James B. Miletta

Lowellville - James B. Miletta, 92, died Monday morning, May 2, 2016 at Masternick Memorial.

James was born September 18, 1923 in Lowellville, a son of Bruno and Mary Malva Miletta.

A life-long resident of Lowellville, Jim was a 1942 graduate of Lowellville High School. In November of 1943 he was drafted into the United States Army. He served as a Radio Operator in the 278th Combat Engineer Battalion. Jim served in the battles and campaigns of the Rhineland, Ardennes, Central Europe and in the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the good Conduct Medal, American Theatre Medal, EAME Theatre Service Medal, Bronze Star and the World War II Victory Medal. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

After the war, Jim returned to the area and worked as a brakeman for the Youngstown Sheet & Tube. In 1978, after Black Monday, Jim retired after 32 years of service. Besides working at Youngstown Sheet & Tube, Jim was a carpenter and built numerous homes on Kennedy road including their own and he also was a farmer. He raised cattle, hogs, and grain at the old Kennedy Homestead on Kennedy Road. In 1971, a fire destroyed the barn and over 100 hogs, cattle and the grain were lost. He rebuilt a pole barn and continued to farm for 10 more years. In 1981, Jim and his wife Olga, decided to sell the farm and build their new home on their orchard property across the street. After his retirement from farming, Jim continued to work as a warehouse manager for Lyon's Physician Supplies.

Jim enjoyed cooking for his family. He made homemade wine from the grapes he grew, homemade bread, and blood sausage. He would always say, "you gotta eat, you gotta eat!" At the end of summer his family always looked forward to the family harvest feast.

Jim was a member of American Legion Post #247 and the Lowellville Rod and Gun Club where he volunteered his time in the kitchen for the Lowellville Rod and Gun Fish Fry. Jim lived for the outdoors. He loved fishing, hunting deer and turkey, skeet shooting, raising vegetables from his garden and fruit from his orchards. He was a 4H advisor and at the Canfield Fair, Jim won numerous blue ribbons for the cattle, hogs, apples, grapes, and sunflowers that he raised.

Jim was a charter member of Holy Family Church in Poland.

Jim's wife, of almost 67 years, the former Olga Dunchak, whom he married June 18, 1949, died last month, April 17th. He leaves one daughter, Marilyn (Michael) Sprague of Boardman; three sons, James (Shelly) Miletta Jr. of Lowellville, Thomas Miletta of Boardman, and John (Deborah) Miletta of Struthers; two brothers, Joseph (Irene) Miletta of Mesa, AZ and Rocco Miletta of Lowellville; twelve grandchildren, Jim III, Joshua, and Jacob (Amanda) Miletta, Jacob, Thomas, and Daniel Miletta, Tammy Bonett and Anthony Miranda, Jessica and Morgan Miletta, Billie Jo (Chuck) Wright, and Marlana (Chris) Boyer; ten great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.

Besides his parents and wife, Jim was preceded in death by his daughter, Kathleen Smith; one sister, Mary Pisto; one brother, Dominic Miletta; and his grandson, James Robert Smith.

Prayer Services will be held Friday, 9:15 AM at the Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home, Lowellville, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM at Holy Family Church with Msgr. William Connell officiating. Interment will follow at the Holy Rosary Cemetery in Lowellville.

Friends will be received Thursday from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the funeral home in Lowellville.

Jim's family would like to extend their sincere appreciation for the wonderful care provided by the staff at Masternick Memorial.

His family requests that any gifts please take the form of contributions to the Alzheimer's Association, 3695 B Boardman Canfield Road, Suite 301, Canfield, OH 44406 or to Disabled American Veterans, 1240 E. 9th Street, Room 1017-B, Cleveland, OH 44199.