Antonio Vertuca

ANTONIO A. VERTUCA, 83, died at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 9, 2007, at his residence. He was born Feb. 5, 1924, in Fleming, Ky., to Vincenzo and Maria Roberti Vertuca, who preceded him in death. On Feb. 3, 1951, he married Frances Holland, who survives in Lima. Mr. Vertuca retired from Westinghouse Aerospace in 1989. He attended the University of Kentucky and received his bachelor's degree from Transylvania University in Lexington, Ky. He was an Air Force veteran of World War II and a member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. He was a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Lima, and a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge 54, Lima. He was especially proud of his Italian heritage and was a past president of the local United Italian Charitable Organization and a member of CIAO. He was instrumental in initiating the Italian language program at Lim Central Catholic High School and the UNICO Scholarship fund. Survivors also include five daughters, Michele (Kim) Davis, of Perrysburg, Gina (Steve) LeGrande, of Lima, Lisbeth (Tony) DePalma, of Lima, Jane (Greg) Schneider, of Dublin, Ohio, and Sara (Steve) Howard, of Dublin, Ohio; a son, Tony (Brenda) Vertuca, of Dublin, Ohio; 15 grandchildren, Gina Davis, Andrea Davis, Leda DePalma, Vincent DePalma, Frank DePalma, Luke Schneider, Caroline Schneider, Corey Schneider, Jared Howard, Chad Howard, Maria Howard, Sara Vertuca, Rachel Vertuca, Alyssa Vertuca, and Adam Vertuca; and a sister, Leda Wojtowicz, of Novelty. He was preceded in death by grandson, Michael William Davis; and five brothers and four sisters. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Lima. The Rev. David Ritchie will officiate. Burial will follow in Gethsemani Cemetery in Lima. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home, where a rosary service will begin at 8 p.m. today. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Rita's Hospice, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church or Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis. Condolences may be expressed at www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com.