Francis Vecellio

Sept. 18, 1938–Nov. 29, 2024

 

Francis “Bird” Vecellio, of Rockwall, Texas, formerly of Ironton, passed away on Nov. 29, 2024, after spending Thanksgiving with family in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

He was born on Sept. 18, 1938, to the late Frank R. and Mary Catherine O’Keefe Vecellio in Ironton.

Francis married Patricia Somers, a former classmate at St. Joe, and they had three children, Francis, of Kinderhook, New York, Theresa (Michael) Saul and Marian (Terry) Layne, of Ironton.

He has eight grandchildren, Rebecca Saul (Mike) Holmes, Christi Zimmerman (Brandon) Lockwood, Kimmi Zimmerman (Casey) Compston, Tom Saul, Toni Layne, Marissa Vecellio (Aaron) Knick, Francis Michael Vecellio and Ben Vecellio. He also has ten great-grandchildren.

He is survived by five siblings, Ann Thacker, of Springfield, Rob Vecellio, of Opelika, Alabama, Carolyn Kline and Rita Jones, of Ironton, and Mary Alice (Cookie) Roush, of Franklin Furnace; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Francis attended St. Lawrence and St. Joseph schools before graduating from Ironton High School in 1956. He immediately joined the U.S. Marines with good friends, Danny Gallagher and Jerry Scherer.

After his service, he worked at Dow Chemical for many years and served as president of the union there.

After starting a family, Francis decided to return to school while working. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics and an MBA from Marshall University.

He eventually went to work for the U.S. Department of Defense as an auditor before retiring many years ago.

While in Texas, he met Betty Griffin and they were partners until her death.

A memorial service will be 6–8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23, at O’Keefe Baker Funeral Home, Ironton.