- Date Of Death: February 5, 2016
- State: Maryland
On February 5, 2016, Fred Montoro, a WWII Veteran, beloved husband of Karen Montoro (nee Crouse); devoted father of Frederic Montoro and his wife Doris, Sandi Hanky and her husband Don, Susan Detorie and her husband Joe, and Karen Smith and her husband Tim; loving brother of Lucy Jones and her husband Dick.
Also survived by eight grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and many other loving family members and friends. Fred was predeceased by five siblings.
Fred Montoro grew up on an 80 acre farm in Irvona, Pennsylvania. As a child he learned all the aspects of farming. As he grew older he selflessly cared for members of his family and friends. He was a gifted handyman who did numerous projects for them. His work ethic was impeccable, and he always assumed the projects with dedication and a smiling face.
He was a veteran of the United States Navy. During World War II, he completed 49 combat missions as a waist gunner in a B-42 bomber that attacked German submarines, or U-boats, in the English Channel in the European Theater of Operations. At the end of the war, he was honorably discharged and left the service as an Aviation Ordnance Man First Class (E-6), and his service earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with Gold Star, the American Defense Service Ribbon, the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Navy Good Conduct Medal with 2 stars, and the World War II Victory Medal.
After his discharge from the Navy, he moved to Baltimore, Maryland where he became employed by Martin Marietta and worked there until 1969. In 1971, he accepted a job as a Quality Control Technician for General Electric, and it was from there that he retired at the age of 64, on July 25, 1986.
Among his many hobbies, he loved fishing, hunting, and carving. He was a long time member of the Lansdowne Baltimore Highlands Senior Center, in which he regularly attended.
The discipline and patriotism he learned in the Navy never left him, as friends and family will attest. He touched the lives of everyone he met and will be greatly missed. The legacy that he leaves behind is one of honor, love, and dedication.
