He is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Carla; his children, Roberto (Kim) and Debbie (John); and his cherished grandchildren, Alex, Parker, and Italia. He is also survived by his sister, Roseanna of Maryland and niece Lia (Curtis and son Steven).
Louis was preceded in death by his parents, Mattia and Marcella Agnolutto of Arba, Italy, as well as his brother-in-law, Fortunato DiDomenico.
Born on April 26, 1945, in Arba, Italy, Louis set sail for a new life in America with his parents aboard the Andrea Doria at the age of 9. He attended school in Raleigh and Washington, D.C., but frequently returned to Arba — where he met the love of his life, Carla.
In 1969, Louis and Carla settled in Raleigh, North Carolina, where they started an oil delivery business, Dixon and Grant Oil Company that later evolved into a successful heating and air conditioning company, Louis Heating and Cooling. Together, they ran the business for 40 years.
A dedicated community member, Louis was a Mason and an active participant in the Optimist Club of Raleigh. One of his favorite activities was volunteering at the NC State fair with the Optimist Club selling breakfast biscuits. He was an avid outdoorsman, with a passion for fishing and hunting that took him as far as Minnesota and Key West.
Talented and creative, Louis had a lifelong love of working with his hands. He crafted everything from a stovetop coffee server in high school to carved wooden ducks at the Pullen Arts Center, and even built small transportation vehicles for local elementary students. His enthusiasm for classic cars led him to lovingly restore a 1949 Ford truck, which he proudly showcased with the Piedmont Classic Car Club- even winning 3rd place in one of their shows..
Louis dreamed of retiring in his hometown of Arba, where he could spend time with his extended family and lifelong friends. He especially cherished mornings spent enjoying coffee with his brother-in-law Bepi, his wife Rosanna, nephews Stefano and Simone, and niece Sonia (Mauro) and her children, Matilde and Gabriel.
Although a stroke in 2015 changed the course of his retirement, Louis never lost his spirit. Despite the challenges of paralysis on his right side, he and Carla continued to travel, volunteer, and find joy in the simple pleasures of life — especially watching the birds in their backyard and Sunday morning coffee with beloved friend Mohammad.
Louis found strength and community through the support of organizations such as The Aphasia Project, Steps to Recovery, SaraCare Adult Center, and Transitions LifeCare. He participated in several 5Ks with The Aphasia Project, found joy in coloring at SaraCare, and was a dedicated volunteer at a local elementary school. Thank you Olivia Riggs and Jameson Carney for caring without boundaries and keeping both Louis and Carla active.
Louis will be remembered for his resilience, generosity, and the deep love he had for his family, friends, and community. A Memorial Service is scheduled for Sunday, October 12, at 5:00 pm in the Chapel of Mitchell Funeral Home, 7209 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27612, with a reception to follow. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Louis’s life.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Aphasia Project, by using the link below under 'Donations'.
If you would like to leave a favorite memory / story of Louis, or a message of condolence for his family, you may do so below, within 'Add a Memory'.
