He was the second child of four siblings, born on April 21, 1923, in Orsogna, Italy. He attended Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Staley, N.C.
The family will receive friends on Friday, March 30, 2018, from 1-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at Loflin Funeral Home, Liberty, N.C. and other times at his home. The funeral service will be held Saturday, March 31, 2018, at 2 p.m. at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, 7103 Sandy Creek Church Road, Staley, N.C., with the Rev. Jimmy Austin and Rev. Wayne Dunn officiating.
At the age of 16 in 1939, Carl traveled via ship from Italy to New York. He followed his father, Giovanni ‘John’ and brother, Joseph to Philadelphia. His mother, Carmela Cipollone Fonzo and younger brother, Jerry came later. Two years later in 1943 he moved to Flushing, N.Y. where he was drafted into the U.S Army in World War II, without benefit of U.S. citizenship. He served 34 months with the 126th Infantry, 32nd Division as an Army medic. While in New Guinea, in 1944, he received his U.S. Citizenship. On Christmas Day, 1945, he returned home and two years later he met Virginia Butler who had moved to New York City from Liberty, N.C. They married July 25, 1951. Carl owned two barbershops in New York in the 1960s. In 1970 he left barbering and began his 18-year career with the Department of Parks and Recreation, Nassau County, Long Island, New York. In 1988 he retired and moved with Virginia to Liberty, N.C. He worked at Liberty Oil part-time pumping gas until he was 86 years old.
He was the son of the late Giovanni and Carmela Cipollone Fonzo and was also preceded in death by his wife, Jessie ‘Virginia’ Butler Fonzo; his sister, Ann Marie Santarsiere; and brother, Joseph Fonzo.
Carl is survived by daughters, Doreen Fonzo of Charleston, S.C., Judy Bianco (Jerry) of Liberty and Francine Fonzo of Concord, N.C.; four granddaughters, Ashlee Birkler and Lindsay Stewart (Corey) of Spring Hill, Fla., Jenna Bruscino (Daniel) and Leah Bianco of Liberty; four great-grandsons, Tyler Hughes, Brandon Stewart, Lorenzo and Luca Bruscino; brother, Jerry Fonzo (Marilyn) of Baldwin, N.Y.; sisters-in-law, Emma Fonzo of Casselberry, Fla. and Ruth Butler of Burlington, N.C.; brother-in-law, Howard Cheek of Liberty. He will be missed by many nieces, nephews and cousins who loved him dearly.
Please take a moment to remember Carl’s generous and kindhearted spirit. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, 7103 Sandy Creek Church Road, Staley, NC 27355, or Hospice of Randolph County, P.O. Box 9, Asheboro, NC 27204-0009.
Please share your thoughts and memories with the Fonzo family at www.LoflinFH.com.
Loflin Funeral Home in Liberty is honored to serve the Fonzo family.
