Submitted by: Dan Rich

Charles Rightley

Sept. 6, 1914 - Feb. 12, 2003

South Bend Tribune 2/14/2003

Charles "Cliff" Rightley, 88, residing on East Dunn Road, New Carlisle, Ind., formerly of Timberwood Court, Mishawaka, Ind., died at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, in Miller's Merry Manor, New Carlisle. Cliff was employed with Kingsbury Ordinance Plant for four years, and retired in 1982 from Cole & Associates as a draftsman after 23 years of service. He was born on Sept. 6, 1914, in Plymouth, Ind., to Peter and Elizabeth (Rober) Rightley, and was a lifelong area resident.

On March 2, 1946, in South Bend, Ind., he married Merna Hilliard, who preceded him in death in February 1983. He was also preceded in death by a stepson, George Kruggel; a stepson-in-law, Bob Brown; one sister, Ruth Leclercq; and by two brothers, Raymond and Alfred Rightley. On July 16, 1987, in Las Vegas, Nev., he married Pearl Kruggel, who survives. Surviving along with his wife, Pearl Rightley of New Carlisle, are a stepdaughter, Barbara Brown of South Bend; a stepson, Robert Kruggel of St. Joseph, Mich.; a stepdaughter-in-law, Lore Kruggel of Peoria, Ariz.; five step-grandchildren, Sheila Annable of South Bend, Donald Kruggel of Phoenix, Ariz., Cheryl Heim of South Bend, David Kruggel of Indianapolis, Ind., and Dennis Kruggel of Lancaster, Calif.; eight step-great-grandchildren; and by a brother, Ernest (Bernadine) Rightley of Plymouth.

Cliff was a member of St. Anthony dePadua Catholic Church, South Bend, the Mercator Club, and was a volunteer at the Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center. He served in the United States Army during World War II.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, in the Palmer Funeral Home-River Park, 2528 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend. Father Frances Markey will officiate. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, Ind. Friends may call one hour prior to services in the funeral home on Saturday. Contributions in memory of Charles "Cliff" Rightley may be made to Miller's Merry Manor, 220 E. Dunn Road, New Carlisle, IN 46552; or to St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church, 2120 E. Jefferson, South Bend, IN 46615.