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The body of a Delphi young man was discovered early Friday morning in a 1,000 gallon mixing tank at Egyptian Lacquer Co., 501 U.S. 52 By-Pass, Lafayette.
Ronald E. Waymire, 28, of 234 N. Wilson Street, Delphi was found dead in the vat at 7:15 a.m. Friday by an employee' of the plant.
State police said Waymire had been missing since his normal check-out time from the plant at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
He apparently was overcome by solvent fumes being used to clean the tank, investigating Trooper Ted Dudzinski said. The Trooper noted that a final decision on the cause of death would have to await a coroner's ruling.
A vat, a 12-foot high structure, is used to mix lacquer. The vats are cleaned periodically and Waymire's body was discovered by a day-shift employee who was checking to see if the vat had been cleaned.
Officials at the plant said that no employee was permitted to enter the vat without another employee standing by. It is believed Waymire crawled inside the three-ton tank shortly before his normal check-out time.
Officials also said that employees going inside the tank are required to wear an air mask because of the fumes. Waymire wasn't wearing a mask when discovered, it was reported.
Waymire had been an employee of the firm since January.
When Waymire did not come home on time as was his custom, his parents became alarmed and went to Lafayette, where they with another son, spent the night looking for the youth. His car reportedly was at the plant parking lot all the time.
Joining Trooper Dudzinski in the investigation was Trooper Richard Jozwiak.
Waymire was born August 2, 1940 in Lafayette, the son of Edward and Mildred Sines Waymire. He was graduated from Delphi High School in 1959 and was a member of the Delphi Presbyterian Church.
Surviving with his parents of Delphi are a brother, William, of Lafayette; and a sister, Mrs. Dan McCain of Williamsport.
Services were Sunday at 2 p.m. at Jackson Funeral Home with the Rev. Frederick Lanan officiating. Interment was in the Masonic Cemetery, Delphi.
Obituary notice taken from the Journal-Citizen, Thursday, October 10, 1968
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Virgina (Ginger) Waymire (McCain) (1965)
Ronnie was my brother. We still miss him very much. He was only 28 when he passed away.He and Bill teased me so much when I was little. I would like to have those times back.
Also, He could eat peas off of a knife. My Grandpa Waymire taught him. I don't know why I thought of that.
I guess it is something a little sister remembers about her older brother.
You are missed.
Terry Berryman (1959)
I remember Ron well. He had a great sense of humor and with brother Bill (whom I worked with at Kroger's) were always doing something different, like catching their fiberglass boat on fire to sprucing up the Model A coupe or having a pet alligator running around their bedroom in the dark. Neither had a mean bone in his body. Good people.