Bruce Lichty

1865 - 1941  (75 years)

• Name	Bruce Lichty
  Birth	4 Aug 1865	Addison, Somerset County, Pennsylvania
  Gender	Male
  Death	8 Mar 1941	Meyersdale, Somerset County, Pennsylvania
  Notes	Birth: Aug. 4, 1865 Addison Somerset County Pennsylvania, USA Death: Mar. 8, 1941 Meyersdale Somerset County Pennsylvania, USA Meyersdale Republican, March 13, 1941: Beloved Physician, Citizen and Soldier - Death's Shining Mark Dr. Bruce Lichty succumbed to Heart Attack Two Weeks After Being Driven Out of His Fine Home and Office by Devastating Fire Meyersdale Mourns Loss of One of Its Most Worthy and Popular Residents in Last Forty Years Tragic End of Well-Rounded and Successful Career in Serving His Fellowmen. For more than thirty years it has been the sad privilege of the senior editor of this newspaper to write the obituaries of many dear friends who lived long and happily in Meyersdale and adjacent communities, and who during their life's span contributed much to the welfare and happiness of their fellow citizens. But never has it been his sad lot to report the passing of a more worthy friend and citizen than Dr. Bruce Lichty, who became Death's shining mark at 6:30 o'clock, Saturday morning, March 8, 1941, in the Hazel McGilvery Hospital, to which he was admitted the previous Wednesday, following a severe heart attack suffered at the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hostetler. Dr. Lichty had been afflicted with paralysis for several years, his left arm and leg having been crippled by several strokes. During most of that time, however, he was able to be up and around and to walk with the aid of a cane. Before he was stricken he was the dean of Meyersdale physicians and had a large medical practice, most of which he was obliged to give up after being stricken. Up to two weeks before his death, however, he continued to minister to patients who were able to come to his office. Death Hastened by Fire Early on Saturday morning, Feb. 22, fire almost completely ruined the interior and contents of his large two story brick residence, in which he also had his medical offices. Awakened by suffocating smoke he and Mrs. Lichty were able to make their escape from the burning building without personal injury. Until the damage to their home could be repaired, Dr. and Mrs. Lichty were being cared for in the home of the Doctor's daughter Hilda, and her husband, on Beachly Street. Although the aged physician escaped from his burning home unharmed and he seemed to take his loss philosophically and went about daily attending to business and visiting in the homes of friends, the excitement and worry over his misfortune undoubtedly affected his weakened condition due to paralytic strokes in the last few years, and hastened his end. A Country Boy Dr. Lichty was the third of seven children of David and Elizabeth (Keim) Lichty. He was born Aug. 4, 1865, on the Nicholas Keim farm in Addison Township. His parents moved to what later became known as the Keystone Mines farm in Elk Lick Township, when Bruce was still a mere infant. He lived there until the spring of 1878 when his father retired from farming and moved with his family into Salisbury Borough. Young Bruce Lichty got his first schooling in the little old red school house near Boynton, known as the Lichty school. He finished his elementary education in the Salisbury public and local normal schools. It was this writer's privilege to have him as a pupil for several terms in Salisbury. He was an apt and diligent student. It was the pleasure of this writer while teaching in Salisbury to have as pupils at the same time four Lichty boys, nearly related to one another, all of whom in after years became successful physicians, namely: Dr. Albert M. Lichty of Salisbury, Dr. Bruce Lichty of Meyersdale, Dr. John A. Lichty of Pittsburgh and Dr. Milton J. Lichty of Cleveland, O. (John and Milton were brothers). All are now deceased, Dr. Bruce being the last survivor of the notable quartet. After his school days in Salisbury, Bruce Lichty attended Mount Morris College, Illinois; taught school at Morrill, Kansas, and in Grantsville, Md., and then entered the University of Pennsylvania Medical College, Philadelphia, from which he was graduated with the M.D. degree in 1892. Marriage and Career After his graduation he began the practice of medicine in Grantsville, Md., where he had been principal of schools several years before. While teaching in Grantsville he became very much interested in his charming assistant, Miss Fanny Getty, whose beauty and liveliness won the admiration of all who knew her. Miss Getty became the young doctor's bride in 1894, and brought him much happiness. In 1897 Dr. Lichty moved to Rockwood, Pa., then a booming railroad town, as a more lucrative field for the practice of his profession. But at the turn of the century Meyersdale, then in the height of its greatest prosperity, beckoned Dr. Lichty to the then metropolis of Somerset County. His first home and office in this town was on Main Street a few doors below Cherry. Here he soon built up a large practice and prospered, so that a few years later he built and moved into the fine mansion on Meyers Ave., where he spent most of the best years of his life. His home, one of the finest and most commodious in Meyersdale, was the scene of many enjoyable social events. Mrs. Lichty was a charming hostess and joy ruled supreme in the Lichty home until she was stricken with a fatal illness in December, 1931. Bereaved