Albert Settimo Guerrina

Albert Settimo Guerrina, Colonel, USAF Retired, 95, who for the past six years lived in Southport, N.C., died December 18, 2010 after his long and wonderful journey through life. He was at home with son and daughter-in-law, Flick and Linda Guerrina at his side. He took his last breath minutes after hearing his other son, Allan (Shorty) Guerrina, say good bye on the phone from Columbia, S.C.
Al was born in Nicetown, Pa., in 1915 to Alessandro and Isabella Guerrina who had immigrated from Cassine, Italy, several years earlier. He was the seventh child of nine, hence the middle name Settimo. He was raised in Germantown, Pa., graduated from Pennsylvania Military College, and in 1934 was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the horse drawn artillery. He later transferred to the Army Air Corps thence to the U.S. Air Force from which he retired as Colonel after 26 years.
On a whim as a young officer he flew to Farmville, Va., with a buddy to visit the local girls' college, Farmville State Teachers College. While standing there in the rotunda, he saw a lovely southern brunette descending the staircase. As he so often told everyone, he said to himself, "I'm going to marry her or someone just like her!" He did just that on August 3, 1942, beginning a storybook marriage to Margaret Britton which lasted over sixty-five years until she left us in 2008.
Immediately after World War II, the couple lived in occupied Germany where Al was responsible for the refugee camps. After Germany they lived in Texas and California and then moved overseas once again to Naples, Italy. His final U.S. Air Force assignment was to the Pentagon, retiring there in the 1960's. They then lived in Wiesbaden, Germany where he was a civilian engineer for NATO. In 1970 they retired to Myrtle Beach where they spent a marvelous 34 years golfing, dancing and traveling.
Al would always greet visitors with a joke or story, sometimes colorful, even at the last. He and Margaret loved to dance their whole lives. Each in their 90's, they never missed a step "tripping the light fantastic" while entertaining folks at Carillon Assisted Living where Margaret lived as Alzheimer's took its toll. Margaret died in February, 2008.
Al's survivors include the following, sons, Frederick "Flick" Guerrina and wife, Linda, of Southport, N.C., and Allan "Shorty" Guerrina and wife, Mary Lou, of Columbia; grandsons, Nathan Guerrina of Columbia, and Benjamin Guerrina and wife, Jamie, of Arlington, Va.; granddaughter, Britton Guerrina and husband, Mark Lenczowski, with great-granddaughter, Sophia and great-grandson, Joseph, of Queens, N.Y., and granddaughter, Summer Guerrina and husband, Brooks Roybal, of Littleton, with great-granddaughters, Olivia and Caroline of Littleton, Colo. He has two surviving brothers, Alexander Guerrina of Egg Harbor Township, N.J., and Louis Guerrina and wife, Mary, of Avondale, Pa. There are over one hundred direct descendents of his eight siblings.
Albert and Margaret will have a service and be buried together in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made by contributing to the following hospice organizations: Liberty Hospice, 1620 Ocean Highway, Supply, NC 28462, or Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401-7335. You may send online condolences to www.peacocknewnamwhite.com.
Peacock-Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service, Southport, North Carolina, is serving the family.