Ronald J. Pistorius, 74, of North Main Street, Chicora, died at 12:30 p.m. Sunday at Butler Memorial Hospital following an extended illness.

Mr. Pistorius was born in Chicora, Aug. 16, 1936. He was the son of John and Edith Rodgers Pistorius.

He attended Karns City area schools.

He was a member of the Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church in Chicora.

Mr. Pistorius had been retired from both Pullman Standard in Butler and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.

He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War.

Ron was a life member of the Chicora Volunteer Fire Department as well as an officer of the department's fire police. Ron enjoyed selling 50/50 tickets for the firefighters.

Ron is survived by his wife, Freda Hagan Pistorius, who he married May 4, 1990, in New Bethlehem; a daughter, Michele Wagner and her husband, Glen, of Smyrna, Tenn.; a son, Shawn Pistorius and his wife, DeAnn, of Bruin; and four grandchildren, Travis and Tyler Wagner of Smyrna and Logan and Shae Pistorius of Bruin. Also surviving are two brothers, Gerald Pistorius and his wife, Bernice, of Slippery Rock and Guy Pistorius and his wife, Nancy, of Chicora; his children's mother, Anne O'Donnell Pistorius of Chicora; three sisters-in-law, Dolly Pistorius of Chicora, Zeta Pistorius of Butler and Mary Pistorius of Kaylor; and a number of nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, Thomas, Charles, Paul and Clair Pistorius.

<B>PISTORIUS </B>— Friends of Ronald J. Pistorius, who died Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday. at the <B>Hile Funeral Home </B>of Chicora, 339 Chicora Fenelton Road, Chicora. A blessing service will be at the funeral home at noon Wednesday with the Rev. Joseph Pudichery, pastor of Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church, officiating.Members of the Chicora Volunteer Fire Department will conduct a memorial service at 8:45 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.Interment with military honors provided by the Chicora American Legion Post 642 and the Chicora VFW Post 7876 will take place at Hemphill Cemetery, Chicora.Memorial contributions may be made to the Chicora Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box F, Chicora, PA 16025.For additional information, directions or to send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com.