OBIT: Ralph Snyder ZIMMERMAN, 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.
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RALPH ZIMMERMAN

Sudden Death of Ralph Zimmerman

  Ralph Zimmerman, only son of the late D. B. Zimmerman, dropped dead on West 
Union Street, Somerset, about 11:45 a.m. last Saturday.  His death was 
attributed to coronary occlusion, a form of heart disease.
  Mr. Zimmerman, who was associated with the Babcock coal and coke interests at 
Clifton, W.Va., returned Friday from a business trip to spend the weekend with 
his mother and sister at the Zimmerman home a short distance north of Somerset.  
Suffering from a cold and pains across the shoulder, he went into Somerset 
Saturday morning to consult a physician who advised him of the necessity of his 
remaining at home for a rest.  Before he reached home he was stricken by a heart 
attack and died before a doctor could be called by passersby who saw him fall.
  Ralph Snyder Zimmerman was born January 4, 1887, on his father's farm near 
Stoystown.  As a boy he removed to Somerset with the family, was graduated from 
Somerset High School, attended Gettysburg College two years, then entered Yale 
University from which he was graduated in geology and mining engineering with 
the class of 1909, and earned his master's degree on the strength of a year's 
post graduate work at the University of Chicago.
  His father, Daniel B. Zimmerman, was for many years one of the wealthiest men 
and leading coal operators of Somerset County.  After finishing his scholastic 
education young Zimmerman relieved his father of much of the work and 
responsibility of his extensive mining operations.
  After the death of his father in 1928, Ralph Zimmerman busied himself with the 
multitudinous duties entailed in the administration of his many properties.  He 
became the head of the Quemahoning Coal Company.
  Somerset had not seen much of Mr. Zimmerman since about 1933 when he became 
associated with the Babcock interests in West Virginia.  He was general manager 
of the coal and coke operations of the former Pittsburgh mayor, E. V. Babcock, 
at Clifton, W.Va.  This company is at the present time engaged in supplying coke 
for factories producing defense armaments.
  Mr. Zimmerman was aged 53 and never married.  He is survived by his mother, 
Mrs Lizzie M. Zimmerman, and one sister, Sallie Alma Zimmerman.  He was a member 
of Trinity Lutheran Church, Somerset, and of Somerset Lodge 358, Free and 
Accepted Masons.
  His body was removed to the Hauger Funeral Home, where funeral services were 
held at 3 p.m. Monday, followed by burial in the Zimmerman family plot in the 
Husband Cemetery.

Meyersdale Republican, October 17, 1940