Donald F. Riel

A son of the late George E. and Mary Elizabeth (White) Riel, he was born and raised in Providence, RI, lived in Riverside, CA for 13 years and Swansea, MA for over 30 years, before moving to Fall River in 1999.

Upon retiring in 1999, Mr. Riel was a Sales Engineer for Mid City Steel Company in Westport . Prior thereto, he had worked for the Congdon & Carpenter Company in Providence, RI for 22 years. He had also worked at Edgecomb Metals in RI for 3 years, and while living in California, worked for Kaiser Steel Corporation in Fontana.

Don was a graduate of Central High School, Class of 1952 and attended UCLA in Riverside, CA. He was a United States Air Force Veteran, serving during the Korean War, and was a recipient of the National Defense and United Nation Service Medals. He had been an Intercept Radio Operator with the Air Force Security Service and worked in the Crypography Department of US Intelligence and Security Service located at the Pentagon. He was also a member of the American Legion Post #303 in Swansea.

Don was a communicant of St. Patrick’s Church in Providence. During his youth, he was a baseball catcher for the St. Mary’s and Tim O’Neil twilight leagues, and while in the service, played against the Tokyo Giants at Tokyo Stadium.

He was the beloved father of Margaret L. “Peggy” Riel of Swansea, Mary P. Bigda and her husband John of Swansea, and the late Donald J. Riel; grandfather of James P. and Donald J. Bigda and Victoria L. Jessop; and brother of the late Elizabeth “Betty” Jarvis, and Edwin and William Riel. He was also the loving companion of Doris F. Lapre of Fall River.

His Funeral will be held on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at 11:00 am in the WARING-SULLIVAN HOME OF MEMORIAL TRIBUTE AT BIRCHCREST, 189 Gardners Neck Road, Swansea followed by burial with Military Honors in Mount Hope Cemetery, Swansea. Visiting hours will be held Monday from 4 to 7 pm. A contribution in Don’s memory may be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

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