Relatives Mr. and Mrs. Lichty were blessed with two charming daughters, both of whom survive - Helen, Mrs. Leland Becker of Wheelwright, Ky., and Hilda, Mrs. Harry Hostetler, of Meyersdale. Dr. Lichty also leaves one granddaughter, Miss Margaret Becker, in training to be a nurse, in Baltimore, Md.; and two sisters, Mrs. Annie Beachy, widow of Frank P. Beachy, at present living in California, and Mrs. Frank F. Petry of Salisbury. Three brothers, Ross, Stewart and Harvey, preceded him in death. He also leaves a widow, his second wife, who before her marriage was Miss Fannie Graves, a native of Meyersdale and professional nurse of Cleveland, O., to whom he was married on Sept. 12, 1933, and who gave him devoted companionship and care during his years of illness. Ranked High in Profession As a country doctor, Dr. Lichty achieved notable success. He was especially skilled in obstetrics and for many years he ushered more live babies into the world than any other physician practicing in Meyersdale or any of the neighboring towns. It was said of him that in many difficult labor cases he never lost a mother. There probably are more people under 40 years of age living in Meyersdale and vicinity who gasped their first breath in Dr. Lichty's hands than were acouched by any other physician. He was good at diagnosis and his general medical practice was large and varied before his health failed. He made friends of his patients and many were helped back to health by the magic of his cheery disposition as much as by the medical treatment he gave them. He was also skillful in minor surgery and for many years was on the surgical staffs of the Baltimore & Ohio and the Western Maryland railroads. He ranked high in his profession and was a member of the Somerset County Medical Society, the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, the Tri-State Medical Society of Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia, and of the American Medical Association. For a number of years he served as president of the Meyersdale Board of Health, and as free medical adviser of the Meyersdale Baby Clinic and head of the local Tuberculosis Clinic. Patriot and Soldier When the United States entered the World War in 1917, Dr. Bruce Lichty, although past military draft age, volunteered for service in the Medical Corps of the United States Army, as did also his cousins, Dr. John A. Lichty of Pittsburgh and Dr. Milton J. Lichty of Cleveland, O. All were accepted and commissioned with the rank of Captain. Dr. Milton Lichty died in war service while ministering to the Ohio National Guard troops in a training camp in Kentucky. Dr. John Lichty of Pittsburgh helped organize an ambulance corps for service in France, but was not permitted to accompany it abroad, as the War Department deemed his services more valuable in training young doctors for the Army at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Bruce Lichty trained for overseas service in an Army Medical Corps camp in Georgia and served 18 months in surgical work with the A.E.F. in France. Active in Civic Work During his many years' residence in Meyersdale Dr. Lichty took an active interest in the civic and business life of the community. He served as a town councilman, school director, president of the Meyersdale Fair Association, officer of the Chamber of Commerce and similar bodies, president of the Sand Spring Water Company, director of the Second National Bank, and was an alert and progressive citizen in all respects. Active Churchman Dr. Lichty also was active in religious work and took lively interest in all movements for moral uplift and righteous living. He was nurtured in the Church of the Brethren and united with it in his boyhood, but after locating in Meyersdale affiliated with Amity Reformed Church and was an elder and member of the church board and regular attendant at services for many years. Funeral services for him were conducted by his pastor, Rev. Nelson C. Brown, assisted by his former pastor, Rev. Dr. B. A. Black, in Amity Evangelical and Reformed Church, at 2:30 o'clock, Monday afternoon. A guard of honor from the local American Legion post, of which he was a member, stood at his bier while his body lay in state in the church from 12:30 until the services began. The obsequies were largely attended by sorrowing friends. Interment was made in Union Cemetery under direction of Morticians W. C. Price & Son. Pallbearers were T. Boone Browne, W. H. Baldwin, W. H. Holzshu, Dr. B. H. Hoke, Dr. C. C. Glass, Clarence Moore and John I. Meyers. Honorary pallbearers were N. E. Miller, S. B. Philson, W. H. Dill and Dr. W. H. Ryland. Family links: Spouses: Fanny Getty Lichty (1871 - 1931) Fannie Graves Lichty (1886 - 1971)* *Calculated relationship Burial: Union Cemetery Meyersdale Somerset County Pennsylvania, USA Created by: Brian J. Ensley Record added: Mar 11, 2012 Find A Grave Memorial# 86572195 Dr Bruce Lichty Added by: RandallF. Dr Bruce Lichty Added by: Michelle??? Dr Bruce Lichty Added by: Ancestor Searcher There is 1 more photo not showing... Click here to view all images... Photos may be scaled. Click on image for full size. - Michelle??? Added: Feb. 23, 2017
  Person ID	I42900	McKenzie Genealogy
  Last Modified	29 Oct 2021

  
  

  Family	Fannie B. Getty,   b. 5 Apr 1871, Grantsville, Garrett County, Maryland d. 15 Nov 1931, Meyersdale, Somerset County, Pennsylvania (Age 60 years)
  Family ID	F16241	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	29 Oct 2021