Harry A. Oiler, Jr., 23, roofer, saved Cheryl A. Busch, 19, from drowning, Marietta, Ohio, December 30, 1965. Miss Busch lost control of her four-door sedan, which plunged down a bank into the Muskingum River. As the vehicle drifted downstream and the front end began to sink, Miss Busch climbed into the rear seat compartment. Oiler ran to the bank. Hearing Miss Busch shouting for help, Oiler removed his shoes and jacket and entered the cold water. He swam diagonally across the current and reached the drifting sedan 30 feet from the bank in water 20 feet deep. The front end then was submerged, and the water was at the bottom of the rear windows. Unable to open the rear door, Oiler told Miss Busch to lower the window, which she did. She extended her head, arms, and shoulders through the opening. Grasping Miss Busch, Oiler braced his feet against the side of the automobile and pulled on her. He could feel the sedan tilting toward him as he drew Miss Busch from it. They were submerged briefly. By a hold on her arm, Oiler towed Miss Busch to within seven feet of the bank, where he found footing. Another man waded into the water and aided Oiler in taking Miss Busch to the bank.
48545-5134Obituary
Harry A. Oiler, Jr., 81, of Parkersburg, WV, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday, March 18, 2024, while vacationing in Florida. He was born October 18, 1942, to the late Harry A. Oiler, Sr. and Norma (Eaton) Oiler.
He was a member of Sheet Metal Local 299, which later became Local 33, for fifty-six and a half years. He was the Business Agent for most of those years. Harry received the Carnegie Hero Award in 1965 for saving the life of a young woman whose car plunged in the Muskingum River in Ohio. He played Legion Ball and Fast Pitch softball for many years as a catcher. He loved to fish and was an avid golfer who had several hole-in-ones that he was very proud of.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Donna (Waters) Oiler; daughter Stacy Williams (David) of Walker, WV; and son Steven Oiler (Margaret) of Charlotte, NC. He was “Pap” to four granddaughters of which he was very proud: Chloe Neill (James) of Belpre, OH, Andrea Henthorn (Braden) of Marietta, OH, and Claire and Gracie Oiler of Charlotte, NC. He was also known as “GP” to five great-grandchildren, Piper Allen, Ashton, Paisley, and Payton Neill, and, coming soon, baby Henthorn. He is also survived by two sisters Sue Dowse (Doyle) of Comstock, NE and Charlotte Hardman (George) of Beverly, OH.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his youngest sister Rosemarie Oiler Coe.