Frank A. Smarto
Frank A. Smarto, 91, of Connellsville, passed away Monday, September 28, 2009, surrounded by his loving family. He was born April 3, 1918 in Connellsville, a son of the late Giovanni and Jennifer (Pittsment) Smarto.
Frank was a graduate of Connellsville Area High School Class of 1936. While in school, he was pole-vaulter for the track team. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Army during WW II as a Staff Sgt. with the 881 1st Field Artillery Battalion during the “Battle of the Bulge”. Once honorably discharged, he returned home to work several years at the Overholt Distillery in Broadford, Pa. Later, he became a milkman providing home delivery for various dairies including, Quality Dairy Farmers, Country Belle, and Westland Dairy. Prior to his retirement in 1984, he was self-employed for 10 years providing door to door home milk delivery in the Connellsville area. Frank was a sports enthusiast who played baseball for the Fayette Baseball League and was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his outstanding performance. He was also an avid walker participating in many local races well into his eighties. He will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, brother, grandfather and great grandfather.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Geraldine Palladino Smarto; three daughters: Stephanie Connell and husband, Michael, Sr. of Connellsville, Jennifer Blout and husband, Richard of Uniontown and Martina Herman and husband, Lawrence, Sr. of Connellsville; grandchildren: Christopher (Jennifer), Evonne (Bob) and Jace Blout, Larry Jr. (Jamie), Hilary, Frank (Rachael) and Daniel Herman, Maria, Jimmy and Michael Patrick Connell; great-grandchildren: Kennedy, Vincent, and Ryan Blout and Nico Herman; two sisters: Mary Frazier of Jeanette and Bernadine Hartz of Connellsville; a brother-in-law, Joseph Homonai of Connellsville; brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Marge Palladino of Zelienople; and also numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, John Smarto and three sisters, Julia Homonai, Lena Smarto (at age 7) and Gloria Smarto (at infancy).
Family and friends will be received today from 7 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the PAUL G. FINK FUNERAL HOME, INC., 418 North Pittsburgh St., Connellsville, where Prayers of Transfer will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. A Funeral Mass will follow at 10:30 a.m. in St. Rita’s R.C. Church, Connellsville with Rev. Fr. Joseph Bonafed as celebrant.
Interment will follow in St. Ritas R.C. Cemetery, Connellsville, with full military rites accorded by the V.F.W. Post 21 and American Legion Posts 301 and 762.