SERIO (VETERAN WWII), JOHN J "JOHNNIE" - Chicot County, Arkansas | JOHN J "JOHNNIE" SERIO (VETERAN WWII) - Arkansas Gravestone Photos

John J "Johnnie" SERIO (VETERAN WWII)

Mount Carmel Cemetery
Chicot County,
Arkansas

US Army Company B First Battalion 127 Infantry Regiment 32nd Division
March 25,1920-December 21,2013
Bronze Star Medal


Dorothy Marie "Dot"
September 23, 1926 - January 26, 2012

*Obituary-
Griffin-Culpepper Funeral Home
McGehee, Arkansas

Obituary for John Serio

John Joseph Serio of Eudora, Arkansas, joined his beloved wife, Dot, in heaven on December 21, 2013. He was born on March 25, 1920, in Lake Village, Arkansas, to Vince and Congetta Serio, his father being a Sicilian immigrant. He was a life long resident of Eudora (except for the war years), and was known by all as ‟Mr. Johnnie‟. He graduated from Eudora High School in 1938. He was a 1937 co-captain of the Eudora Badgers and was named an all-district guard in the Southeast Conference. He was called to duty by ‟Uncle Sam‟ in December of 1941, became part of Co. B, 1st Bn., 127th Inf. Regiment, 32nd Division (the Red Arrows), and in December of 1942, almost 71 years to the day of his death, he participated in the capture of Buna, New Guinea. It was the first U. S. Army ground campaign victory over the Japanese. He was awarded the Bronze Medal. He suffered malaria, was returned to Australia, where he met a beautiful Australian girl who was to be his wife for over 67 years before her death. Their love story was a feature of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on April 24, 2011.

He returned to his beloved Eudora after the war to be joined by his wife and young son a year later. The family decided to return to Australia but after a little more than a year, his father invited him to take over Serio‛s Grocery and he returned to Eudora, never to depart. He, along with his wife, were the owners and operators of Serio‛s Grocery until they retired.

Johnnie served more than 25 years on the Eudora City Council and was a Deacon, then an Elder of the Eudora Presbyterian Church. He was one of those men who made the ‟Greatest Generation‟ great and made small town Arkansas a wonderful home.

He is survived by his son, Robert G. Serio and wife Angie of Clarendon and his daughter Keryn C. Cantrell and her husband, William ‟Bubba‟ Cantrell of Wright. He is also survived by 3 grandchildren, Gina Simpson of Bryant, Brian Cantrell of Hernando, MS, and Rob Serio of Springdale and 6 great grandchildren: Sydney Harrell, Anna Simpson, Kyra Serio, Ian Serio, Caroline Cantrell, and Will Cantrell.

Funeral services will be held Monday, December 23, 2013 at 2:00 P.M. at the Eudora Methodist Church under the direction of Griffin-Culpepper Funeral Home with Rev. John D‛Arezzo officiating. Visitation will be from Noon until 1:30 on said Monday at the Eudora Methodist Church. The family desires that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Arkansas Children‛s Hospital, P. O. Box 2222, Little Rock, AR 72203, the Arkansas Hospice Foundation, 5600 W. 12th St., Little Rock, AR 72204, or the Mount Carmel Cemetery Assn. of Eudora

*Obituary for Dorothy Serio
Griffin-Culpepper Funeral Service
Eudora, Arkansas

DOROTHY MARIE SERIO 09/23/1926 - 1/26/2012 (Australia Day)

Dorothy Marie Serio of Eudora, Arkansas entered into eternal life on January 26, 2012 at the age of 85. She was born September 23, 1926 in Willoughby, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, to Alfred Horace Hinkley and Laura J. Hinkley, both of whom preceded her in death.

She came to the United States as a war bride in 1946 with her husband John J. Serio who had served in the U. S. Army in the New Guinea campaign against the Japanese. They were married June 3, 1944 at St. Stephens Church of England in Willoughby. Their wedding story was a feature of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in June 2011. When they came to the U.S., they brought their young son Robert.

Dorothy, affectionately known as Dot by friends and family and "Nanny" by her grandchildren, was proud of her homeland and her heritage and chose to retain her Australian citizenship throughout her life. She, John and Robert returned to Australia in 1948 with the intent to settle there but changed their minds and returned to the United States with baby daughter Keryn. Dorothy was a descendant of "Australian Royalty"; her great-great grandmother Hannah was sent to Australia by the English justice system in 1810 for committing a minor offense. Her great-great grandparents were some of the original homesteaders in Windsor and Sutton Forest, New South Wales; the life of Hannah can be found in the book "Hannah". She was very proud of her new home Eudora, Arkansas, and was always a fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks. On numerous occasions, she wrote to the "Our Town" column in the Arkansas Gazette to defend her town, state or the University when disparaging comments had been made. She also had a love for the English language and did not hesitate to point out its misuse through more letters to "Our Town".

Dorothy and Johnnie were the owners and operators of Serio's Grocery until they retired. Through the business they became beloved by the citizens of Eudora. Dorothy was an active member of the Eudora Presbyterian Church for many years and later the Lake Village Presbyterian Church, serving as Elder and Historian in the Eudora church for many years. During the years her children attended Eudora Public Schools; she served as a substitute teacher and was an active member of the PTA, serving as President.

She is survived by her husband John J. Serio, of Eudora, her son Robert G. Serio and his wife Angie of Clarendon, her daughter Keryn Cantrell and her husband, William "Bubba" Cantrell of Wright. She is also survived by 3 grandchildren, Gina Simpson of Bryant, Brian Cantrell of Hernando, Mississippi, and Rob Serio of Springdale, and 6 great grandchildren: Sydney Harrell, Anna Simpson, Kyra Serio, Ian Serio, Caroline Cantrell, and Will Cantrell. She is also survived by her older sister, Olive Browning, of Brighton le Sands, Sydney, Australia.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 2:00 at the Eudora Methodist Church under the direction of Griffin-Culpepper Funeral Service with Rev. Lauren Moore officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Eudora. Visitation will be at Griffin-Culpepper Funeral Service in Eudora Saturday, January 28 from 4-6 p.m. The family desires that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Haiti Education Foundation, P. O. Box 10775, El Dorado, AR 71730; Arkansas Children's Hospital, P. O. Box 2222, Little Rock, AR 72203-2222, or Arkansas Hospice Foundation, 5600 W. 12th St., Little Rock, AR 72204.

Arrangements by Griffin-Culpepper Funeral Service of Eudora, AR.

Contributed on 1/27/14 by deltabelle55
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Record #: 977772

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Submitted: 1/27/14 • Approved: 11/2/19 • Last Updated: 1/24/21 • R977772-G977772-S3

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