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Submitted: 11/7/21 • Approved: 11/10/21 • Last Updated: 11/13/21 • R1400036-G0-S3
LEIUTENANT COLONEL US Air Force
World War II
December 23, 1921 - February 28, 2015
Love Mausoleum
*Obituary
legacy.com
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Joseph Louis Dionisi, 93, of Mountain Home, Arkansas, died Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015. His life was filled with love -- for God, music, teaching, his country, his church, and his growing family whom he inspired through strength, integrity and Christian conviction.
Joe was born Dec. 23, 1921, in Great Neck, New York, to Andrew and Maria Dionisi. He joined the Air Force during World War II and served in communications to guide military airplanes across the Atlantic Ocean. After leaving active duty, he continued to serve in the Air Force Reserves for many years before retiring as a lieutenant colonel.
After the war, Joe married Dorothy "Jane" Williamson and graduated from New York University with bachelors and master's degrees to begin a long career in music education. Joe and Jane lived in Stony Brook, New York, where they raised their four children and were devoted members of Stony Brook Community Church. He taught in the Port Jefferson School District for 30 years as director of music, a band director, and the orchestrator of musical festivals on Long Island and in New York.
In 1978, Joe and Jane retired to Hendersonville, North Carolina, where he was active at Etowah United Methodist Church as lay speaker, editor of the local and district newsletters, president of the men's group and director of a brass ensemble and chorale. They moved to Midway, Arkansas, 12 years ago and joined First United Methodist Church in Mountain Home, where he continued his love of learning through Bible studies.
Joe is preceded in death by Jane, his wife of 60 years, and his brother, Charles. He is survived by two sons, Joseph Dionisi and wife the Rev. Debbie (Drash) of Lakeland, Florida, and Michael Dionisi and wife Devon of Wichita, Kansas; two daughters, Donna Smith of Stony Brook, and Patti Budolfson and husband Bob of Mountain Home; 10 grandchildren, Leah, Meg, Kerri, Brendan, Matthew, Manny, Christian, Brad, Brett and Brent; and five great-grandchildren, Cooper, Sophia, Isabelle, Mason and Cameron.
A Gathering of Remembrance will be 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2015 at Roller Funeral Home. Memorial services will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 6, 2015, at the First United Methodist Church in Mountain Home with Rev. Rodney Steele and Rev. Randy Ludwig officiating. Interment will be in Private. Memorial contributions may be made to the music program or the building fund at First United Methodist Church, 605 West 6th Street, Mountain Home, AR 72653. Arrangements are by Roller Funeral Home.
Contributed on 11/7/21 by ashaw444
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Record #: 1400036
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