Richard L. Sowala, Sr

Jan. 17, 1920 – Dec. 24, 2004

Richard L. Sowala, Sr., 84, of Fredericksburg, VA (formerly of Peachstone Drive in South Bend, IN) passed away at 3:00pm Friday, December 24, 2004, at Carriage Hill Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Fredericksburg, VA.

He was born on January 17, 1920, to the late Laurence and Lottie (Kruk) Sowala in South Bend, IN, and was a lifelong resident, until moving to Virginia in 1996. Mr. Sowala was a retired firefighter, where he served for 20 years with the South Bend Fire Department. He then retired from the University of Notre Dame, as a record clerk for the power plant, after 18 years of employment.

On January 18, 1947, he married Lorraine F. Flowers at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in South Bend. She died on June 14, 1994.

He is survived by one son, Richard L. (wife Terry) Sowala, Jr. of Stafford, VA; four grandchildren, Christine (husband Richard) Williamson, Brian Sowala, and Susan Sowala, all of Virginia, and Karen Sowala of North Carolina; three great-grandchildren, David Williamson, James Williamson and Maury Sowala, all of Virginia; one sister, Blondine Rogacki of Scottsdale, AZ; and one brother, Eugene Lesicki of South Bend, IN.

Mr. Sowala was a former member of St. Stanislaus Parish in South Bend, IN; current member of St. William of York Parish in Stafford, VA; and a member of Knights of Columbus Council No. 553 and Z.B. Falcon’s Nest No. 80, both in South Bend.

He was a U.S. Army Air Corps Veteran of World War II

Sources: Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com and FindAGrave.com

10/16/2025 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64479236/richard-l.-sowala