Donald Eugene SANTMYER

1892 - 1942  (49 years)

• Name	Donald Eugene SANTMYER
  Birth	7 Jun 1892	Scottdale, Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Death	4 Feb 1942	Seattle, King Co., Washington   [2]
  Burial	7 Feb 1942	Seattle, WA Cemetery   [3]
  Notes	In 1923 Don was in the Merchant Marines. In 1924 his ship was caught in the typhoon that hit Tokyo Yokohama killing thousands of Japanese. After rambling all over the world, he settled down and became a successful businessman in Seattle. He married again - he and Kate had no children together; Kate had a grown son from a previous marriage. Donald died from a gunshot wound to the head. It was ruled a suicide. The family has always felt that he was murdered by his step-son. Donald was in bed, the revolver placed into the left side of his mouth - the bullet exited through the right temple. Donald was right handed. If he shot himself, it would mean that he held the revolver in his left hand and squeezed the trigger with his left index finger. It would seem unlikely that a right-handed person would use his left hand to end his life. Donald's family in PA wanted the case re-opened, but were not successful in convincing the Seattle authorities. Ref. Family records and paper located in the family Bible Interviews with Fanny Ethel Santmyer Rowley and James Richard Rowley
  Person ID	I0019	Zentmeyer Main Tree | Descendants of Jacob Santmyer
  Last Modified	21 May 2015

  
  

  Father	James Jacob SANTMYER,   b. 5 Nov 1854, Hardy Co., Virginia (West Virginia) d. 24 Aug 1922, Star Junction, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania (Age 67 years)
  Mother	Helen Marr SHAW,   b. 17 Jan 1859, Morgantown, Monongalia Co., Virginia (West Virginia) d. 27 May 1927, Pittsburgh (Crafton), Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania (Age 68 years)
  Marriage	24 Aug 1875	Moscow, Allegany Co., Maryland   [4, 5, 6]
  Family ID	F002	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Kate WINTERS,   b. 9 Aug 1893   d. 15 Nov 1989, Seattle, King Co., Washington (Age 96 years)
  Family ID	F007	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Olive Mae PAGE,   b. 12 Jul 1894, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania d. 15 Mar 1969, Brownsville, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania (Age 74 years)
  Marriage	Jun 1912  [1]
  Children	1. Orbin Eugene (Bunny) SANTMYER,   b. 31 Mar 1914, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania d. 17 Mar 1985, Homestead, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania (Age 70 years)   2. Harold Page SANTMYER,   b. 31 Aug 1915, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania d. 29 Dec 1996, Fayette City, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania (Age 81 years)
  Family ID	F008	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  Donald Santmyer 1914 Star Junction Photo courtesy of Scott Fitzsimmons

  
  

• Sources

  [S04197] Bible - Family Bible of James J and Helen M Shaw Santmyer. [S07394] Obit - PA - Connellsville - Connellsville Daily Courier - 7 February 1942 - Donald E. Santmyer, Page 2, Column 4. [S07394] Obit - PA - Connellsville - Connellsville Daily Courier - 7 February 1942 - Donald E. Santmyer. Marriage Application. [S05261] Family Records and Papers - Santmyer, Shaw and Rowley. [S05772] Information contributed by Fanny Ethel Santmyer Rowley [deceased].