Joseph S. Pastva Jr.

Joseph S. Pastva Jr., 90, of West Pittston, passed peacefully into eternal rest at home in the presence of family on Sunday, June 4, 2017. He was the loving husband of Alberta, cherished father, and member of The Greatest Generation.

Joe was the younger of two sons raised by the late Joseph Sr. and Victoria Kalman Pastva. He grew up in Exeter, graduating from the former St. Cecelia's High School, Class of 1944. Like many of his contemporaries, Joe harbored strong patriotic feelings and enlisted in the U.S. Navy during his senior year, delaying entry until after graduation.

Having completed basic training, he boarded a troop ship bound for Okinawa and duty in the Pacific Theater of Operations. Just hours after disembarking, the ship that carried him across the Pacific was resting on the ocean floor, the battle for Okinawa far from over. Assigned to the tugboat USS Coatopa, YTB-382, Joe spent a year working aboard the tug in the waters around Okinawa. Ordered to return to the United States, the 12-man crew endured a month-long journey across the Pacific. He was fond of recounting how a typhoon that had nearly sunk the boat flooded the candy storage compartment, thus denying the crew their only distraction during the long journey home.

After being honorably discharged, Joe returned to Exeter where he met the love of his life, Alberta Roman. They were married Oct. 23, 1948, in the former St. John the Baptist Slovak Church, Pittston.

Joe was a self-taught craftsman and enjoyed playing sports, particularly softball and bowling. He was active in leagues throughout the Wyoming Valley for many years. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion and was former treasurer of the local Catholic Slovak Union branch.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Gary and daughter-in-law, Cathy; daughter, Jane Grohoski and son-in-law, Christopher; daughter, Mary Lyn Barber; daughter, Amy; grandchildren, Joann Napolitano and her husband, Christopher, and Janet Bohn; and great-grandchildren, Nathan and Reagan Napolitano.

Besides his parents and older brother, Elmer, Joe was predeceased by a daughter, Mary Karen, who died in childbirth, and two younger siblings, Edward and Anna, who didn't survive early childhood.

The Pastva family wishes to thank Dr. John Citti, Kindred Home Health staff members, Belinda, Carol, Meg, Diane, and Tony, as well as Hospice of the Sacred Heart for the wonderful care provided to Joe.

A Blessing service will be held at noon Thursday in the chapel in St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Schooley Avenue, Exeter, with the Rev. Joseph Sibilano, OSJ, officiating. Military services will be conducted by the Plains American Legion Honor Guard.

The family requests that anyone wishing to honor Joe's memory donate to either St. Joseph's Center, 2010 Adams Ave., Scranton, PA 18509 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. P.O. Box 1000, Department 142, Memphis, TN 38148.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Baloga Funeral Home Inc., 1201 Main St., Pittston (Port Griffith).

To leave a condolence, please visit www.balogafuneralhome.com.