Richard E. Frye
Born 1916 in Ligonier, Pennsylvania
Died February 1937 in San Pedro , California
Obituary taken from The Ligonier Echo February 26 1937.
Richard Frye Loses Life in Accident on Battleship; Shock Hastens Mothers Death.
Double funeral services will be held today from the Gaskin Funeral Home in Ligonier for Mrs. Emanuel Rhodes Frye, of Johnstown, a former Valley resident, and her son,Richard Frye, who was inlisted in the United States Navy. Interments will be made in the Ligonier Valley Cemetery.
Richard was killed last Thursday off the coast of San Pedro, California, when an explosion occured on the Wyoming, a Navy Battleship while it was engaged in battle manuvers. His body is being sent by train and is expected to arrive at Gaskin`s Funeral Home this morning.
The accident which was described as "unavoidable" cost the lives of six other men. Mrs Frye, who passed away at her home in Johnstown, Wednesday morning. Richard who`s father , E.D. Frye was born and raised in Ligonier Valley, joined the Navy about a year ago. He was 21 years of age.
The family had the privilage of having him buried in Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C. or in the family plot in the Valley Cemetery. He will be given a full military funeral by Ligonier veterans. Surviving Mrs. Frye are; Her husband E. D. Frye; three daughters, Emma and Ruth, at home, and Mrs Helen Wilmont, of La Salle Ill., and two sons, Charles and Phillip at home.
Report taken from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Vol. VIII, page498-499
Departing Norfolk on 5 January 1937, Wyoming transisted the Panama Canal; headed for San Diego soon thereafter; and spent the following weeks enguaged in the assult landing excercises and gunnery drills at San Clemente Island, off the coast of California. On 18 February 1937, during the culminating phase of a multi-faceted ( land, sea, and air excercise, a shrapnel shell exploded prematurely as it was being rammed into one of the ship`s 5-inch broadside guns. Six marines were killed, and 11 wounded. Immediatly after the explosion, Wyoming sped to San Pedro, where she transfered the wounded marines to the hospital ship RELIEF ( AH-1).
Richard is buried at the Ligonier Valley Cemetery Location D-10-46.
Parents of Richard
Emmanuel D. Frye 1878-1962
Mayme S. Rhoades 1887-1937
