Michael Rudolph Sr., 85, of Butler died at 4:19 a.m. Thursday at Butler Memorial Hospital.

Born July I, 1921, in Stoneboro, he was the son of Ignatz James and Francis Lywitz Rudolph.

He was a Catholic and attended St. Andrew Roman Catholic Church.

Mr. Rudolph was an Army veteran of World War II, and he retired from the construction department at Pullman Standard after 30 years.

He was an avid gardener.

He is survived by his wife, Emma "Ruth" Carothers Rudolph, whom he married Oct. 6, 1946; two daughters and sons-in-law, Marlene and Jon Albert of Virginia Beach, Va., and Cathy and Randy Snyder of Clarion; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Michael Rudolph, Jr. and Mark and Terri Rudolph, all of Butler, and Richard and Erla Rudolph of Slippery Rock; a sister, Mrs. Robert (Junabelle) Grenci of California; and a sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Dave Walker of Slippery Rock.

He also is survived by nine grandchildren, Jon Jr., Jessica and Christopher Albert, Thomas Jay "TJ," Nathan and Brittney Rudolph, Courtney Handte, Sean Kirk and Amanda Snyder; and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by three sisters and four brothers.

<B>RUDOLPH </B>— Friends of Michael Rudolph Sr., who died Thursday, July 13, 2006, will be received from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the <B>William F. Young Funeral Home</B>, 132 Main St., West Sunbury. A blessing service will follow at 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home with the Rev. Richard Thompson, pastor of the St. Alphonsus Parish, officiating. Burial will be at the West Sunbury Union Cemetery.Information also is available at www.youngfuneralhomes.com.