Ernest D. Altomare

Leetonia July 19, 2005 -Ernest D. "Butch" Altomare, age 84, of 269 Oak Street died at 3:05 a.m. Tuesday at the Northside Medical Center in Youngstown.

Mr. Altomare was born June 1, 1921 in Leetonia, a son of Antonio and Lucia Coccara Altomare and had lived in the area all of his life. He worked with heavy equipment for the former ABC Mining Company and then as a millwright at the former Columbiana Pump Company for 25 years retiring in 1980.

He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. He was also a member of the OSI, the Joe Williams Post #131 American Legion, Fraternal Order of Eagles #1496 in Leetonia and the VFW in Salem. Butch also played football for Leetonia's championship team in 1941 and was inducted into the Leetonia Hall of Fame in 2004. He had served in the Navy during WW II.

His wife, the former Genevieve M. Syppko, whom he married November 30, 1946 died February 3, 2000.

He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Robert (Dorothy) Snow of Leetonia and Mrs. Peter (Debbie) Ort of Salem; a brother, John (Mary) Altomare of Lisbon; four sisters, Mrs. Lena Coppock of Scottsdale AZ, Mrs. Charles (Mary) Juliano of Canfield, Mrs. George (Helen) Vokovich of Fort Myers, FL, Mrs. Willis (Dorothy) Roller of Leetonia; and five grandchildren, Brianne, Carl and Erich Henkel and Justin and Kristal Snow.

He was preceded in death by two sisters Frances Bernabei and Rose Ricci, and three brothers Eugene, Joseph, and Pete Altomare.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church with the Reverend Edward Brienz officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery with military honors accorded by the Salem Amvets VFW-Honor Guard. Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the Woods-Rettig Funeral Home, Leetonia.

Memorial contributions may be made to Leetonia Washingtonville Alumni Association or Mt. Calvary Cemetery.