Joseph Lawrence Fiala, 82, passed away from this life on Wed, March 27, 2013 in Columbus where he resided at Wesley Glen for the last 4 years. He was the husband of Margaret, who preceded him on July 17, 2009. He was born 9-5-30 & raised in the Bohemian neighborhood on East Blvd in Cleveland. He attended Cathedral Latin H.S. & graduated in 1948, then joined the Air Force for 4 years, serving mostly at Carswell AFB, TX. Returning to Cleveland, he found work at NACA which became NASA at the Lewis Research Center. He furthered his education at John Carroll University night school, graduating in '67. He worked on the Agena and Centaur rocket systems, and then helped to develop the first use of microwave communications from a satellite to a mobile ground station bus. He drove many miles from the rural northwest of the US to the UN in NYC demonstrating how people could talk and see each other in real time meetings with others in Washington, DC and other western countries.
He and his beloved wife, Margaret, were founding members of St. Bridget of Kildare Parish with Fr. Blair. They resided on Naomi Dr for over 52 years. He leaves behind to cherish his memory, his daughter, Monica Fiala Neville (Michael) of Bloomfield Hills, MI, and son, Joseph F (Mary Fristad) of Worthington. He was very caring & proud of his 4 grandchildren: Matthew and Mark Neville, Elise and Peter Fiala.
VISITATION AT THE ZABOR FUNERAL HOME, 5680 PEARL RD., PARMA (between Ridge and Snow) THURSDAY, APRIL 4, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial, Friday, April 5 at 10 a.m. at St. Bridget of Kildare Parish, with Fr. Rob Wisniewski presiding. Interment, Holy Cross Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to St. Bridget Parish in Joe and Marge's name. He also wishes to thank the kind staff of Wesley Glen assisted living, health center and hospice who treated him with care, dignity and love in his last years.
To offer online condolences, please visit www.ZaborFH.com