Joseph R.Rygiel Sr.;76;of Brownstown;Fayette City R.D.1;died Friday;July 1;1994;in Mon Valley Hospital;Carroll Township;following a lengthy illness. He was born Dec.13;1917;in Washington Township;Fayette County;a son of the late Stanley and Maria Rygiel. Mr. Rygiel was a member of
Holy Spirit Roman Catholic
Church; Fayette City; where he
served as a Eucharistic
minister.
He was a veteran of World
War II; having served with the
U.S. Army Air Force as a B-29
bomber pilot.
Mr. Rygiel had been an attorney in the Uniontown and Fayette City areas for 46 years. He
had served as solicitor for
numerous municipalities.
He was a graduate of Bellmar
High School; California State
Teachers College and Case
Western Reserve University
School of Law; Cleveland; Ohio.
Mr. Rygiel was a member of
PN&A Lodge; Arnold City; Fayette County Golf League and
the Alumni Board of California
University of Pennsylvania.
He was former president of
Smithfield State Bank; serving
as a director at the time of his
death.
Mr. Rygiel was a member and
former president of the Fayette
County Bar Association. He was
also a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and American Bar Association.
He had been awarded the
John Greg Award for Loyalty
and Service from California
University of Pennsylvania.
Survivors include his wife;
Erma Tonozzi Rygiel; two sons
and one daughter-in-law;
Joseph R. Rygiel Jr. of Perryopolis and Stanley and Cynthia
Rygiel of Fayette City R.D. 1;
one brother; Walter Rygiel of
Donora; and two granddaughters; Kristie Rygiel of Fayette City R.D.1 and Jamie Rygiel of Perryopolis. In addition to his parents;he was preceded in death by one sister;Mildred Matola;in 1963. Friends will be received Sunday from noon to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.and Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.in the Howard W.McCrory Funeral Home;334 Main St.;Fayette City;and Tuesday until 9:30 a.m.when a Prayer service will be held in the funeral home;followed by Funeral Liturgy at 10 a.m.in Holy Spirit R.C.Church;Fayette City;with the Rev.Stephen J.Drab as celebrant. Burial will be in Belle Vernon Cemetery. A Church Prayer service will be held Sunday at 8 p.m.in the funeral home. The Howard W.McCrory Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.