The Derrick, October 2, 2008: Homer D. Heffernan, 1220 Chestnut St., Franklin Donald K. King, St. Petersburg Ruth G. McDowell, Emlenton-Clintonville Road, Emlenton Eleanor Dunn Murphy, Brookline Gary Eugene O'Neil, 121 Orchard St., Oil City Sturtz memorial service set Homer D. Heffernan, 90, of 1220 Chestnut St., Franklin, died at 6:20 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008, at Sugar Creek Station. A son of Charles Walter and Daisy Mae McMurdy Heffernan, he was born in Franklin on May 4, 1918. He attended Rocky Grove High School. Mr. Heffernan started working at an early age for the Buchanan Funeral Home and Wygant's Grocery Store. He then worked 32 years at the Amalie (Witco) Refinery until it burned in 1970. He held many positions at the refinery, finishing his career as a machinist. He then worked several years at the Franklin Hospital in the purchasing department and retired as a warehouse clerk at GTE in Oil City. Mr. Heffernan was a sports enthusiast and participated in baseball, softball, horse-shoe pitching, bowling and hunting, but his favorite sport was golf. On Oct. 14, 1939, he married the former Alice C. Harrah; she died Dec. 10, 2002. Surviving are a grandson, Mark Berringer, a son-in-law, Paul Berringer; and a sister, Dorothy Gibbons, all of Franklin. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; a daughter, Sara "Sally" Berringer on June 25, 2008; and two brothers, Charles and Paul Heffernan. Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. today in the Huff Chapel, 312 W. Park St. Private funeral services will be held in the funeral home, conducted by the Rev. Philip Conklin. Interment will be made in the Franklin Cemetery. The family has suggested memorial donations be made to the Activities Fund at Sugar Creek Station, 351 Causeway Drive, Franklin, 16323. Donald K. King, 69, of St. Petersburg, passed away early Wednesday morning, Oct. 1, 2008, at the Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. Born on Jan. 22, 1939, he was the son of Harry James and Hellen Annette Barto King. He married Barbara Lee Timblin King on Feb. 10, 1964. Donald worked for the former Glass Plant in Parker for 18 years. Afterward he was employed for Tom Seigel Strip Mining and later Snyder Associates Strip Mining, where he retired two years ago. He was Protestant by faith. Donald loved attending NASCAR races with his sons and very much enjoyed spending time with his grand children. Surviving are his wife, Barbara Lee Timblin King; three sons, James M. King (Sharon) of Frederick, Md., Donald Eric King and Michael T. King (Marcia) of Hermithee; two sisters, Marsha Fulmer of West Freedom and Donna Kinney of Parker; one brother, William "Bill" King of West Freedom; two granddaughters; one grandson; and a number of nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Tom King of Parker. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the H. Jack Buzard Funeral Home, Wayne Street, in Parker. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday also at the funeral home with the Rev. Dan Meyers officiating. Interment will take place at the Perryville Cemetery. Online condolences may be viewed or sent at buzardfuneralhomes.com. Ruth G. McDowell, 85, of Emlenton-Clintonville Road, Emlenton, Scrubgrass Township, Venango County, died unexpectedly at 4:16 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008, at the emergency room at Grove City Medical Center. Born on Dec. 30, 1922, in Pittsburgh, she was the daughter of Otto J. and Gertrude M. McCosby Strouse. Mrs. McDowell was a member of St. Michael Roman Catholic Church in Emlenton and the Scrubgrass Senior Center, where she enjoyed the company of her friends and playing bingo. She was a talented and creative homemaker who enjoyed flower gardening. She was an excellent mother and grandmother. She attended St. Michael Roman Catholic Schools in Pittsburgh and moved to the family farm in Kennerdell in 1938 and attended the Rockdale School. Mr. McDowell was married in Winchester, W. Va. on Feb. 27, 1941, to Willliam P. McDowell. He preceded her in death on Jan. 8, 1992. Mrs. McDowell is survived by three children, Eileen R. Gordon and her husband, Howard, of Emlenton, William P. McDowell Jr. and his wife, Debbie, of Coal Center and Kathleen "Kap" Conti and her husband, Joseph, of Emlenton. Four grandchildren survive, William P. McDowell III, Christel McDowell, Jennifer L. Gordon and her fiancé, Thomas Harrington, and Crystal Conti. Also surviving is Mrs. McDowell's longtime friend, Paul Fleming of Grove City. A number of nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive. In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. McDowell was preceded in death by three brothers, Robert, William Clair and Howard Strouse; two infant sisters; and an infant brother. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Hile Funeral Home Inc., 1204 Kerr Ave. A parish prayer service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Michael Roman Catholic Church, Chestnut Street, Emlenton, with Monsignor Jan Olowin, church pastor, officiating. Interment will follow in St. Michael Cemetery, Emlenton. Condolences may be sent to localfamiles@hilefuneralhome.com. Eleanor (Dunn) Murphy, 80, of Brookline, died Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008. She was the beloved wife of the late David L. Murphy. She is survived by her children, Patricia (Leon) Wolf of Clarion and David Paul (Delana) Murphy of Whitehall; and grandchildren, Sean Wolf and Trisha Wolf. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Catherine Quinlan. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Beinhauers Funeral Home. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, 2630 W. Liberty Ave., Dormont, 412-531-4000. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Church of the Resurrection. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery. Tributes can be viewed or sent at www.beinhauerfamilyservices.com. Gary Eugene O'Neil, 58, of 121 Orchard St., Oil City and Polk Center, died early Wednesday morning, Oct. 1, 2008, at UPMC Northwest, following a short illness. Born March 15, 1950, in Oil City, he was a son of Marilyn L. Blair and the late Daniel D. O'Neil. He was of the Lutheran faith and attended services at Polk Center. Gary loved music, enjoyed playing records and his phone duty job at Polk Center. He was most known for his outgoing personality and sense of humor. Gary is survived by his mother, Marilyn L. O'Neil of Oil City; two sisters, Linda Black and husband, James, of Oil City and Debra Black and husband, Clayton, of Cooperstown; nephews, Jeffrey, John, Dana and Daniel Black and Clayton Stevenson; a niece, Lisa Stevenson; great nieces, Breanna and Haley Stevenson; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and special friends at Polk Center. Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. today at the Morrison Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. today in the funeral home with the Rev. Philip H. Scherr, pastor of Good Hope Lutheran Church, officiating. Interment will be in Knox Union Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to the Blind Association or a charity of one's choice. Sturtz memorial service set A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Grace United Methodist Church, 350 Front St., Rocky Grove, for the Rev. Lloyd S. Sturtz. The Rev. Ed Gresick will officiate the service. Rev. Sturtz, 77, of Chippewa Township, peacefully met his Lord, Monday, Sept. 29, 2008, at his home.