A sportive gesture with a loaded target pistol late one Saturday afternoon caused the death of my great-uncle, Charles Werthmann, 32, of New England Hill, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. The unfortunate incident took place in a local Moose clubroom where Chuck had volunteered to help the steward with work about the premises. He was well known in local club circles for his gaiety, wit and willingness to serve as entertainer on many club programs. Chuck shot himself in the left temple with a .22 caliber gun and was dead a few moments later upon arrival at the Beaver Valley Hospital. The coroner pronounced his death accidental after a review of circumstances submitted by club members present and local police. DeWayne Boles, Tenth Avenue, a member of the club had been target practicing with the pistol earlier in the day. Upon visiting the club, the gun was placed in its box in a drawer. When the weapon was being taken from the drawer upon Boles' departure, Great-Uncle Chuck grabbed the gun and placed it to his head. Those standing near him believed him to be playing a joke until Boles yelled, "Look out, that's loaded!" It was at that moment before those near him could reach him that the pistol cracked and Chuck slumped to the floor. Spratt's ambulance was called and Chuck was hurried to the hospital. Death was believed to be almost instantaneous. Charles Werthmann lived with his brother-in-law, Herbert Bell, New England Hill. He was employed at the U.S. Sanitary Manufacturing Plant in Monaca, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and was a member of the Moose and Owls Clubs. Survivors were brothers John and William, New Brighton; sisters, Mrs. Herbert (Mary) Mitchell, Conway; Mrs. Helen Werthman, Mrs. Harry (Johanna) Raisley, and Mrs. Lee (Rose) Gibson, New Brighton; and Mrs. Fred (Elizabeth) Hahn, Eastvale. They are all deceased now. Funeral services were held at the Bell home, New England Hill. Rev. M.S. Ashton, rector of Christ Episcopal Church, presided. Burial was in Sylvania Hills Memorial Park, Rochester, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Chuck's sister, Helen Werthman, was buried alongside him in 1999.
My mother's cousin, Gloria Modich, told me that Chuck was about to marry a girl by the name of Gerry Skillinger.
Chuck is at the top of this photo as a young boy, pictured with his mother and dad, and from L to R, his sister, Annie; brother, Bill; and sister, Mary (my Grandmother).
My mother's cousin, Gloria Modich, told me that Chuck was about to marry a girl by the name of Gerry Skillinger.
Chuck is at the top of this photo as a young boy, pictured with his mother and dad, and from L to R, his sister, Annie; brother, Bill; and sister, Mary (my Grandmother).
A sportive gesture with a loaded target pistol late one Saturday afternoon caused the death of my great-uncle, Charles Werthmann, 32, of New England Hill, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. The unfortunate incident took place in a local Moose clubroom where Chuck had volunteered to help the steward with work about the premises. He was well known in local club circles for his gaiety, wit and willingness to serve as entertainer on many club programs. Chuck shot himself in the left temple with a .22 caliber gun and was dead a few moments later upon arrival at the Beaver Valley Hospital. The coroner pronounced his death accidental after a review of circumstances submitted by club members present and local police. DeWayne Boles, Tenth Avenue, a member of the club had been target practicing with the pistol earlier in the day. Upon visiting the club, the gun was placed in its box in a drawer. When the weapon was being taken from the drawer upon Boles' departure, Great-Uncle Chuck grabbed the gun and placed it to his head. Those standing near him believed him to be playing a joke until Boles yelled, "Look out, that's loaded!" It was at that moment before those near him could reach him that the pistol cracked and Chuck slumped to the floor. Spratt's ambulance was called and Chuck was hurried to the hospital. Death was believed to be almost instantaneous. Charles Werthmann lived with his brother-in-law, Herbert Bell, New England Hill. He was employed at the U.S. Sanitary Manufacturing Plant in Monaca, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and was a member of the Moose and Owls Clubs. Survivors were brothers John and William, New Brighton; sisters, Mrs. Herbert (Mary) Mitchell, Conway; Mrs. Helen Werthman, Mrs. Harry (Johanna) Raisley, and Mrs. Lee (Rose) Gibson, New Brighton; and Mrs. Fred (Elizabeth) Hahn, Eastvale. They are all deceased now. Funeral services were held at the Bell home, New England Hill. Rev. M.S. Ashton, rector of Christ Episcopal Church, presided. Burial was in Sylvania Hills Memorial Park, Rochester, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Chuck's sister, Helen Werthman, was buried alongside him in 1999.
My mother's cousin, Gloria Modich, told me that Chuck was about to marry a girl by the name of Gerry Skillinger.
Chuck is at the top of this photo as a young boy, pictured with his mother and dad, and from L to R, his sister, Annie; brother, Bill; and sister, Mary (my Grandmother).
My mother's cousin, Gloria Modich, told me that Chuck was about to marry a girl by the name of Gerry Skillinger.
Chuck is at the top of this photo as a young boy, pictured with his mother and dad, and from L to R, his sister, Annie; brother, Bill; and sister, Mary (my Grandmother).
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