Father Joseph R. Raudabaugh, a retired teacher, chaplain, and pastor of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, died on Tuesday, April 26. He was born on August 2, 1937 in Piqua, Ohio. He did his preparatory studies at St. Gregory Seminary in Mt. Washington and studied theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West in Norwood. He was ordained to the priesthood on December 22, 1962 at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral by Archbishop Karl J. Alter.

Father Raudabaugh received his first assignment on June 3, 1963 as assistant pro-tem at St. Lawrence Parish, Cincinnati, and his first canonical appointment as vicar coop at St. Margaret of Corona Parish, Cincinnati, on August 21, 1963. He was appointed assistant pastor of St. John Vianney Parish, Cincinnati, and chaplain at Our Lady of Mercy Hospital, Mariemont, on June 17, 1966. On August 9, 1966 he was appointed assistant pastor of St. Therese the Little Flower Parish and part-time teacher at McAuley High School, both in Cincinnati.

In June 1967 Father Raudabaugh was appointed assistant pastor at St. Patrick, Troy and part-time teacher at Piqua Catholic High School. In April 1968 he was assigned pro-tem administrator of St. Remy Parish, Russia and Immaculate Conception Parish, Bradford. In September 1968 he went back to St. Patrick, Troy, as assistant pastor and was relieved of teaching. In June 1971 he became assistant pastor at Guardian Angels Parish, Cincinnati. From June 1973 to August 1974 he was released from his assignments for studies at Fordham University in New York. Fr. Raudabaugh earned a Master’s degree in Art and Religious Education from Fordham.

On October 1, 1974 he was appointed vicar oeconomicus of St. Theresa Parish, Covington, and extended staff member of the Catholic Education Office of the Archdiocese. In May 1978 he was appointed chaplain of Miami Valley Hospital, Dayton. From June 15 to July 31, 1987 he was temporary administrator of Assumption Parish, Dayton. In August 1988 Fr. Raudabaugh was appointed temporary administrator of St. Mary, Greenville. In January 1989 he was appointed temporary administrator of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Newport, Ohio.

Father Raudabaugh was appointed pastor of Mary Help of Christians, Fairborn, on July 1, 1989, and re-appointed to another six-year term as pastor, commencing on July 2, 1995. On September 15, 1998 he was appointed pastor of St. Paul Parish, Yellow Springs. Fr. Raudabaugh was then appointed pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, South Charleston, while continuing as pastor of St. Paul Parish, effective July 1, 2004. He was appointed to another six-year term as pastor of St. Paul Parish, commencing September 16, 2004.

Father Raudabaugh retired on July 1, 2006.

Reception of the Body will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 1, at St. Boniface Church, 310 S. Downing Street, Piqua, Ohio. Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr will celebrate Mass of Christian Burial at 1 p.m. Monday, May 2, at St. Boniface. Burial will follow immediately at Forest Hills Cemetery in Piqua.