that she, in accordance with the 
tenets of her faith is now safe and happy in the arms of the Savior whom she 
loved and adored.

Meyersdale Republican, August 28, 1930