Detwiler, Agnes (Pletcher)

Subject

Birth
30 Jun 1914
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, USA

Death
9 Jun 1972 (aged 57)
Rapid City, Pennington County, South Dakota, USA

Burial
Green Ridge Memorial Park
Connellsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, USA

Description

Agnes Pletcher Detwiler , was born June 30, 1914 in Westmoreland County PA to, Wallace Pletcher and Mary Beltz Withrow Pletcher.

In the 1920 census the family is in Donegal Westmoreland County PA and includes besides Agnes siblings: Margaret, Iva Jane, Rosalie and David. In 1930 the family is in the same place and has added children: Elwood, Floyd, Grace and Dorothy.

She married Martin Detwiler 22 April 1936 in Pennsylvania, he died 1963.
Agnes was survived by her sons: Martin and Victor and a daughter Betty, all in Pennsylvania
Agnes was shipped to Richard McCauley Funeral Home in Youngwood PA and buried with her husband in Greenridge Cemetery Connellsville Fayette County PA.

In Email from Dennis Pletcher

As you know, Agnes Pletcher Detwiler was my aunt on my fathers' side (Lloyd Pletcher). At the time of the flood I was only 15 years old and don't remember a lot about the drowning. Only bits and pieces that my father talked about.
Agnes and a gentleman friend, had bought a camper together and were traveling out around the mid western states sightseeing.

They were staying in a campground in Rapid City, S.D. when the flood came. They were able to crawl out a window and get onto the roof of the camper. The friend jumped in the water and swam to a safe place where he retrieved a rope and tied it onto a tree. He then threw the rope to Agnes which she tied to her waist and then jumped into the water. The current was too strong and she was dragged under the water where she then drowned.

I remember the day that my dad received the phone call that his sister had drowned and what happened. He was devastated because she was his favorite sister. That is the only time I ever saw my dad cry.

I'm sorry that I don't have any more information for you, but all the brother and sisters are gone. I have enclosed a photo where Agnes is in the front row on the left. And that is her father Wallace Pletcher in the middle of the picture. My father is in the back row left.

Files

Agnes Detwiler Photo.png

Collection

Citation

“Detwiler, Agnes (Pletcher),” Flood of 1972, accessed March 29, 2024, https://1972flood.omeka.net/items/show/292.