William was the son of Sarah Longenberger and Isaac Fetterman. He married Rebecca Jane, daughter of Jane Lindenmuth and Thomas Weller. William and Rebecca lived in Conyngham Township, Pennsylvania, where he worked as a laborer in a coal breaker at the Blackwood Mine. Two children were born of this marriage:

• Isaac Thomas Fetterman (b. June 27, 1902, d. December 7, 1962); and
• Earl M. Fetterman (b. April 18, 1912, d. October 1987).

What follows below is the obituary that I obtained courtesy of his great great grandson Thomas Fetterman:

ARISTES.

Nothwithstanding the stormy weather and the icy roads one of the largest funerals ever held in Aristes was that of Wm. Wallace Fetterman on Tuesday afternoon of last week. His home was at Blackwood, but he came to the home of his parents, Isaac Fetterman and wife, at this place, about four weeks ago, and from there went to Fountain Springs hospital for treatment for stomach trouble from which he suffered for several years. He was operated upon about three weeks ago and it was found that he had cancer of the stomach. He stood the operation well, but about a week ago a very painful abscess formed in his neck and he died Friday afternoon, Jan. 29th. He was buried Tuesday afternoon from the home of his parents. Rev. A. L. Dillenbeck, of Mt. Carmel Lutheran church, officiating, interment in the Aristes cemetery. The P.O.S. of A. camp, of which he was a member, held their ritual services at the grave. His age was 32 years, 10 months, and 9 days. He was married to Miss Rebecca Weller, daughter of Thos. Weller, of this place. Surviving him are his widow and two sons. Thomas, aged twelve years, and Earl, aged three; his parents; three brothers, Ralph, of Blackwood; Marshall, of Shamokin; Orrie at home; three sisters, Mrs. Harvey Koons, Mt. Carmel; Mrs. Chas. Rhoades, Aristes, and Ethel at home. He was a member of the Lutheran church at this place. The bereaved families have the sympathy of the entire community here as well as at his home. The pallbearers were Wm. Roadarmel, Chas. Beaver, R. M. Beaver, Ollie Honabach, Geo. Keller and Oliver Miller. Beautiful floral tributes were presented by the following: Thos. Weller and wife, Isaac Fetterman and wife, his sons Thomas and Earl, his brothers and sisters, Henry Weller and wife, Mrs. Stauffer and family; Mrs. Morris Zimmerman, of Pottsville; W. Honabach, Blackwood; Lehigh Valley Coal Co., employees of Lehigh Valley Coal Col, Aristes Lutheran church and P.O.S. of A. camp. Those present from a distance were: Simon Fetterman, Hughesville; Mrs. Geo. Martin, Bloomsburg; Raymond Adams and wife. Mrs. Elmer Yeager, Mrs. Wm. Adams, Jerry Fahringer and wife, Lloyd Adams and wife, Roaringcreek; Mrs. Uriah Fetterman, Mrs. David Fetterman and son Wilmer, Numidia; Mrs. Elizabeth Raup, Catawissa; Harry Stauffer and Mrs. Wm. Stauffer and son, Cressona; Chas. Weller, wife and son, Chas. Owen and wife, New Castle; Morris Zimmerman and wife, Pottsville; Henry Weller and wife, Girardville; Messrs. W. Honabach, Lishman Patterson, McGann and Engleman, of Blackwood; Mr. McGann, of Newtown; Mrs. Geo. Blass, Hazelton; and Mrs. John Startzel, Mahanoy City.

The bereaved families return thanks to the many friends who so kindly assisted them during his illness and death. How beautiful is the belief of man’s immortality! The dead alive again and living forever? “Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust” is only spoken over the body when consigned to the grave, but such is not the home of the soul.

There is no death! An angel comes
To earth with silent tread;
He bears our best loved ones away
And then we call them “dead.”

There is no death! A husband dear
Has left you for a while;
He left you but to come again
Without world’s sin or guile.

There is no death! O, sorrow not,
A whisper soft we hear;
“A Father to your boys I’ll be
So wipe away your tears.”

There is no death! No night in heav’n.
Parents, your watch is o’er;
One less in family here have you
One more on yonder shore.

There is no death! Brothers, sisters,
Brother Wallace will be missed;
He’s face to face with holy things
While to earth’s sorrows still you list.

And ever near us, though unseen,
Immortal spirits treat;
For all the boundless universe
Is life—“there is no dead.”

See below for pictures of the larger headstone that this one and others like it surround.

Picture documented on June 24, 2003. Information updated as of March 1, 2004 courtesy of Thomas Fetterman.