Edna E. Rigal

Edna E. Riga!, 91, of Liberty Center, Ohio, died Saturday, July 14, 2001, at Fulton Manor, Wauseon, Ohio.

She was born June 26, 1910, in Washington Township, Henry County, Ohio, the youngest child of Peter Emanuel and Phoebe (Koch) Johnston. Her husband of 36 years, R.D. Rigal, preceded her in death as did her sisters, Florence Mowery and Lura Travis, and brother, Peter D. Johnston.

She is survived by her son, R. Daniel (Joan) Rigal, Waterville, OH; daughters, Colleen (Gareld) Spiess, Liberty Center, OH, Rosanne Rigal, Davidson, NC, and Joanne (Michael) Boys, Plymouth, IN; 16 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

Edna graduated from Liberty Center High School as valedictorian of the class of 1927. She served as the librarian of the Liberty Center Public Library from 1951 to her retirement in 1984. During her serviceas school librarian, she trained many young people as student assistants. In the years since, they have come back from many parts of the country to visit her. She was a longtime member of the Liberty Center United Methodist Church.

She and her cousin, Charles Gerdes, researched the genealogy of the Johnston family, and co-authored the book, "The Johnston Clan". With her son, R. Daniel, she traveled to Scotland in 1979 and found sites of Johnston homes and businesses. With her daughter, Rosanne, her memories of threshing day during her childhood on the farm were captured in her little book, "A Grandmother's Tale".

Friends may call at the Wright Funeral Home, Liberty Center, OH, after 2 p.m. Tuesday. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Liberty Center United Methodist Church.

Edna requested that any memorial tributes in the form of contributions may be made to the Liberty Center Public Library.