Mr. Lewis J. Valvano, Sr., 89, of Ellwood City passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at his residence with his family at his bedside.
Mr. Valvano was born on January 14, 1930 in Ellwood City to the late Antonio “Tony” and Josephine (Reino) Valvano. He had attended Lincoln High School and was a member of the Holy Redeemer Parish. He enlisted with the U.S. Air Force on October 22, 1948 and served with the 3310th Air Force Group, 3310th Installation Squadron performing crash rescue and fire fighting duties with the rank of Private First Class. He re-enlisted with the U.S. Air Force on September 5, 1950 serving with the 437th Installation Squadron APO 963 in Korea until his discharge on September 9, 1951. He was awarded the Korean Service Medal.
Following his military service, Lewis worked at the U.S. Steel Tube Mill in Ellwood City for 11 years as a mill wright, and then at the Babcock & Wilcox Steel Mill in Koppel for 26 years in the melt shop. He is a long time member of the Sons of Italy Lodge #608 in Ellwood City. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, going to the casinos, working on (and planning for) various projects around his home, and mostly spending time with his extended family.
He is survived by his daughters, Trish (Thomas) Deems of Beaufort, SC and Jan (Bruce) Smith of Dallas, TX, his sons, Lewis (Debbie) Valvano, Jr. of Portersville and Mark Valvano & Jennifer Mooney of Cranberry Twp., and his twelve grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters, Louise Tomeo, Carol Gibbons, and Sandra Streit all of Ellwood City, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Lois J. (Farrow) Valvano whom he married on September 16, 1950 and passed away on February 6, 2012, his sisters, Angie Symbola and Rose A. Cortez, his brother, Anthony Valvano, Jr. and his brothers-in-law, Ralph Gibbons and Carmen Tomeo.
A family visitation will be held on Monday from 6-8 pm and public visitation on Tuesday from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at the Samuel Teolis Funeral Home, Inc. and Cremation Services. A mass of Christian burial will be held on Wednesday at 11:00 am at the Holy Redeemer Church with Father Mark Thomas officiating. Interment will follow at the Holy Redeemer Cemetery. Members of the Veterans Honor Guard are asked to meet at the church on Wednesday by 11:45 am to conduct full military honors.
Memorial contributions in Mr. Valvano’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation or to the American Cancer Society.
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