Mele ”Pop” Popovich, 89, 0f Mt. Hope Road, Lafferty, OH, died Sunday, February 3, 2002 at the Ohio valley Medical Center, Wheeling, WV.
He was born March 7, 1912, at Lafferty, OH, a son of the late Mele and Mary Popovich.
Mele was a retired employee of Lafferty and Union Local Schools and a WWII Army veteran. He was a member of American Legion Post #366 Flushing and the Disabled American Veterans.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Vivian Della Morta Popovich, a brother, Marco and sisters, Violet Pauline Casmar and Diane Popovich.
Surviving are two daughters, Caroline and her husband Dean Coddington of St. Clairsville, OH and Christine and her husband David Wilson, of Belmont, OH., grandchildren, Beth Mellen, Dave Wilson, Dale, Jeffrey and Heather Coddington and six great grandchildren.
Friends will be received 2-4 and 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, at the Beck-Altmeyer Funeral Home, 204 West Main Street, St. Clairsville, Ohio where services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, with Father Chester Pabin officiating.
Burial with military honors by the American Legion Post #366 follows at Rock Hill Cemetery, Flushing, OH.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Lafferty, OH. 43951.
Caroline & Christine:
My deepest sympathy for your loss. Pop was loved by everyone associated with LHS. He will not be forgotten.
I am very sorry to hear of Pops passing. Like all the young boys at Lafferty school Pops furnace room was my hang out. Because of him I enlisted into the paratroopers and was never more proud as to when he saw me in uniform and the comments he made about the wings I wore. I will miss him and the friendship we shared.
Mele was very kind to us children at Lafferty school, and I can remember he would give me a nickel for the coke vending machine if I needed one. He always had a kind word for the children who attended there.
My deepest sympathies on Mele’s passing. His kindness and friendship during my time at Union Local is a bright and warm memory. A true gentleman.