STEUBENVILLE - Retired Bishop Albert H. Ottenweller died Sunday following a brief illness.
Ottenweller was 96 years old and had been living in Toledo since his retirement as bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Steubenville.
Ottenweller was one of the oldest living bishops in the Catholic Church.
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Ottenweller will be buried at 11 a.m. Saturday in St. Mary's Cemetery in Leipsic, Ohio.
Ottenweller was named the second bishop of the Steubenville Diocese and installed as the spiritual leader of the 40,000 Eastern Ohio Catholics on Nov. 22, 1977.
He retired as the bishop of the Steubenville Diocese on April 2, 1992
Ottenweller was unable to attend the recent ordination and installation of Bishop Jeffrey M. Monforton of the Steuben-ville Diocese but sent a personal greeting to the new spiritual leader.
Monforton noted during his personal remarks following his installation that he had the opportunity to visit with Ottenweller earlier this month.
"In my visit with the bishop, approximately three weeks ago, the bishop expressed his deep love for his people in the Steubenville Diocese and the very fond memories, which were in his heart. I indicated to him how grateful I was to succeed him as shepherd, knowing how well respected and loved he was," Monforton said.
