Feb 4, 2005 2 min read

Joseph F. Harvilla, age 86, of Cardale, Pa., passed away Wednesday, February 2, 2005, in his residence. He was born February 22, 1918, in Thompson 2, Fayette County, Pa., a son of John Harvilla and Helen Fall Harvilla.

Joseph was a lifetime member of The Church of The Madonna, Cardale, Pa., where he had served as an usher and also was instrumental in the building of the new church.

He was a Sergeant in the United States Army who served in the Algerian French Morocco Campaign, the Sicilian Campaign, the Tunisian Campaign and the Normandy Campaign where he was awarded the Purple Heart, the American Defense Service Medal, the Overseas Service Bars, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Theatre Medal with three Bronze Stars.

Joseph was retired from United States Steel Corporation’s Filbert Shop and was a former employee of the Fruehauf Corporation in Uniontown, Pa., and the Hillman Barge Company, Brownsville, Pa.

Joseph was a member of the United Mine Workers of America and the V.F.W. Post 47 in Uniontown, Pa.

He was also an avid bowler at Gudac’s Lanes and the Fairbank Lanes and he was an avid poker player.

Joseph was a member of the Fayette County Baseball League.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Helen Harvilla, and a brother, John Harvilla.

Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Rose M. Kula Harvilla; daughters: Valerie Kovach of Cardale, Pa., and Patricia Durbin and her husband, James, of Dunkirk, Maryland; Grandchildren: Todd Durbin, Jody Durbin and Dr. Jennifer Kovach Lasich and her husband, Jeff.

Friends will be received in the ROBERT T. KISH FUNERAL HOME INC., Legion Street, Republic, Pa., today (Friday) from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, February 5, until 11:30 a.m. when a Prayer Service will be held.

A Funeral Mass follows at 12 Noon in The Church of The Madonna, Cardale, with the Rev. Father Stephen Bugay as Celebrant.

Interment will be in Saint Mary Cemetery, Cardale, where Military Rites will be accorded by Uniontown V.F.W. Post 47.

Visitation was also held Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m.

A Parish Wake Service was held on Thursday at 8:30 p.m.