CWO4 (Ret.) William "Bill" P. Zucchelli Jr.

Funeral services for Bill Zucchelli will be Saturday, November 16, 2013, 2 p.m. in the Chapel of Striffler-Hamby, 4071 Macon Rd, Columbus, with Father Jacob Almeter officiating. Visitation will be Friday, November 15, 2013 from 6:00 until 8:00 PM at the funeral home.

William P. Zucchelli, Jr. was born August 8, 1935 in Newton, Massachusetts to the late Daria Alice Pretoni Zucchelli and William P. Zucchelli, Sr. His mother Daria passed away when William was 2yrs old at which time he went to live with his grandparents Ernesto and Celimia Zucchelli in Plymouth, Mass. In 1939 the all went to live with William’s Aunt and Uncle Henry and Erma Garuti. His Aunt Erma raised him as her son, he felt fortunate to have had two mothers, Daria and Erma. He graduated from Plymouth High School Class of 1953, he joined the US Army during his last year in high school and entered active duty with the regular Army in Jan. 1954. After basic training at Camp Picket, VA and truck driver training at Ft. Dix, NJ he was stationed at White Sands Proving Ground, NM. While there he attended Aircraft Mechanics School. In 1958 he was assigned to the 3rd Armored Division in Germany and served as a helicopter line chief. He saw the opportunity to apply for helicopter flight training and was accepted and graduated as Warrant Officer Helicopter Pilot in 1963. He was then assigned to Ft. Benning, GA from there he served two tours in Vietnam 1965-1966 with COA 82nd Aviation Battalion N attached to the 173rd Airborne Brigade Bein Woa Vietnam, then 1968-1969, 132nd A&SH Company based at Chu Lai, South Vietnam. He did a tour in Thailand 1971-1972 assigned to the 42nd Special Forces Group Aviation Section. He retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 at Fort Benning, Georgia in July 1977 with 25 years of service.

He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Carolyn J. Zucchelli of Columbus; six children, Brian (Hyun) Zucchelli, Allen (Lawana) Zucchelli, William P. Zucchelli III, Judith (Gramon, Jr.) Anderson, Anthony E. Jacobs, Jr, Jo Beth (Steve) Braddy; 12 grandchildren, Brian Zucchelli, Jr, John (Laura) Zucchelli, Stevon Zucchelli, Victoria Zucchelli, Rachel Morgan, Jeremy Zucchelli, W.P. Zucchelli, IV, Laura (Mark) Smith, Anthony E. Jacobs, III, Cristen Jacobs, Johanna Braddy (Josh) Blaylock, and Cole Braddy; 11 great grandchildren; and one great-great granddaughter. In lieu of flowers donations may be offered to Columbus Hospice at www.columbushospice.com or to PAWS. Condolences may be offered at www.shcolumbus.com.