OBIT: Pius M. SPEICHER, 1940, native of Somerset County, PA File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library. Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer. Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/ ________________________________________________ PIUS M. SPEICHER Pius M. Speicher, a native of Somerset County, died suddenly as he arose from the breakfast table at his winter home at Hollywood, Fla., Friday morning. Mr. Speicher had been in ill health for several years having suffered a paralytic stroke from which he never fully recovered, although he spent some time in Walter Reed Hospital in Washington. Funeral services and interment will be Sunday in Arlington National Cemetery. Mr. Speicher was born 63 years ago in Meyersdale, the son of J. C. and Henrietta (Hunter) Speicher. His father was for a number of years superintendent of the Somerset County schools. As a contractor, it was Mr. Speicher, who in conjunction with the late Edward Scull, erected the Somerset High School auditorium about 15 years ago. He also built what is now the Howard Reed residence on Parson's Hill. As a young man he enlisted in Company I, 5th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served throughout the Spanish-American War. During the World War he was superintendent of the DuPont explosives plant at Denvil, N.J., and towards the close of that conflict enlisted with the rank of Captain. During recent years he has held a position with the government in Washington. In the performance of his duties there he had a part in the selection of the site for the new Somerset post office and also in the furnishing of that building. Mr. Speicher was twice married. To his union with Mrs. Elizabeth Stein Speicher, who resides in Jennertown, two children were born, Mrs. George J. Black of Pittsburgh and John Speicher of East Orange, N.J. After a divorce, he married Mrs. Corinine (Alexander) Speicher of Washington, who also survives. Mrs. Prudence, wife of W. N. Shean, of Dover, N.J., is a sister. John Speicher of the Somerset Post Office staff is a half-brother and Miss Helen Speicher, a teacher in the Stonycreek Township schools, is a half-sister. Meyersdale Republican, March 7, 1940