Joseph Woytas of La Plata, Maryland died peacefully, attended by his family, Wednesday, July 7th after a brief illness. Born September 15th, 1929 in Taylor Pennsylvania, to the late Joseph Woytas and Mary Rickwalter Woytas.

He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Frances and his daughters Debbie France and her husband Mark, Patricia Mushak, Donna Jenkins and her fiancé' Larry Smith as well as his grandchildren, Mark Jason France and his wife Julie, Amanda France, Jennifer Jenkins, Bethany France, Luke Mushak, and great grandsons, Owen Greathouse and Joshua France. He is also survived by his sister, Gertrude Jurnack and brother John Woytas as well as many nieces, nephews, other family and friends and in particular his long time friend Ed Wiesert.

With over 40 years of Federal Service Joe began his career in the United States Army where he earned many awards and was witness to the first Hydrogen Bomb test in the Bikini Atolls. He held various other positions but the one he enjoyed the most was working in reliability and maintainability on the Harrier aircrafts at Patuxent Naval Air Station. Upon retirement from Civil Service he got great joy from spending time with his grand children, fishing, gardening, cross word puzzles, Golf, and cheering on the Redskins, even in their down years. Not one to sit around, after his first retirement he went to work in the pet department of the La Plata, Wal-Mart since the stores opening and worked right up until his illness prevented him from doing so. He was a member of Sacred Heart Church, The American Legion Post 82 and the Polish National Alliance.

A life celebration will be held at Arehart-Echols Funeral Home, P.A. on Thursday, July 15, 2010 from 2-4 pm & 6-8 pm with prayers at 7 pm. A mass of Christian burial will be on Friday, July 16, 2010 at 10 am at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in La Plata, MD. Interment will be private at a later date with the family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mt. Carmel Monastery at Carmel of Port Tobacco 5678 Mount Carmel Road La Plata, MD 20646.

Arrangements provided by Arehart-Echols Funeral Home, P.A.