John Vallina

John graduated from E. St. Louis Senior High School in 1937. He received a bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and a master’s degree from SIU-Carbondale. He served in the Navy during World War II. He was an elementary school teacher in E. St. Louis District 189 teaching at Hawthorne and Monroe Schools.

John was involved in sports throughout his life. He was an accomplished athlete in football, basketball, and baseball in high school and played baseball and football in college. He later officiated football, basketball, and baseball at the high school and college levels. He was inducted into the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993. He was a scout for both the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs organizations. When John was the business manager for the Yankees Farm Team in Independence, KS, in 1949, he signed Mickey Mantle to his first contract.

He was a member of Signal Hill United Methodist Church, the American Legion, St. Louis Officials’ Association, Southwest Officials’ Association, and Central States Officials’ Association of which he was a life member.

He married Josephine Marino Falcetta on Feb. 17, 1949, in Chicago, Ill. She preceded him in death on Nov. 27, 1999. Also preceding him in death were his parents, Paulino and Felicia Vallina, nee Rodriguez; sisters, Oliva Diaz, Mary Graville, and Gloria MacFarlane; brothers, Lloyd “Cherry” Vallina, and Joseph Vallina; and granddaughter, Gina Marie Falcetta.

Surviving are his sons, Paul (Kanda) Vallina and John (Mary) Falcetta, and grandson, Kyle Vallina, all of Belleville as well as nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to all the wonderful staff of the Fountains of Shiloh and especially Gina and Ashley who provided extremely passionate care for John and also to the staff of Vitas Hospice.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Signal Hill United Methodist Church or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.valhallagardensandfuneralhome.com

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m., Monday, July 25, 2011 at Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home, 3412 Frank Scott Pkwy W., Belleville, Ill. 62223.

Funeral Service: Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home with Rev. Larry Patton officiating. Interment will follow services at Valhalla Gardens of Memory, Belleville, Ill.

Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home, Belleville, Ill.