Richard W. Abel, 83, of Sewickley and formerly of Franklin, Pa. died on Wednesday, May 30, 2012.

He was born Aug. 15, 1928, in Pittsburgh, the son of Norman A. and Elisabeth B. Abel. A sister, Marilyn Abel Smith Dunn, preceded him in death.

He attended school in Oakmont, graduating in 1946.

After completing undergraduate work, he graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, School of Dentistry in June 1952, and entered the United States Army Dental Corps in July of that year.

He married Laura Jeannine English in June 1952. She survives him.

After his military service was completed in October 1955, they moved to Franklin, where he established his private practice, continuing until the end of 1989.

Active in community organizations, he served on the Boards of the American Red Cross, the Franklin Silver Cornet Band, the Franklin Civic Operetta Association, Kiwanis, and the Venango County Dental Society. He helped start the Venango Museum of Art, Science and Industry in Oil City and directed the restoration of the Wurlitzer Theater Organ there. With friends he helped to start the Venango Chamber Orchestra, recognized as an important addition to the community by an award to the orchestra from the WQED-Dominion Foundation in 2002. The Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce named him Man of the Year in 2003.

He was a member the the American Dental Association, the Pennsylvania Dental Society, the American Musical Instrument Society, the Galpin Society, the American Philatelic Society, several Masonic organizations and Zem Zem Temple in Erie.

Interment will be at Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh.