Dr. Joseph A. Lentini

Dr. Joseph A. Lentini, 92, of Jenkins Township, passed away on Saturday at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

He was born in Wilkes-Barre on Feb. 24, 1921, a son of the late Bartolomeo and Brigida Gabriele Lentini. He was a graduate of James M. Coughlin High School, class of 1939, where he was a member of the 1938-1939 championship football and track teams. He was influential in introducing bowling at Coughlin High School and other Wilkes-Barre City schools.

He received his B.S. degree from Loyola University in Chicago, Ill.L in 1942. Dr. Lentini served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1946 in the Pacific Theater. During this time his ships experienced nine typhoons, one of which they went thought the eye. In 1945 he was fortunate to meet his brother, Michael, in Okinawa. He received the American Campaign Medal, the Asian Pacific Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and Naval Occupational Service Medal. He was discharged in 1946 with the rank Lieutenant J.G.

Following World War II, he entered Jefferson Medical College in 1947 and graduated with a Medical Degree in 1951. He served his residency at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, where he served on the staff for 40 years as a general practitioner and in the Department of Obstetrics, retiring in 1991. He was a member of the American Medical Association, the Pennsylvania Medical Society and the Luzerne County Medical Society. Throughout his medical career, he routinely donated his medical services to various community sports teams and other organizations. In the treatment of numerous patients and deliveries of hundreds of babies, Dr. Lentini touched the lives of many in our community.

He was a member of the Wyoming Valley Country Club for more than 55 years. He was an avid golfer, having three holes-in-one to his credit and shot an 81 at the age of 86. Besides golfing with his beloved wife and friends, he enjoyed retirement by reading, visiting with family and friends, and playing cards with his neighbors.

He was preceded in death by his sisters, Nell Krajcik and Jane Bartorillo and by his brothers, Michael and Angelo Lentini.

He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Edith Rose Hughey Lentini; daughter: Patricia Ann Paciotti and her husband, Joseph, Laflin; sons, Dr. J. Charles Lentini, and Theresa Belinski, Dallas; James Lentini and his wife, Gail, Bear Creek; stepdaughter Amy Stein and her husband, James, Fayetteville; stepson attorney Jonathan Comitz and his wife, Kelly, Dallas; Louise Lentini and Steve Killian; grandchildren, Andrea Paciotti, Jennifer McSurdy and her husband, Jake; Jeffrey Lentini; Summer and Dalton Lentini; Evan Joseph and William Stein, Samuel, Carolyn and John Comitz.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the First Welsh Presbyterian Church, 74 S. Meade St., Wilkes-Barre, with the Rev. William S. Davies, pastor of the Bellvue Presbyterian Church in Gap, Pa., officiating. Interment will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery, Hanover Township.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Nat & Gawlas Funeral Home, 89 Park Ave., Wilkes-Barre and from 9:30 to 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO BOX 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.

Online condolences may be sent by visiting Dr. Lentini's obituary at www.natandgawlasfuneralhome.com.