Milton F. D'Aquila

Milton Frank D'Aquila, longtime co-owner and operator of Super Service Station and D'Aquila Oil Company, died at his daughter's home Monday, July 13, 2009.
He was born November 21, 1915, to Sam and Adelina Agnes Esher D'Aquila at High Point in Wilkinson County, Mississippi. He lived in Summit, Mississippi for a few of his younger years returning to High Point in Wilkinson County. Milton stayed in the Wilkinson County Agricultural High School dormitory earning his board by milking the school's cows twice a day. He played football and excelled in boxing being undefeated in his class. Milton loved to dance and followed many bands in the area including his favorite, the Bud Scott Band.
Following graduation in 1934, he lived with the Dick Rosso family while working at their family business, Centreville Bottling Company. He opened Super Service Station in 1940 with his brother, Carl. He served in the United States Army during World War II and was stationed at Hickman Field in Honolulu, Hawaii as a clerk/payroll typist. In 1946, he reopened at the location on Main Street. In 1951, he expanded the business to include bulk fuel distribution to area farmers and businesses with D'Aquila Oil Company. Gas was sold during its years of operation including Texaco Star, Sinclair, ARCO, and finally Placid. Milton served several terms as a colonel in the organization of Mississippi Governor John Bell Williams.
While raising his daughter, Kay, they enjoyed time together squirrel hunting and fly fishing on his days off. His work ethic being valuable quality to him, very seldom missed a day and passed his work ethic to his stepson who began working at the station while in junior high school. He worked until the last ten days of his life.
Visitation will be at Newman Funeral Home in Woodville today from 6-8 pm. Visitation will continue from the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Woodville on Friday, July 17, 2009, at 9 am with the funeral service at 11 am. Father Pat Smith and Father Walter Brown will conduct the services. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery.
He is preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Laura Chisholm; second wife, Adris Flowers Morris D'Aquila. Also preceding him in death are brothers, Sylvester John, Joseph "Joe", and Carl Esher D'Aquila.
Survivors include his daughter, Sarah Katherine "Kay" D'Aquila Smith of Woodville; his step-son, William Vandy Morris, III and wife, Leslie of Flowood; grandchildren, Carrol Milton (C.M.) Smith of Baton Rouge, LA, Laci Shaw Morris Walker of Oxford, and Sarah Beth Morris of Flowood, Mississippi. Also surviving him are three sisters, Sarah Katherine "Kat" Plitt of Woodville, Alta Stutzman of St. Francisville, LA, and Maria Adelina "Nuffie" Gonda of Woodville as well as a host of nephews, nieces, and cousins.
Pallbearers will be Louis D'Aquila, Jim Graves, Charles McGraw, Overton Nicholas, Tyler Walker, and David Wilkerson.
Honorary pallbearers include Dr. L.J. Owens, Sam Rosso, C.L. Thompson, Steve Cheramie, John Rowe Carter, James Vines, and Claude Penn.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee or the Alzheimer's Association.