L. Paul Reeder, 79, of Butler died at 11:05 p.m. Thursday at his home after a long illness.

Born Oct. 5, 1928, in Clay Township, he was the son of Frederick John and Mabel Ruth Wolford Reeder.

He was a member of the First English Lutheran Church.

During World War II, he served in the Navy on the USS Sicily.

He had been employed at Armco-Butler Works for 41 years, 23 years as a laborer and 18 years as foreman and general foreman in the Plant 2 stainless department. He also did consulting work for Armco in Brazil and Taiwan.

Mr. Reeder enjoyed hunting, fishing and gardening.

He is survived by his wife, Marguerite Beachem Reeder, whom he married April 12, 1950; twins, Paul Reeder of Butler and Pamela Rockhill of Erie, and a daughter, Mrs. Dennis (Laura) Welsh of Manassas; Va.; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren, and a brother, John Reeder of Eighty Four.

He was preceded in death by twin sons, Mark Reeder, who died Feb. 25, 2005, and Michael Reeder, who died April 23, 2006, and three sisters.

<B>REEDER</B> — Friends of L. Paul Reeder, who died Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 Sunday at the <B>William</B> <B>F. Young Funeral HomE</B>, 132 Main St., West Sunbury. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. James Dollhopf, his pastor, officiating. Burial will be at the West Sunbury Union Cemetery.