Ong, Robert F. ""Bob"

Passed: 1922-11-26

Age: 38

Source: Mountaineer

Death Notice:

Obituary Date: 1922-12-01

Information: "BOB'' ONG KILLED BY FALLING PIANO - Last Sunday evening the people of Ripley were greviously shocked by the untimely death of R. E. Ong.  This sad occurrence happened in front of his home on Church St. by a piano falling on him as he and Fred Carney were unloading it from a truck.  The had lifted one end of the piano to the pavement and was lifting the other end, which was on the truck, around to let it down, when Bob let loose of his side and fell into the ditch, letting the piano fall on him, making a very ugly wound in the right temple and eye, producing death in a few minutes.  He was unconscious all the time.  No other wounds were found on the body of any note.  Drs. Simmons and Rymer arrived in a few minutes and worked hard , but could do no good.      Just why he fell will never be known, as Mr. Carney was on the other side of the piano lifting against him.  Mrs. Wenk, who was sitting in her room looking out of the window, saw him fall, but did not know why.  It is most generally thought that he stepped off the pavement unaware, and the piano, being heavy for two men to handle, broke him down.  He fell backward into the ditch with his head on the bank and his feet next to the pavement.  Mr. Carney rushed to him and lifted the piano up a little ways and his limp body slid further into the ditch with blood running out of his mouth, nose and ears.  He was carried into his house where he died, without regaining consciousness.      The piano belonged to Miss Edith Ong, his sister.  She had written her brother that the family she had rented her rooms from had to move very shortly, so it was necessary for her to move and that she wanted him to come at once and take the piano to his home for storage.  He and Fred Carney went after the piano Sunday morning.  Both men were very cold when they got back, which might have had something to do with the accident.      Mr. Ong was a young man of extensive aquaintanceship and was liked by all.  He was a member of all the secret orders of his town and took an active part in their meetings.  He was buried at the Otterbein cemetery Wednesday.  The four lodges, Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen, of which he was a member took part in the funeral services.  The floral offerings were beautiful.