Ferdinand Dilallo

Ferdinand Leonard "Ferdy" Dilallo, 89, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, July 18, 2004, at St. Francis Medical Center.

He was born Jan. 6, 1915, in St. Louis, son of Leo Leonard and Josephine Pellegrino Dilallo. He and LaVerne Kieffer were married May 13, 1938, in St. Louis. She died Nov. 7, 2001.

Dilallo was a repairman with Union Electric 36 years, retiring in February 1978. He lived in the St. Louis area until moving to Cape Girardeau in 1978. He was a member of IBEW more than 60 years, member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, VFW Post 3838, American Legion Post 63 and Knights of Columbus Council 1111.

He served in the U.S. Army from Feb. 22, 1945, to Aug. 19, 1946. During World War II he was an X-ray technician on a Navy hospital ship and the USS Hope. He was a member of the Naval Reserve eight years.

Survivors include a daughter, Barbara "Jo" (Sonny) Minor of Cape Girardeau; a grandson, Nick Minor of Cape Girardeau; two granddaughters, Michele Tumbleson of Sikeston, Mo., Tina Minor of Seattle, Wash.; two great-grandchildren, Abby Minor of Cape Girardeau and Jacob Tumbleson of Sikeston.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Rosalie Dilallo Williams, April 5, 1959.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday. American Legion Post 63 will conduct a military service at 6. Parish prayers will be at 7, followed by Knights of Columbus rosary.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Vincent de Paul Church, with the Rev. Derek Swanson officiating. A service will be held at 2:30 p.m. at Calvary Cemetery Chapel in St. Louis. Burial will be in the cemetery, with military service by Missouri Honors Team.

Memorial contributions may be made to Kenny Rogers Children's Center in Sikeston, or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn., 38105.