Frank Joseph "RIP" Reidelbach 3rd

Francis Joseph "Rip" Reidelbach lll passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 7th, 2026. He was 81 years old.

Preceded in death by loving wife Sonia (Dickson); parents Colonel Francis Joseph Reidelbach Jr. and Rose (Thomas) Reidelbach; sister, Dorothy Reidelbach; and brothers Patrick and Thomas Reidelbach.

Survived by daughter Erika (Rich) Hough and grandson Ian Francis Hough of Ebensburg; sister Maria Reidelbach of Rosendale, NY; sister-in-law Peg Woodburn and special great-niece Stella Bean LaRock with whom he shared one of his last smiles, both of Wisconsin, and of course his beloved turtle Blackie.

Rip had a magical childhood with his four siblings, a journey that carried him from Richmond Virginia to Germany and the shores of Northern California among many other places. He moved to Ebensburg in his junior year of high school. There he met his wife of 57 years, his Sonie. He was truly well rounded; a jack of all trades. He built a house from the ground up without a blueprint. He was a history and literature buff who taught History and English at Bishop Carroll High School for several years in the late 1970s, before leaving to go underground for a coal mining job at Bethlehem for 10 years. He earned a Masters in Labor Relations at St. Francis while working full time on swing shift in the mines. This helped spark his passion for unions, and he fought for the rights of the working class up until the end, attending rallies as recently as April of 2025. He sat on several local political and mine related boards and committees, and also volunteered at the Cambria County Historical Society, Potato Fest, Wheels And Wings, and Art in Bloom. He enjoyed playing trivia every week with "the gang." Finally, his love for cars rivaled any other of his pastimes. From racing them to building and restoring them, he was a connoisseur of automobiles, and more recently, vintage travel trailers.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Cambria County Historical Society or Library.

At the request of his family and in keeping with Rip's wishes, there will be no viewing or services. A celebration of life will be held in late May.

Please visit www.online-tribute/Rip to share. Funeral arrangements by the Matevish and Matevish Funeral Home, Ebensburg.

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