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.
To plant a tree in memory of Salvador M. Spina, visit the
Tribute Store.