OBIT: Charles W. SNYDER, 1945, Upper Turkeyfoot Twp., Somerset County, PA

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

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CHARLES W. SNYDER

C. W. Snyder Dead Due to Smoke and Fire in Bedroom
Aged Wife Seriously Burned While Trying To Save Sick Husband

  An outbreak of fire in the bedroom of Charles W. Snyder, 73, a well known 
farmer of Upper Turkeyfoot Township, who had been sick abed for three weeks, 
proved fatal to him early last Saturday morning.  His wife, Etta, 69, was badly 
burned while trying to rescue him.
  The fire is supposed to have been caused by an overheated stovepipe leading to 
the upstairs bedroom from a coal range in the kitchen where a married daughter, 
Mrs. Hazel Geary of Rockwood was preparing breakfast for the family, about 7:30 
a.m.
  When Mrs. Snyder discovered the fire, flames had already broken out in her 
husband's bedroom and it was filled with smoke.  Heedless of her own safety, she 
tried to drag him out of the room, but he collapsed before she could get him to 
the door.
  By this time neighbors had been attracted by the smoke and came to the rescue.  
Mrs. Snyder would have shared the fate of her husband, if the neighbors, among 
whom was a married son of the aged couple, Raymond, living on an adjoining farm, 
had not arrived in time to get her out of the burning and smoke-filled room 
through a window.  Immediately after effecting her rescue, Mr. Snyder's limp 
body was also taken out through the window, but his life was found to be 
extinct.
  A bucket brigade was formed by the assembled neighbors and by hard and quick 
work, they succeeded in quenching the flames which were kept confined to the 
room where the fire broke out.
  Mrs. Snyder was rushed to the Price Hospital in Confluence where she was 
treated for burns on the head, back and arms.  Mr. Snyder's body also was badly 
burned, but his death appeared to be due to suffocation by smoke.
  The death of Mr. Snyder is the second in this family in two months.  A son, 
Frank, died in Rockwood, March 22.  Surviving children are Mrs. Minnie Wheatley, 
Philadelphia; Mrs. Hazel Geary, Rockwood; Mrs. Leora Zimmerman, Somerset; Mrs. 
Florence Hogan, Confluence; Russell Snyder, Rockwood; and Raymond, Markleton, 
R.D. 1.
  Funeral services for Mr. Snyder were conducted Monday afternoon at the home.  
Burial was made in the Somerset County Memorial Park under direction of 
Mortician Samuel Black, of Confluence.

Meyersdale Republican, May 10, 1945