Rayford Arthur Robel

Rayford Arthur Robel passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on September 18th at the Veterans  Hospital in Durham, North Carolina.  Mr Robel was currently living in Cary, NC, formerly of Gaithersburg, MD and of Johnstown, PA.  He was born June 27, 1926 in Johnstown, PA son of Fred A. Robel and D. Electa Strayer Robel, both deceased.

Survived by wife, Janet Watkins Robel, ending a union of 65 years, living in Cary, NC; son Gregory Robel, married to Kimberly Behnke (now deceased) living in Ft Myers, FL and daughter, Victoria Hatfield, wife of Galen Hatfield living in Cary, NC.  Also survived by five grandchildren:  Ron June, married to Jamie Hartman living in Bozeman, MT;  Rayford Robel June, married to Lauren Cavanaugh living in Pittsburgh, PA;  Amanda Robel Hatfield living in Cary, NC; Sarah June living in Philadelphia, PA; Bennett Robel Hatfield living in Cary, NC and step grandson Albert Behnke, married to Breann living in Chicago, IL.  Also survived by great grandchildren Jackson, Everett and Cynthia Coraleigh June, living in MT.  Preceded in death by daughter Cynthia, wife of Carl June; brothers Fred Jr and Wayne E. Robel.

Mr. Robel served in the European Theater in World War II, spending 21 months in Germany.  He graduated from Dickinson College (1949) and Dickinson School of Law (1952), Carlisle, PA.  Mr. Robel was the President and CEO of Robel Construction Co., Inc., Birch of Wallace, Inc., and Lebor Coal Co., Inc.;  CEO of Front Four Development; Past President of Richland School Board for 21 years; Formerly on Moxham Bank Board and U.S. Bank Board of Johnstown; President of Greater Johnstown Vocational Tech School Board, which represented seven school districts surrounding Johnstown; Member of University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Board of Directors; President of Dickinson College Advisory Board, Carlisle, PA; Former Member of Potomac Rotary Club and Almas Shrine Club of Washington DC; various other Masonic clubs in Johnstown and Washington, DC areas; Member of First United Methodist Church of Cary, NC and former Member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Gaithersburg, MD and Mt Calvary Lutheran Church, Johnstown, PA.

A Memorial Service to be held at Jack H. Geisel Funeral Home in Pleasantville on Saturday, October 12th at 11:00am with Rev. David Zona officiating.  The memorial service will be followed by a graveside service and interment at the Pleasantville Cemetery with graveside military rites accorded by the Fort Bedford Honor Guard.

Friends are invited to call at the funeral home in Pleasantville from 10:00 - 11:00 AM.