US NATIONAL GUARD & US ARMY

Paul J. Caruso, 95, of Kittanning, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012, at Erdley's Sunnyside Personal Care Home. Paul was born Dec. 22, 1916, in McIntyre, to Nunzio and Elizabeth Caruso. A Ford City High School graduate, he joined the Pennsylvania National Guard in Ford City, rose to the rank of staff sergeant and went into the U.S. 112th Infantry in 1941. He was honorably discharged in October 1945. Upon returning home, he married his loving wife, Betty Steim, and they shared their lives together for 66 years. They enjoyed spending retirement winters in the Houston, Texas, area with friends. Paul earned his bachelor's degree from Clarion State on the GI Bill. While teaching math at Ford City, Paul attended evening classes at the University of Pittsburgh in school administration in preparation for a position as a principal. He retired in 1984, including 15 years as high school principal at Elderton, Dayton, East Brady, Kittanning and Ford City. At age 80, he became principal at Divine Redeemer Elementary School in Ford City for one year. He was considered a great teacher with a kind and inspiring word for all he met. Paul was a high school basketball and football referee. He served as the Manor Township's tax collector, was secretary and manager of Kittanning County Club and on the board of Lenape Golf Course. His ability to drive a golf ball was greatly admired and he made two holes-in-one. He greatly enjoyed volunteering for the PGA golf tournament and golfed up to the age of 90. He was a West Kittanning councilman. He was also active in the Redevelopment Authority, the Housing Board, the county's Boroughs Association and the Armstrong Education Association. He was in both the Ford City and Hockey Hall of Fame and longtime member of the Italian Club. Paul was a member of St. Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Kittanning. He sang in the church choir, volunteered at the church social hall and was a Eucharistic minister. He lived his life in a very Christian manner. We are better because of him, and the memories will be as beautiful as a rainbow against a darkened sky. His duties as an administrator and teacher went hand and hand with his Catholic faith. He believed that he needed divine intervention in his duties and in life. His church played a big part in his life. Paul is survived by his loving wife, Betty (Steim) Caruso; also surviving are his two daughters, Marsha Caruso and Paula Caruso LaStrapes and her husband, Andre P. LaStrapes III; brothers, Michael Caruso and wife, Geraldine, of Ford City, and Fred Caruso and companion, Ann, of Florida; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brothers, Nado, Frank, Orlando (Sarge) and Victor. Visitation from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the MANTINI FUNERAL HOME INC., Ford City. Prayer service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in St. Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Kittanning, with Father Daniel Blout. Interment in St. Marys Cemetery, Kittanning. Donations in memory of Paul may be made to the Ford City Heritage Fireworks Fund or Erdley's Sunnyside Personal Care Home.

(Pittsburgh Tribune Review 12/12/2012)