ROBERT E. PIO Sr.

ROBERT E. PIO SR., 95, of Avon Park, Fla., formerly of Fort Wayne, passed away Sunday, June 19, 2016, at Good Shepherd Hospice House, Sebring, Fla. after a long battle with cancer. Born Aug. 7, 1920, in Fort Wayne, he attended South Side High School and was active in the reunions with the last one being the 75th. After high school, he worked for Don Hall and his brother Bud cutting meat which eventually led to his own Pio Meat Market on State St., which he successfully ran for 30 years, before retiring to Florida. At the age of 22, he joined the United States Army to fight for his country in World War II. During his basic training, he was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. where he met the love of his life, Lela Thornhill at the skating rink.They were married prior to his departure to Europe. He landed on Normandy Beach and fought in five major battles including Battle of the Bulge. He was wounded but returned to his tank division and his unit the 610 Tank Destroyer Battalion, and he remained close throughout the years with his buddies. He is the recipient of a Purple Heart, along with the highest French medal awarded the Knight of the Legion of Honor for France and Western Europe "Honneur Patrie" from Le President De La Republique Francaise. He leaves behind his wife, Lela; son, Robert Pio Jr. of New Haven; daughter, Deborah (Kenneth) Hirsekorn of Marco Island, Fla.,; nine grandchildren, Chris Pinter of Fort Wayne, Nicole Warner of Huntertown, Nanette Laughton of Norwalk, Conn., Ed Hirsekorn of Brant Beach, N.J., Jeff Pio of Morristown, N.J., Heather Bible of Montpelier, Ohio, Kevin Pio of Fort Wayne, Auriel Wallace of New Haven, Donna Beck and Joe Wallace, both of Fort Wayne; 25 great-grandchildren; and 12 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one grandchild, Brian Pio of New Haven. Funeral service is noon Saturday, June 25, 2016, at Covington Funeral Home, 8408 Covington Road, with calling starting at 10:30 a.m. He will be laid to rest at Covington Memorial Gardens. Memorial Donations can be made in memory of Robert Pio to Good Shepherd Hospice House, 1110 Hammock Road, Sebring FL 33870. www.covingtonmemorial.com