Nicholas David Rahal

Nicholas David Rahal, 85, of Carlisle, PA, passed away Friday, June 12, 2015 at his residence with his family by his side.
Dave was born on August 3, 1929 in Beckley, West Virginia, to the late David Nicholas and Edna Abdelnour Rahal.
After graduation from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley where he participated in football, track, and high school theatre, Dave attended West Virginia University where he graduated in 1950 and from West Virginia University School of Law in 1953 with his L.L.B. Dave served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army and in 1954 graduated from the Judge Advocate General's School at the University of Virginia. In 1958, he graduated from New York University School of Law with his L.L.M. in taxation.
As a member of the Judge Advocate General's Corps, Dave was stationed at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, PA, where in 1954 he met Virginia Minich. Dave and Ginny, who married in 1955, lived happily together in Carlisle for almost 60 years. In 1960, Dave was appointed Deputy Attorney General of the Commonwealth of PA in Harrisburg PA.
In 1961, Dave joined the Harrisburg based law firm of Hull, Leiby & Metzger which evolved into Keefer Wood Allen & Rahal, LLP. Over the years, Dave established a reputation as one of the preeminent state corporate tax attorneys in the country and represented many major national and international corporations on Pennsylvania tax matters before the Board of Appeals, Board of Finance and Revenue, Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania Supreme Court. During this period, he was a speaker at numerous national tax conferences including conferences held at Pennsylvania State University, New York University, the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania, and The Chicago Tax Club. In 2007, after a fulfilling and successful career, Dave retired as a practicing attorney with Keefer Wood Allen & Rahal, LLP.
Dave enjoyed serving as a board member of various groups in the community including the United Way of Carlisle and Cumberland County, the Carlisle Area YMCA and the Carlisle Building and Loan Association. Dave was a member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Carlisle, where he formerly served as member of the church council and Sunday school teacher.
Dave was a longtime member of the Carlisle Country Club where he loved to play golf with friends and hit balls on the range, working to find the elusive perfect golf swing. For many years, he also enjoyed playing tennis with his weekly Wednesday night tennis group, with friends at Allenberry, and with family at the Mooreland Courts and on family vacations. Dave enjoyed attending the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra with his wife and friends for many years and was a supporter of the HSO, including their annual concerts held in Carlisle over July 4th. Dave and his wife Ginny loved to travel and traveled throughout the world over the last 40 years. Many of these trips included very close friends, which made the trips particularly special.
Dave is survived by his wife of 59 years, Virginia Minich Rahal of Carlisle; son, Robert E. (and wife Jill A.) Rahal of Mechanicsburg; daughter, Susan R. (and husband Michael) Stiltner of Carlisle; two brothers, Theodore P. Rahal of Columbus OH, and Edward P. Rahal of Huntington, WV; and grandchildren, Chelsea A Rahal, Nicholas M. Stiltner and Holly C. Stiltner. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-mother, Rose Rahal; a brother, Samuel Rahal; and a sister, Thelma Souan.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Friday, June 19, 2015, at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 100 E. High Street, Carlisle, with Rev. Lisa M. Leber officiating. Interment will be private at the convenience of the family. There will be a visitation for family and friends following the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Boys Home of Virginia, 414 Boys Home Road, Covington, VA 24426.
Hoffman-Roth Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 219 N. Hanover St., Carlisle is handling the arrangements. To sign the guestbook, please visit www.hoffmanroth.com