Americo A. 'Rico' Melone, 85 Manor Dr., Brookfield, Ohio; formerly of 7859 Second St., Masury, Ohio, passed away peacefully at 4:25 a.m. Sunday (3-15-09) in the O'Brien's Memorial Health Care Center, Masury, with his family at his bedside. He was 78.
Mr. Melone was born October 16, 1930 in Koppel (Beaver County), PA a son of the late Luigi and Eva Zona Melone.
He moved to the area as a young boy and was a graduate of Brookfield High School.
Rico served as a Corporal with the US Army during the Korean Conflict and was stationed in Germany.
He retired as a crane operator in 1989 from the former Sharon Tube Co. where he was employed for 38 years.
Mr. Melone was a member of St. Adalbert's Church, Farrell.
An outdoorsman, he enjoyed fishing and, earlier in his life, hunting. Rico was an avid bowler and was a member of the Monday afternoon retiree's league; the PNA bowling league, both at Thornton Hall Lanes, Sharon; and participated in many tournaments. He was a member of the VFW, Post 5286, Farrell; the Sharon Tube Retiree's Club; the Polish National Alliance Group 866; and the United Steel Worker's, Local 1355, where he served as treasurer for 15 years. Rico also enjoyed woodworking in his workshop at his home.
A loving husband, father and grandfather, he is survived by: his wife at the residence, the former Dorothy Kuzniar, whom he married August 3, 1957 in St. Adalbert's Church, Farrell, by the late Rev. C.T. Nagorski; a daughter, Linda Watters and her husband David, Cortland, Ohio; two grandchildren, Susan Bazzle and her husband Andrew, both serving with the US Navy and stationed in Little Creek Base, Virginia; and David Watters, serving with the US Air Force and stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, California; and three sisters-in-law, Mary Malone, Hermitage; and Phyllis Malone and Linda Malone, both Brookfield, Ohio.
Besides his parents, Rico was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Fuggetta; three brothers, Anthony (Tony) Malone, Salvatore (Sam) Malone and Constantine (Tut) Malone; and a brother-in-law, Victor Fuggetta.
Calling hours will be 4-7 p.m. Wednesday (3-18-09) in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Thursday (3-19-09) in St. Adalbert's Church, Farrell, with the Rev. Daniel Kresinski, pastor, as celebrant.
Interment: Holy Cross Cemetery, Hermitage, with military honor's rendered by the Farrell VFW, Post 5286, Honor Guard.