The Jewish Encyclopedia
of Western Pennsylvania
A project of the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center
David Rudel immigrated to Western Pennsylvania from Latvia. He initially settled in Gallitzin, Pa., where his sister-in-law Zisla “Jenny” Schmerin had a store. He peddled throughout the surrounding area until he could afford to bring over his wife Sarah (Swetlitz) Rudel and their three children, Ceil, Ruth, and Abe. David Rudel worked as a welder and an itinerant Hebrew teacher and prayer leader in small towns throughout the area such as Indiana and Windber.
The Rudel family moved to Johnstown, Pa. in 1912, settling initially within a Jewish section of its Millvale neighborhood. David Rudel served as co-chair for 45 years of the Johnstown Jewish Cemeteries, and he was a longstanding B’nai B’rith chairman in the area. Ceil Rudel married Eli Spungen and settled in Pittsburgh. Ruth Rudel married Herb Rosen and remained in Johnstown. Abe Rudel married Rachel “Rae” Butcher of Atlantic City and returned to Johnstown.
Abe Rudel ran Rudel’s ladies wear store and Kiddie Town children’s wear store in Johnstown, as well as a store in Cumberland, Md. He was president of Rodef Sholom Congregation in Johnstown, while Rae Rudel was leader within the local and regional Hadassah system.
Abe and Rae Rudel had a son, David. David Rudel married Charlotte Harris of New Bethlehem, Pa. Charlotte Rudel was the director of Cambria County Headstart for 35 years. They remained in Johnstown and had five children, Neil, Mark, Barry, Miriam, and Karen.