Howard W. Erich, 83, of 110 Moran St. and formerly of 1207 West First St., Oil City, died unexpectedly at 7:45 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, in the emergency room at Northwest Medical Center, Franklin. Born in St. Marys, he was a son of John and Regina GOETZ Erich. Mr. Erich was a veteran of World War II and served with the Navy in the Pacific Theater. He was married Feb. 28, 1946, in Sharon to the former Catherine A. HUCK of Sharon. She preceded him in death Oct. 14, 1988. In the early 1960s, Mr. and Mrs. Erich and their family moved to Oil City where he operated the IGA Foodliner store on State Street. He retired in 1979. He was a meat cutter by trade and formerly worked for more than 27 years as a buyer for Kroger's. Mr. Erich was a member of St. Stephen Church in Oil City. He was a life member of the Knights of Columbus and the Fourth Degree Assembly, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Polish National Alliance, the Pulaski Club and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, all in Oil City. He was an avid card player and enjoyed hunting in his earlier years. Mr. Erich also enjoyed cooking, canning, smoking meats and making jerky. Surviving are three children and their spouses, Don and Mary K. BEERS of Seneca RD 1, John and Candy BROWN of Lakeworth, Fla., and Harold B. and Joni Erich of Franklin RD 4; two sisters, Caroline KANE of Kane and Theresa McINTIRE of Clarksburg, N.J.; four grandchildren, Paul Van SLYKE, Howard Van Slyke, Michael WOOD and Katherine Erich; three great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death in addition to his wife and parents were a daughter, Rosemay STONARD; a son-in-law, Gene Wood; and three brothers, Frances Erich, Floyd Erich and infant Walter Erich. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m Sunday in the Reinsel Funeral Home, Oil City. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Stephen Church. The Very Rev. Jeffery J. Nobel, pastor of St. Stephen, will preside. Committal services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Rose Cemetery in Hermitage. Monsignor William C. Karg will officiate. The family suggests memorials may be made to the St. Stephen or St. Patrick schools or to the Knights of Columbus Building Fund, 111 Petroleum St., Oil City.

Larden C. "Jack" Alworth, 93, of Bruin, died following a lingering illness at 12:45 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3, 1999, at the Chicora Medical Center, where she had been a patient for the past month. He had resided at Laurel Manor in Emlenton for the past five years. Born May 11, 1906, in Eldorado, Parker Township, Buter County, he was a son of William M. and Mary POLM Alworth. Mr. Alworth was a member of Martinsburg Presbyterian Church in Bruin. He was a former member of Bruin Borough Council and of IOOF Connoquenessing Ladge 278, formerly Bruin Lodge 534. He also was a former member of Bruin Volunteer Fire Department. Mr. Alworth was employed with Bruin Mine in his younger years. He worked with his brother as a sawmill operator during the Depression. He then retired as an oil and gas producer in the Bruin area. He was married July 3, 1933, in Olean, N.Y., to Theresa G. BOWSER, who preceded him in death March 8, 1988. They had no children. Mr. Alworth was the last surviving member of his immediate family. He is survived by a number of nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and wife, Mr. Alworth was preceded in death by three brothers, James, Thomas and Paul Alworth; and five sisters, Mrs. Carrie STALKER, Elizabeth McCANDLESS, Buelah McKINNEY, Esther SHICK and Mrs. Helen Alworth KELLY. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Richard D. Hillis Funeral Home in Petrolia. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home with the Rev. Richard Rowe, pastor of Fairview United Presbyterian Church, officiating. Interment will follow in Worthington Presbyterian Cemetery, Armstrong County. The family suggests memorial contributions be mad to Martinsburg Presbyterian Church in Bruin, 16022.

Margret L. Sloss, 77, of Luther Place, Oil City, died at 3:50 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3, 1999, in Titusville Area Hospital. Born Feb. 15, 1922, she was a daughter of James LONGSTRETH and Blanche SCHRUM Longstreth. She lived most of her life in the Oil City area. Mrs. Sloss was a 1939 graduate of Oil City High School. Her last job was as a chef at Wanango Country Club. She retired in 1981. She was married in 1960 to Franklin J. Sloss, who preceded her in death on Sept. 21, 1995. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family. Mrs. Sloss was an avid letter writer to the Oil City Voice. She also was an avid listener of and a frequent caller to the "PulseBeat" radio talk show. She is survived by three children, Melda WARD of Grove City, James KLINKO of Belton, Texas, and John Klinko of Seneca; four step-grandchildren, Frank, Paul and Dale Sloss, and Ida GROVE; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Sloss was preceded in death by five brothers, James, Arnold, Robert, Merle and William Longstreth; one sister, Mary SATTLEMYRE; and three grandchildren, Jeffrey Sloss, Angela BOWERS and Brian Scott Ward. Friends may call from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the chapel in Brandon Cemetery. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday in the chapel. Interment will follow in the cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Visiting Nurses Association of Venango County. The Osenider Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.