Lewis F. Fulare, 93, of Ramey died Thursday, April 5, 2018 in Hillview Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Altoona.
Born Oct. 15, 1924 in Madera, he was the son of the late Joseph and Rose (Skonier) Fulare.
Mr. Fulare was a 1942 graduate of the former Beccaria Township High School.
He served in the U.S. Army as a sergeant with the 15th Army Air Force, 456 Bomb Group, 744 Bomb Squadron in World War II.
Mr. Fulare was awarded the Purple Heart, Prisoner of War Medal, Air Medal, one Silver Star, one Bronze Star, the European African Middle Eastern Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge and the World War II Victory Medal.
In September of 1944 while flying a mission over Munich, Germany, Mr. Fulare’s aircraft and crew members were shot down. Eight crew members died; Mr. Fulare and one other were captured. He was held as a prisoner of war for seven months.
On May 14, 1949 in Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Ramey, he married Kathryn Bedekovich. She preceded him in death in 2013.
He was electrician and retired in 1987 from PPG Industries, Tipton. Mr. Fulare also was the owner and operator of the Fulare Christmas Tree Farm at Hegarty’s Crossroads.
Mr. Fulare was a member of the former Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Madera and a current member of Christ the King Parish in Houtzdale.
He was also a member of Our Lady of the Valley Knights of Columbus Council No. 10376; a past Eucharistic Minister and Holy Name Society member of Immaculate Conception Church; a member of Stephen Kandrach Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6321, Janesville; the American Legion, Osceola Mills; the Disabled American Veterans, Altoona; and a two-term commander of the Southern Allegheny Chapter of Ex-American Prisoners of War.
He is survived by a daughter and three sons, Carol Owens and her husband, Edward of Shawville; Lewis Fulare his wife, Ouida of Centre Hall and their son, Alex Fulare; Jerome Fulare and his wife, Francine of Altoona and their children, Ashlan, Samantha and Christopher Fulare; and Thomas Fulare and his wife, Michelle of Coalport and their children, Baliegh Cannistraci and Barry Michael Kanouf.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his step-father, Leo Fitch and an infant sister, Muriel.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday at the Christ the King Catholic Church, Houtzdale. Burial with military honors will follow in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Madera.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250, or the American Ex-Prisoners of War, National Headquarters, P.O. Box 3444, Arlington, TX 76007.
Condolences may be made at www.kruise-spewock.com.
