Richard Lee Wiles, 64, of First Avenue in East Brady died unexpectedly Friday of natural causes while driving his car near St. Marys in Elk County.

Born Jan. 21, 1941, in Sugarcreek Township, Armstrong County, he was the son of Lee H. Wiles, who died Oct. 6, 1987, and Lillian M. Thompson Wiles, who died Oct. 17. 2002.

He was a member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Chicora RD 1.

Mr. Wiles, a 1958 alumnus of East Brady High School, graduated in 1963 from Penn State University with a bachelor's degree in agriculture; and in 1969, he received a master's degree in communications from Penn State. In 1968 and 1969, he hosted an agriculture program on Altoona television. During his high school and college years, he was a musician in his well-known dance band, The Rythym Knights.

He served with the Pennsylvania Air National Guard in the 193rd Special Operations Wing and received basic training in Texas.

He enjoyed fishing, riding horses, traveling and the outdoors and was an avid reader.

His lifelong passion of being active in politics was fulfilled when he joined the staff of John E. Peterson, U.S. Congressman, 5th District, at the Pleasantville office as the economic development coordinator, a position he held at the time of his death.

Surviving are two daughters and their husbands, Juliette L. and Sean Rumbarger of Cowansville and Jennifer D. and Robert J. Diamond of Johnstown; two granddaughters, Seanna L. and Taylor A. Rumbarger, both of Cowansville; and two grandsons, Alex V. and Colin D. Diamond, both of Johnstown. He also is survived by a sister, B. Maxine Tack and husband, Kenneth R., of Chicora; his mother-in-law, Deanie E. Rohr of Rimersburg; two sisters-in-law, Debra Rohr Dudas of Natrona Heights and Linda D. Drayer and husband, Harry L., of Rimersburg; and three nephews and two nieces including a special nephew, Ricky M. Dudas of Natrona Heights.

His wife, Barbara Lee Rohr Wiles, whom he married March 11, 1967, in Rimersburg, died Feb. 28, 2003. He also was preceded in death by his father-in-law, LeRoy Rohr, who died April 2, 1993; and a nephew, Robert Drayer, who died Sept. 14, 1987.

WILES - Friends of Richard Lee Wiles, who died Friday, June 24, 2005, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at RICHARD D. HILLIS FUNERAL HOME, 758 Main St., Rimersburg. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home with the Rev. Mary Marks King, pastor of Cowansville Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Rimersburg Cemetery, and military honors will be accorded by members of the Rimersburg American Legion and the VFW Ceremonial Squad.Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association.