The Derrick, January 30, 2009: Peggy Lou McDaniel Downes, Oil City Presbyterian Home Edward W. Reitz, Distant Vivian Mary Swanson, 212 Orchard St., Oil City Birdie B. Walter, Tionesta Stanley Pliska service is today Peggy Lou McDaniel Downes, 63, a resident of the Oil City Presbyterian Home, died at 7:06 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, at Titusville Area Hospital. Born April 6, 1945, in Oil City, she was the daughter of the late Arthur and Reta Frank McDaniel. Mrs. Downes was a 1963 graduate of Rocky Grove High School. She did her nurses training at Meadville City Hospital. Mrs. Downes retired from Polk Center as a licensed parctical nurse after several decades of honorable service. She was a member of Oakland United Methodist Church and was an avid Steelers and Pirates fan. Surviving are two sons, Todd M. Bickel and his wife, Kimberly, of Ypsilanti, Mich., and Dustin M. Bickel and his wife, Brenda, of Polk; a sister, Annette M. Carter and her husband, Bob, of Oil City; and a sister-in-law, Leona McDaniel of Toms River, N.J. Also surviving are two nieces, Corrine Filipowski and her husband, Steve, of Oil City, and Dawn O'Chelli and her husband, Charles, of Toms River, N.J.; and two step-grandchildren, Jenna and Justin Briggs, both of Ypsilanti, Mich. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Downes was preceded in death by two brothers, Fred H. McDaniel and Richard E. "Skip" McDaniel; and a special friend and caregiver, Glenn Carbaugh. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. today at the Huff Chapel, 312 W. Park St., Franklin. Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. today in the funeral home with the Rev. Pat Ellis, chaplain of the Oil City Presbyterian Home, officiating. Interment will follow in Reno Cemetery. The family suggests memorial donations be made to the Oil City Presbyterian Home, 10 Vo-Tech Drive, Oil City, 16301; or the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Allegheny District Chapter, 1501 Reedsdale St., Suite 105, Pittsburgh, 15233. Online condolences may be sent at www.huffchapel.com. Edward W. Reitz, 72, of Distant, passed away Wednesday morning, Jan. 28, 2009, at his residence. Born Jan. 12, 1937, in Jefferson County, he was the son of Paul Himes and Ethel June Reitz Himes. He was first married to the former Mary E. Raybuck, who preceded him in death. He was then married Jan. 26, 1980, to the former Thelma L. Pettigrew, who survives. Mr. Reitz was a self-employed mechanic. He was a U.S. Marine and was a veteran of the Korean War. Mr. Reitz is survived by his mother, Ethel June Himes of Lake Milton, Ohio; his wife, Thelma L. Reitz of Distant; five sons, Willis Reitz of Grafton, Ohio, Robert Reitz and his wife, Theresa, of Mesquite, Texas, David Reitz of Niles, Ohio, Rodney Reitz of Niles, Ohio, and Paul Reitz and his wife, Suzy, of Niles, Ohio; and one daughter, Mary Ann Reitz and her companion, Randy, of Niles, Ohio. He is also survived by a stepdaughter, Debbie Beecher of Pennsylvania; and two brothers, Lewis "Toe" Himes and his wife, Maxine, of Fairmount City, and Kenneth Himes and his wife, Sharon, of Florida. Mr. Reitz was preceded in death by his father, Paul Himes; his first wife, Mary E. Reitz; a sister, Betty Fenstermaker; a brother, Robert Himes; a grandson, Travis Reitz Hoover; a nephew, Clifford Fenstermaker Jr.; a great-niece, Amber Himes; and a great-nephew, Matthew Smith. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Alcorn Funeral Home in Hawthorn. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with pastor James Steinglass of Zion Lutheran Church in Shannondale officiating. Interment will be in Markton Cemetery, Oliver Township, Jefferson County. Vivian Mary Swanson, 87, of 212 Orchard St., Oil City, formerly of Ashland, Ohio, died at 9:50 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009, at UPMC Northwest in Seneca after an extended illness. Born April 7, 1921, in Kitzmiller, Md., she was the daughter of the late Elijah H. Moon and Elizabeth C. Hogue Moon. Mrs. Swanson was married Sept. 13, 1943, to Charles R. Swanson, who preceded her in death in 2001. She graduated from South High School in Akron, Ohio, in 1939. Mrs. Swanson had worked for various companies over the years and had served as an office manager. She had belonged to the Garden Club, the Sunshine Club, the Bowling Group and the Old Union Town Quilters, all in Ashland, Ohio, the Oil Valley Quilters Guild in Oil City and the National Quilting Association. Mrs. Swanson is survived by two children, Janis E. Carlson of Ft. Collins, Colo., and Jerry R. Swanson and his wife, Sheila, of Oil City; two grandchildren, Heather Carlson Willis and her husband, Jim, of Buffalo, Mont., and Eric M. Carlson of Ft. Collins, Colo.; and three great-grandchildren, Sage Ann, Hunter J. and Amanda R. Willis; all of Buffalo, Mont. Funeral services will take place at the convenience of the family. The Reinsel Funeral Home and Crematory in Oil City is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Visiting Nurses Association, 419 Allegheny Blvd., Franklin. Online condolences may be sent at www.reinselfuneralhome.com Birdie B. Walter, 87, of Tionesta, died early Thursday morning, Jan. 29, 2009, in the Titusville Hospital. Born Oct. 24, 1921, in Greenbank, W.Va., she was the daughter of Frank H. and Margie Wooddell Blum. She was married Aug. 24, 1940, in Warren to Joseph C. Walter, who preceded her in death on March 26, 1993. Mrs. Walter graduated in 1939 from Tionesta High School. She was a member of the Tionesta Church of God and belonged to the Tionesta Senior Citizens. Mrs. Walter is survived by a son, Larry Walter, of West Hickory. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Larry Walter, Eric Walter, Karla Walter, Brenda Smith, Shawn Bishop, Joshua Walter and Michelle Walter; and eight great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Walter was preceded in death by three sisters, Donna Jean Blum, Mildred Welch and Pauline Biskar; three brothers, Harold Blum, Frank Earl Blum and Ben Blum; and a close nephew, Carl Lindblade. She is the last surviving member of her immediate family. Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Tionesta Church of God. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. at the church with the Rev. Michael Brady, pastor, officiating. Interment will follow in the Mt. Collins Cemetery. The family suggests memorials be made to Tionesta Church of God or the charity of one's choice. Stanley Pliska service is today A committal service for Stanley R. Pliska, a former Oil City resident, is scheduled for 11 a.m. today in the mausoleum of Calvary Cemetery in Oil City. Mr. Pliska, 91, professor emeritus at Old Dominion University, passed away Saturday, Jan. 24, 1009, in Mansfield, Conn. Monsignor John W. Swoger, the pastor at St. Joseph Church in Oil City, will preside at today's service. Military honors will be provided by the VETS Honor Guard. The Reinsel Funeral Home & Crematory in Oil City is handling the arrangements.