George Royal, 97, of South Third Street, Niles, died at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010 at his home following an illness.

Mr. Royal was born in the village of Aberdeen in the parish of Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica, West Indies on May 24, 1913. He completed secondary school in Aberdeen two years early, and then began to work in the family lumber, trucking and banana business. He was proud of the fact he helped with the construction as a young man of the Aberdeen Moravian Church, which still stands.

From 1939 to 1944 he worked at Appleton Rum and Sugar Estate in Saint Elizabeth as a bookkeeper and distiller, and played on Estate’s traveling cricket team. He was an avid hunter of wild game birds in Jamaica.

In 1944, he emigrated from Jamaica to the United States, where he was hired by what was then known as the Michigan Mushroom Co. in Niles. He completed courses in mushroom growing at Pennsylvania State University. He retired from the mushroom plant as its agricultural superintendent in 1978.

Mr. Royal was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Niles for about 60 years and a member of its Sanctuary Choir. He also served in the church as a deacon and elder and in many volunteer capacities.

He was a volunteer leader for Boy Scouts of America. He enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening, reading, traveling, watching sporting events and supporting and assisting his wife, Edna, in her varied activities, hobbies and organizations.

On Dec. 23, 1951 in New York City, Mr. Royal married the former Edna Walton-Dowie, also of Jamaica, West Indies, who preceded him in death on Aug. 14, 2005.

Surviving family includes his daughter, Eugenie (Claude) Van Whervin of Tamarac, Fla.; son, Vaughn W. Royal of Alexandria, Va.; and a circle of relatives and friends in Jamaica.

The funeral service for George Royal will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 3, 2010 at First Presbyterian Church, Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence officiating.

The family will gather at a later date for committal in the Columbarium of the church.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Mr. Royal may be made to Hospice at Home.