Obituary for Salvador M. Spina
Salvador M. "Sam" Spina, 93, of Pottsville, passed away unexpectedly in his residence on Wednesday afternoon with his family by his side.
Born in Dark Water/Saint Clair, on February 1, 1923, he was a son of the late Vittoria Marie (Spina) and Benedetto Miguel Spina.
Sam was a graduate of Saint Clair High School class of 1943 and a member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville.
He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army Air Corp in WWII. He served as a bombadier, nose gunner, turrent gunner, and navigator and went on 33 missions, including D-Day. Sam was awarded the Distinquished Flying Cross with 3 oak leaf clusters.
Sam worked as a auto body and fender man and paint specialist at Reading Standard Auto Body for 30+ years and retired in 1985.
He was a member of the Pottsville AmVets, Catholic War Vets, and the Antique Automobile Club of America, Hershey, PA, and he served as membership chairman for the Hershey Region AACA. He was a collector and a restorer of antique cars. Sam received the Grand National Award for his 1937 Chevrolet.
In addition to his parents, Sam was preceded in death by a son, Salvador M. "Sammy" Spina Jr. in 1968; grandson, Jeremiah Pillus; sisters: Victoria Perry, Elena Perry, and Antonia Trumbo.
Sam is survived by his wife, Alberta L. (Hornung) Spina, with whom he recently celebrated his 72nd wedding anniversary; daughter, Alberta "Beth", wife of Joseph Pillus, of Pottsville; son, Richard V. Spina., husband of Kathleen, of Pottsville; granchildren: Melissa V., wife, of William Fanelli; Jeffrey M. Pillus, husband of Kara; David J. Pillus, husband of Jill; Michael R. Spina, husband of MaryBeth; Marc A. Spina, husband of Amy;
great grandchildren: Trevor, Julia, Emila, Eva, and Dominic Spina and Payson, James and Sam Pillus; and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, October 24th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, 319 Mahantongo St., Pottsville.
A visitation with the family will be held on Monday at 9:00 a.m. until the procession will leave for church at Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc., 1818 Mahantongo St., Pottsville.
Interment with military honors will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Pottsville.
The family request contributions in Sam's memory be sent to: Disabled American Veterans P.O. Box 14301 Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301 or Wounded Warrior Project P.O. Box 758517 Topeka, KS 66675.
Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be expressed at lordbixler.com.
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