Vincent Paul Pietrok, 77, of Idyllwild, died Tuesday, July 8, 2003, at home.

He was born Jan. 21, 1926, in Anaheim and had lived in that city for 74 years.

He was in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1947.

For the past 21 years, he owned Village Hardware in Idyllwild, a family owned and operated business, and for several years recently owned and ran V.P.’s Collectibles in Idyllwild.

He also owned Vince’s Machine Co. in Anaheim until three years ago when he retired and moved to Idyllwild.

Mr. Pietrok wrote articles about the Midget Auto Races for the Pacific Coast Speedway News. He was a member of the Porsche Club of America.

He met his wife of 55 years, Patricia, while ice skating at the Heinz (now Paramount) Ice Skating Park in Paramount in 1947. They were married in 1948.

Graveside services are at 11 a.m. Friday, July 18 at the Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery, 7845 Santiago Canyon Road in Orange. McWane Family Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Along with his wife, Mr. Pietrok is survived by three daughters, Marilyn Helm of Anaheim, and Shirley Donahoo and Nancy Beechan of Idyllwild; a son, Allen Pietrok of Yorba Linda; two brothers, Marvin A. Pietrok of Anaheim and Theodore Pietrok of Anaheim Hills; two sisters, Lucille Perryman of Newport Beach and Christine Schmitz of North Hollywood; and 10 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Patrick Pietrok, in 1988.