Neil Eugene Dittman

Obituary from thederrick.com:

Neil Eugene Dittman, 87, of Cropps Corners Road, Knox, went to be with his Lord at 7:05 a.m. Monday, Jan. 18, 2010, at Jefferson Manor Health Center in Brookville.

Born Sept. 3, 1922, in Salem Township, Clarion County, he was the son of Charles and Rosa Berlin Dittman.

Neil had worked at Knox Glass, he had been a truck driver, and he was a machinist at Joy Manufacturing in Franklin for 19 years.

He also farmed, was an oil and gas producer and owned Dittman Fabric and Yarn Shop from 1977-1987.

Neil owned and operated Dittman Precision Balls and Seats, making oil field equipment.

He was a member of Grace Evangelical Congregational Church in Ninevah and the Pennsylvania Independent Oil Producers..

A World War II U.S. Army veteran, he was stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington state and served as a medical technician caring for patients in the ward and in transit on hospital trains.

Neil enjoyed square dancing, country music, riding his motorcycle with his wife, family gatherings and working in his machine shop.

In his later years he enjoyed woodworking projects he made for family and friends.

He was married Nov. 28, 1942, by the Rev. Fredrick H. Maul in Emanuel Lutheran Church in Shippenville to Dorothy LaRue Meier. She preceded him in death June 23, 2005.

Neil is survived by five children, Gerald "Jerry" Dittman and his wife, Rose, of Parker, Margaret "Peggy" Weaver and her husband, Daniel, of Knox, Terry Dittman and his wife, Karen, of Knox, Mary Catherine "Cathy" O'Neil and her husband, Terry, of Brookville, and Timothy "Bo" Dittman and his wife, Sandra, of Knox.

Also surviving are 12 grandchildren, Chris Shick, Melissa Colwell, Jeremy Dittman, Gina Marshall, Danielle Weaver, Lonnie Dittman, Lance Dittman, Jody Stiller, Catrina Stiller, Kevin Dittman, Angie Dittman and Clint Ray; 18 great-grandchildren and two great-great- grandchildren.

He also is survived by a brother, Jim Dittman and his wife, Shirley, of Knox; and four sisters-in-law, Joan Rowe and her husband, Carl, Sue Meier, Nancy Elder and her husband, Ray, and Linda Wagner and her husband, Dick, all of Knox.

Additional survivors include three brothers-in-law, Homer Henry and Jerry Meier of Knox and Don Meier of Conneautville, Ohio; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife and parents, Neil was preceded in death by a son, Gary Dittman; a granddaughter, Jaime Ray; and two sisters, Eileen Johnson and Ida Mae Henry.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the David C. McEntire Funeral Home Inc., 504 East Penn St., Knox, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at Grace Evangelical Congregational Church in Ninevah.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in the church with the Rev. Rick Osberg, church pastor, officiating.

Interment will follow in Cedarview Memorial Park, Strattanville.

The family suggests memorials be made to Grace E.C. Church, 2561 Grace Church Road, Knox, 16232