Franciscas "Che-Che" MIANO

Franciscas (Che-Che) Miano, 92, of Thorpe, W.Va., passed away on Monday, January 21, 2013, after a short illness. Che-Che was born on May 22, 1920, to the late Domenico and Josephine Fama Miano, on No. 5 Hill in Thorpe. He attended the Thorpe Elementary School and Gary High School. He served in the United States Army during World War II and was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division 507th PIR, having jumped behind enemy lines in Normandy, France on D-Day, June 6, 1944, and he also fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
He was employed with the U.S. Steel Corporation for 44 years as an electrician and house coal bin operator at the Alpheus Preparation Plant in Gary until his retirement in 1981.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Violet Louise Long Miano, on May 29, 2001. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Charlie, Frank J., Anthony (Neno), Domenico (Zulie), and Salvatore (Sam) Miano; one sister, Anna Calabro; and two grandsons, Patrick Mills and Christopher Case.
Survivors include two daughters, Frances A. Case and husband, Jim, of Huntington, W.Va., and Josey Miano and husband, Drew Walden, of Matthews, N.C.; three sons, Sammy Miano and wife, Kathy, of Rock, W.Va., Anthony Miano and wife, Jo Ann, of Thorpe, W.Va., and Francis "Che-Che" Miano and wife, Katie, of Christiansburg, Va. He had four grandchildren to whom he was known as "Pappy;" three granddaughters, Jamie Case Dorsey and husband, Elliott, of Charlotte, N.C., Bethany Jackson and fiancé, Jay Lapolla, of Land O' Lakes, Fla., and Samantha Miano, of Bluefield, W.Va.; one grandson, Vincenzo (Vince) Miano, of Christiansburg, Va.; two great-grandsons, Benjamin and Joseph Dorsey, of Charlotte, N.C.; and one sister, Tina Shealey, of Anaheim, Calif. He is also survived by his Army buddy and dear friend of 70 years, James P. "Mule" Muehlberger, of Walnutport, Pa.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 25, 2013, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Gary, W.Va., where he was a life-long parishioner, with Father Paulose Manickathan, celebrant. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, on Court House Road in Princeton, W.Va., where Military Rites will be conducted.
Friends may call on Thursday, January 24, 2013, at the Fanning Funeral Home in Welch, from 6 to 8 p.m. where a Scripture Prayer Service will be conducted at 7:30 p.m.
Pallbearers will be Delmer Winebarger, Jeffrey H. "Harvey" Walker, Jim Case, Larry Heizer, Drew Walden and Tony Calabro. Honorary Pallbearers will be David Myers, James P. "Mule" Muehlberger, Donald Miano, Ben Simon, Frank "Butch" Kapish Jr., and Randall David.
Fanning Funeral Home of Welch, W.Va., (304) 436-4169, is serving the Miano family. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.fanningfuneralhomes.com