A few notes on William Franklin Detwiler: b. October 14, 1878, Morrison's Cove, Bedford County, Pennsylvania; d. September 5, 1950, Butler County Memorial Hospital, Butler, Pennsylvania; bur., Mount Royal Cemetery, Glenshaw, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

Married Leola Lizabeth Irwin, October 8, 1907.

The Detwiler Planetarium at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania was a gift from Mrs. Leola Detwiler and Mr. and Mrs. John G. Detwiler to honor the memory of William Franklin Detwiler (1878-1950); William Franklin Detwiler, Jr., (1912-1951) and Roy Irwin Detwiler (1914-1930). It was installed in 1968 while John Detwiler was serving as President of Lycoming College. The planetarium uses a Spitz A-3-P projection system. This system uses a very small and bright arc light as a source, and mostly "pinholes" in the starball for the arc light to shine through to make "the stars" up on the dome.

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The Williamsport Gazette and Bulletin, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Wednesday, September 6, 1950, p. 13:

W. F. DETWILER DIES AT BUTLER

William Franklin Detwiler, 71, died at 2:45 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1950, at Butler County Memorial Hospital ...

Mr. Detwiler was principal owner of Central Cable Corporation of Jersey Shore. He was born Oct. 14, 1878, at Morrison's Cove, Bedford County. He attended common school at Hickory Bottom in Bedford County, and after finishing common school went to work as an apprentice with the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company at Turtle Creek, where he continued to work until 1908.

At Allegheny-Ludlam

On Dec. 15, 1908, he went to work for the Allegheny Steel Company at Brackenridge, successively becoming the works manager, general manager, vice president and general manager, and president, which position he held 1937-1938. In 1938, Allegheny Steel Company merged with the Ludlam Steel Company to form the Allegheny-Ludlam Steel Corporation. At the time of the merger, he became chairman of the board of directors of the Allegheny-Ludlam Steel Corporation. He held this position until his retirement in 1949, when he was made honorary chairman of the board.

On Oct. 8, 1907, he married Leola Irwin and to that union were born five children, John Gano Detwiler, now living in Williamsport, William Franklin Detwiler, Jr., of Jersey Shore, Roy Irwin Detwiler, now deceased, Mr. Gene Davis, of Tarentum, and Mrs. Ruth Margaret Seal, of Jersey Shore.

He is also survived by five grandchildren and three brothers, David R. Detwiler, of Jersey Shore, Albert A. Detwiler, of Waynesboro, and Homer Detwiler, of Jeannette.

Services Friday

The body was removed to the funeral home in Butler where friends will be received today from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 and Thursday from 10 to 12 a.m.

Private funeral services will be conducted Thursday afternoon at 2:30 by Rev. George C. Fisher, pastor emeritus of the Hiland Presbyterian Church. Interment will be in the Mt. Royal Mausoleum, Glenshaw, Allegheny County.

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