Muriel Oswalt

Muriel Oswalt, 93, formerly of Coal Valley, passed away Saturday, March 16, 2019, at Park Vista Quad Cities, East Moline, IL.

There will be a graveside service held Thursday, March 21, 2019 at National Cemetery in Rock Island.  Those wishing to attend the burial service, must be at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd. by 1:00 p.m. Visitation will also be Thursday starting 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.  Memorials may be made to the Rock Island County Animal Care & Control.

Muriel Bird was born, April 27, 1925, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of Earl and Rosa Benion Bird.  She graduated from Roosevelt High School in Cedar Rapids in 1943.  After graduation, Muriel worked for the Army Air Forces in Los Angeles, California during WWII.  After the war, she married John Thomas Hilton in 1947.  He died in 1965.  She married Charles Oswalt in 1966, he is also deceased.

Muriel worked for the US Department of Defense for over 30 years.  She retired from the Rock Island Arsenal in 1988, as a Contract Specialist.  She enjoyed following the Chicago Bulls and the St. Louis Cardinals, traveling with her sister, Miriam, playing her organ, reading and having monthly luncheons with special friends from the Arsenal.  She loved living in the country and watching the nearby deer, turkeys and various birds.  She took in and fed any stray animal that appeared at her door.

Survivors include her son, Tom Hilton from Medford, Oregon; daughter, Dena Potter of East Moline; grandsons, Jason Hilton of Portland, Grant (Angie) Hilton of Beaverton, Oregon, Bradley Potter of East Moline, Brian Potter of San Diego, California, plus 4 great grandchildren.  She is also survived by sister, Miriam Lockwood; niece, Marcia Lockwood, both of Fishers, Indiana; and a nephew, Scott (Melissa) Lockwood of Louisville, Kentucky.

She was preceded in death by her parents and both husbands.