David R. "Ladd" Sowers Sr., 84, of Vandergrift died Saturday in Allegheny Valley Hospital, Natrona Heights.

Born Feb. 14, 1920, in Vandergrift, he was the son of W. Earl and Louisa Lamoreaux Sowers.

He was a lifelong Vandergrift resident. He attended Vandergrift High School and was a graduate of Jamestown University in New York.

He was an Army veteran of World War II.

Mr. Sowers worked at the Vandergrift plant of U.S. Steel as a metallurgist and later at the Saxonburg plant of U.S. Steel as a chemist for 25 years prior to retiring in 1979.

He was a member of the Freeport Masonic Lodge, the Coudersport Scottish Rite; the VFW and DAV in Vandergrift and the Kiski Valley CB'ers Club.

He enjoyed watching Pittsburgh Panther football, collecting model trains and antiques, coaching softball teams and taking walks with his wife.

Surviving are his wife, Roberta Clever Sowers; a daughter, Patty Fello of Vandergrift; two sons, David Sowers of Sarver and James Sowers of Vandergrift; eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother and three sisters.

SOWERS - Friends of David R. "Ladd" Sowers Sr., who died Saturday, April 17, 2004, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today atDUNMIRE-KERR FUNERAL HOME, 233 Franklin Ave., Vandergrift.Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Brethren Church, Kepple Hill, with the Rev. William Walk officiating. Interment will be in Greenwood Memorial, Lower Burrell. The Vandergrift Honor Guard will accord full military services.