Obituary of John DeLeo
John DeLeo, age 98 years, of North Richland Hills, TX, passed into the loving arms of his Lord, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, December 1, 2018, in the Emerald Hills Rehabilitation Center, North Richland Hills, TX. Born in Bagnara, Italy on August 10, 1920; son of the late Frank DeLeo and the late Rosaria (Gioffre) DeLeo. He resided in North Richland Hills, TX for the past five years having formerly resided in Staten Island, NY.
John was preceded in death by his wife of 39 years in 1985, Betty (Gullino) DeLeo, and his wife of 22 years in 2013, Vicky (Rutigliano) DeLeo; and his brother, Dominic DeLeo of Staten Island, NY.
John is a veteran of World War II, where he served in the Army Engineering Corp from 1943 to 1946 with combat tours of duty in New Guinea, Okinawa, and the Southern Philippines. During his military service, he earned a number of medals and was very proud to have earned his American citizenship while on route overseas. As friends and family can attest, the discipline, integrity, and patriotism John learned in the Army never left him. He never went far without wearing his World War II veteran ball cap and nothing brightened his day more than being thanked for his service to our country.
As a young man, John grew up loving baseball and following his beloved New York Yankees and often times enjoyed getting away to fish. After his military service, John married Betty and began a career as a beautician in Manhattan eventually owning his own successful beauty salon, Elegante, in Westbury, NY. As his family grew, John enjoyed nothing more than spending time with family especially his son and numerous grandchildren.
Left behind to cherish his memory are his son, Frank John DeLeo and daughter in law, Dawn DeLeo of North Richland Hills, TX; five step children and their spouses, Jackie Spiezia, George Rutigliano, Dawn Macchia, Paula Kieran, and Angela Rutigliano of the tri-state area; sister, Catherine and her husband Tony Gentile of Brick, NJ; numerous nieces and nephews; thirteen grandchildren and spouses including Jon DeLeo, Michael DeLeo, Steven DeLeo, Thomas DeLeo; and great grandson, Maxwell DeLeo.
Family will receive friends from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm and celebrate John’s life with a memorial service from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Wednesday evening, December 5, 2018 at Forest Ridge Memorial Park Chapel 8525 Mid Cities Blvd., North Richland Hills, TX 76182. Final resting place will be beside his wife, Betty, at Calverton National Cemetery in Wading River, NY.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Center Point Church Richland Hills 7804 Mid Cities Blvd., North Richland Hills, TX 76180.
