The Derrick, October 13, 2008: Murdian K. Acklin, of Warren, formerly of Oil City William C. Alsbaugh, Oil City native Robert J. Bowser, of Austintown, Ohio, Edward Burnett Sr., Tionesta Edward Glenn Conner, McNaughton Road, Rimersburg Patricia A. Gregory, Marienville RD 1, Jenks Twp., Forest County Donna Whitmore Heffern, 1220 Chestnut St., Franklin Dorothy M. Weirich, Marble C. Walter Yates, Sligo Murdian K. Acklin, 91, of Warren, formerly of Oil City, passed away Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008, at Warren manor. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Peterson-Blick Funeral Home, 1003 Pennsylvania Ave. E., Warren, and funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home. A complete obituary will be published at a later date. William C. Alsbaugh, 66, formerly of Lake City and most recently of Manchester Presbyterian Lodge, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008, after an extended illness. Born in Oil City on Dec. 4, 1941, he was a son of the late Carl and Helen Dowlan Alsbaugh. A graduate of Oil City High School, Bill had been employed at Copes Vulcan in Lake City for many years. He was a member of the Millcreek Nazarene Church. Bill enjoyed fishing, walking, gardening and meeting with friends from Copes for coffee at McDonalds. In addition to his parents, Bill was preceeded in death by his wife of 37 years, Judith Whitling Alsbaugh; two brothers, Bob and Ron; and a sister, Carolyn. He is survived by a daughter, Tricia Alsbaugh of Lakewood, Wash.; two sons, Erich Alsbaugh and his wife Carolyn of Lake City, and Jason Alsbaugh of Danville, Va.; a granddaughter, Brynn Alsbaugh; a grandson, Jared; four sisters, Shirley, Barbara, Linda and Darlene; and many nieces and nephews. Private funeral services are being handled by Burton Funeral Home, 525 Main St. East, Girard. Memorials may be made to the family in care of Burton Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.burtonfuneralhome.com. Robert J. Bowser, 64, of Austintown, Ohio, passed away Friday afternoon, Oct. 17, 2008, in Hospice House. Born Dec. 9, 1943, in Kolersburg, he was the son of Thomas Robert and Mildred (Wells) Bowser. He retired in 2006 after 40 years of service with General Motors Lordstown, where he worked in the final repair department. He was a former member of Youngstown Baptist Church, a member of the Moose Lodge, and the UAW. His hobbies included wood working, home repair and remodeling and riding his motorcycle. He was married Dec. 24, 1965, to the former Linda Eck, who survives. Survivors also include two children; Tawna (T.C.) Gray and her husband, Bud, of Austintown, and John Bowser and his wife, Denise, of Lake Milton; a sister and her husband, Betty and Bill Hobson of Austintown; a brother and his wife, Alan and Donna Bowser of Kolersburg; and four grandchildren, Kyrie, Joshua, Anna Nichole, and Shannan Ariel. In addition to his parents, Bob was preceded in death by a grandson, Jeremy Bowser. Family and friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Lane Funeral Home Austintown Chapel, 5797 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home. The family suggests memorial donations be made to Hospice House. Condolences may be sent online at www.lanefuneralhomes.com. Edward Burnett Sr., 76, of Tionesta, formerly of Greenville, passed away at 3:14 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008, at Titusville Area Hospital following an extended illness. The Osborne-Williams Funeral Home and Cremation Services Inc. of Greenville is in charge of arrangements. A complete obituary will be published Tuesday in The Derrick. Edward Glenn Conner, 79, of McNaughton Road, Rimersburg, (the Kissinger Mills area), passed away peacefully at 3:15 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008, at his home surrounded by his family. Born Feb. 1, 1929, in the home where he passed away, he was the only son of the late Edward C. Conner and Carrie A. Bowser Conner. He attended school in Kissinger Mills, Maple Grove and Rimersburg. He began his working career at the age of 15 delivering groceries and working in the Kissinger Mills Store, which was owned by the Keystone Mining Company. He retired in 1987 from Pennzoil Refining Company in Rouseville, where he was employed for 38 years as a welder. Following the death of longtime Mount Hope Cemetery caretaker William Priester, Glenn assumed those duties and held that position until one year ago. He lived in Oil City during much of the 1950s studying welding and while there played his fiddle and sang on the Oil City radio station with Smokey Wagner. Two of their favorite songs were "Cool, Cool Water" and "I'm Sending You a Bouquet of Roses." He was a member of the Grace Community Church in Curllsville. He enjoyed hunting and target shooting and was talented at both. He was married on Oct. 30, 1959, in East Brady to the former Gwendolyn R. Cyphert, who survives. Survivors also include a son and his wife, Nolan F. Conner and Eva Dittman Conner of Curllsville; a daughter and her husband, Carrie R. and Michael Marchioni of Brookville; a granddaughter, Kaitlin A. Conner of Curllsville; his beloved dog, a black Lab named Toby; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Mrs. Violet June Priester on March 4, 2007, and an infant sister, Martha Conner. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Richard D. Hillis Funeral Home in Rimersburg. Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home with Daniel George, pastor of the Grace Community Church in Curllsville, and the Rev. Randy Evans, Clarion Forrest VNA Hospice pastor, officiating. Interment will follow in the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Conneration. The family suggests memorial donations be made to the Grace Community Church, P. O. Box 171, Curllsville, 16221, or to the Clarion Forrest VNA Hospice, P. O. Box 668, Knox, 16232. Patricia A. Gregory, 72, of Marienville RD 1, Jenks Twp., Forest County, died at 9:06 p.m. Friday evening, Oct. 17, 2008, at Select Specialty Hospital, Erie, following an extended illness. Born Aug. 12, 1936, in Oil City, she was a beloved daughter of the late Howard and Catherine (Schmader) Fesenmyer. Mrs. Gregory graduated in 1954 from St. Joseph High School, Oil City. She was happiest as a homemaker. For many years, she also helped her husband in his Marienville dental office. Mrs. Gregory was a member of St. Mary Church, Crown. She enjoyed listening to music and cooking and baking for her family and especially enjoyed spending quality time with her grandchildren. She was married June 1, 1957, in St. Stephen Church in Oil City by Monsignor Louis Kelly to Dr. Henry A. "Hank" Gregory, who survives. In addition to her husband of 51 years, she is survived by her children, Margaret R. Brougham, of Erie, Henry M. Gregory, of Aurora, Colo., Mary P. Hartsell and her husband, Michael, of Great Valley, N.Y., and Patrick H. Gregory and his wife, Delilah, of Marienville. Also surviving are 11 grandchildren, including Patrick and Michael Gregory, whom Mrs. Gregory helped raise; two great-granddaughters; a brother, Howard L. Fesenmyer and his wife, Dorothea, of Bradford; and a sister: Ruth Miller, of Ocala, Fla. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Catherine Merryman; a sister, Geraldine M. Reinsel; and three brothers, Robert C., Norman C. and John B. Fesenmyer. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today in the Borland Funeral Home, Inc., Route 66, Leeper. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 3:45 p.m. today in the funeral home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday in St. Mary Church, Crown, with the Rev. William C. Miller, officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family requests that memorial contributions be made, if desired, to The American Cancer Society, The American Heart Association or a charity of one's choice. Donna Whitmore Heffern, 65, of 1220 Chestnut St., Franklin, died at 12:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008, at her residence after a courageous battle with cancer. Born Aug. 28, 1943, in Allegany, N.Y., she was a daughter of Homer A. and Mildred M. Fry Stanley. Mrs. Heffern graduated from Cranberry High School in 1961. She worked as a medical billing clerk for Dr. John Emerson. Mrs. Heffern was a member of Christ United Methodist Church. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and card clubbing with special friends for more than 35 years. She loved the color lavender, shopping, participating in the Relay for Life and especially enjoyed spending the holidays with her family. She was married Oct. 23, 1999, to William Heffern Sr., who preceded her in death. Surviving are three sons, Randall D. Whitmore and his wife, Cris, Rodney D. Whitmore and his significant other, Tracey Morris, and Russell E. "Rusty" Whitmore and his wife, Cheryl, all of Franklin; 16 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Survivors also include a special niece, Sandra Wygant of Erie; and a brother, Larry H. Stanley and his wife, Carole, of Tippery. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Robert W. Gardinier Funeral Home, 1315 Chestnut St., Franklin. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home with the Rev. Ronald C. Bole, VNA Hopsice pastor, officiating, assisted by VNA Hospice pastor the Rev. Susan Evans. Interment will be in Heckathorn Cemetery. The family suggests memorial donations be made to the VNA Foundation Hospice Program, the Venango County Area Agency on Aging or the Kirtland Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 108, Franklin, 16323. Condolences may be sent online at www.gardinierfuneralhome.com. Dorothy M. Weirich, 89, of Marble, passed Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008, at the Clarion-Forest VNA Hospice House in Shippenville. Born Nov.9, 1918, in Clarion, she was the daughter of the late Augustine and Anna (Denslinger) Hartle. She was married in 1940 and her husband preceded her in death in 1974. She was member of St. Michael Church in Fryburg and a member of the St. Michael Rosary Society. She was employed for 45 years at the G. C. Murphy Company in Clarion, retiring in 1983. She was a lifelong resident of the Clarion area until 1970, when she moved to the Marble area to reside with her daughter, Judith. In her spare time she enjoyed crossword puzzles, baking, sewing, and making crafts, especially making quilt tops of the church. She is survived by one daughter, Judith Weirich of Marble; a son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Carol Weirich of Erie; and two grandsons, Kevin Weirich and wife, Melinda, of Concord, Ohio, and Keith Weirich and wife, Heather, of Hooksett N.H. Survivors also include a sister, Louise F. Smerkar of Fryburg; and four great-grandchildren, Melinda, Kelly, Kyle, and Kenny, all of Concord, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Faller Funeral Home Inc. in Fryburg. Parish prayer services will be held at 3:45 p.m. Monday in the funeral home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday in St. Michael Church, Fryburg, with the Rev. David Poulson, pastor, presiding. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family suggests memorials be made to St. Michael Church or the Clarion/Forest VNA Hospice House. C. Walter Yates, 72, of Colerain St., Sligo, died Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008, at home following a sudden illness. The Varner Funeral Home of Sligo is in charge of arrangements. A complete obituary will appear Tuesday in The Derrick.