Joseph Lawrence Polites, 81, of Stephens City, Va., and formerly of Grampian, died Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016 at the Winchester Medical Center.
Born April 26, 1935 in Penn Township, Clearfield County, he was the son of Anthony C. and Helen (Sass) Polites.
Mr. Polites was a career U.S. Air Force veteran, serving during both the Korea and Vietnam Wars. After his Air Force career, he was employed by the Pentagon in the Intelligence Division.
In his younger years, he was a member of the St. Bonaventure Roman Catholic Church in Grampian, where he had been an altar server.
After settling in Stephens City, he attended the St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church in Winchester and was a graduate of Curwensville Area High School.
On July 8, 1961 in Paris, France, he wed the former Annie L. Smallwood, who survives, along with a daughter, Michele Marie Anderson and her husband, Russell Gene of Shenandoah Farms, Va.
He is also survived by a step-granddaughter, Lisa; two sisters, Mary Ann Brock and her husband, Joseph of Curwensville and Ramona Teklinski of Grampian; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Shirley Polites, Dorothy Johnston and Phyllis Leasgang; and three brothers, William, Anthony Jr. and James Polites.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the St. Bonaventure Roman Catholic Church, Grampian, with the Rev. Father Mark J. Mastrian as celebrant. Burial will follow in the St. Bonaventure Cemetery Grampian.
Friends will be received from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Monday and from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Chester C. Chidboy Funeral Home Inc., Curwensville.
The rosary will be recited by members of St. Theresa’s Guild of St. Bonaventure’s at 4:45 p.m. and a Scripture Vigil Service will be conducted at 6:15 p.m. Monday, both at the funeral home.
The family suggests contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, 26 S. Second St., Clearfield, PA 16830.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.chidboyfuneralhome.com.
The Chester C. Chidboy Funeral Home Inc. of Curwensville is in charge of the arrangements.