Joseph P. “Joe” Arruda, 79, of Tiverton, RI, died Saturday at St. Anne’s Hospital. He was the husband of Del (Raposa) Arruda.

Born in Fall River, MA, he was a son of the late Joseph and Elvira “Eva” Arruda, he resided most of his life in Tiverton. He was a former Tiverton Town Councilman and a communicant of St. Theresa Church. Mr. Arruda was a U.S. Army veteran, serving during the Korean Conflict. He enjoyed hunting.

Mr. Arruda was employed as a boiler maker for many years for Local 29, Boston.

Besides his wife of 56 years, he is survived by a daughter, Cheryl Cayer of Tiverton; a son, Steven M. Arruda of Tiverton; two sisters, Ruth Verotti of Florida and Shirley Arruda of Fall River; three brothers, Edwin Arruda of Florida, David Arruda of Somerset, MA and Timothy Arruda of Maine; five grandchildren, Jessica Arruda, Erica Arruda, Brett Arruda, Jeffrey Cayer and Jillian Cayer; a great-granddaughter, Elena Silvia; and several nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Dorothy Marchand and Lorraine Davidson.

His funeral will be held Thursday at 8:45 a.m. from the Oliveira Funeral Home, 2064 South Main St., followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Theresa Church. Interment in Pocasset Hill Cemetery. Calling hours Wednesday 5 – 9 p.m. Flowers welcome or memorial contributions may be made in his memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.