Center. He was born January 5, 1923 in Ridgefield, CTto the late Rudolph and Elvira Allegrezza
Valentino, where he lived with his family, before moving to Charleston, R.I. He and his wife later moved to Stuart, Florida in 1992, and in 2009 moved to Tennessee to live with their son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Kathy. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Helen Valentino. Leno served in the U.S. Army Air Corp and the u.s Air Force. During World War II he served in the 13th Army Air Corp / 307th Bomb Group and was stationed throughout the South Pacific from 1942 thru 1945. His extended military career included Officer Commission, assignment as
a lead pilot of a B24 Liberator Bomber flying over 35 combat missions. He was involved in missions over the Balikpapan Peninsular during the invasion of Balikpapan and missions over the Philippine Islands during the liberation of the Philippines. Leno retired at the rank of Major in 1964 from the U.S. Air Force. While living in Ridgefield, he was an active member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, acted as Post Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3052, and was an active member and officer of the Italian American Mutual Aid Society and was the owner of the Ridgefield Cleaners
for over 40 years before he retired in 1988. Survivors include two sisters Emma Orlando and Barbara Bol of Santa Barbara, California, his children Richard and Kathy Valentino of Surgoinsville, TN., Virginia Mae Brown of Midlothian,
VA., William and Denise Valentino of Chester, VA., Judith and Keith Reardon of Brewster, Mass.,
Patricia and John Kiernan of Jensen Beach, FL., fourteen grandchildren, Leslie Woods and
husband Chris, Carolina Dodson and husband Todd, Matthew Brown, Ryan Brown, Chris Reed,
Samantha Canale, Justin Reardon and wife Alena, Farrah Valentino, Taylor Valentino, Kristie
Atchison and husband Terry, Kelly Huffman and husband Shane, Kim Todd and husband Aaron;
and eighteen great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. A memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 18,2013 at St. Dominic's Catholic Church, Kingsport, TN. Full Military Honors will follow at East Lawn Memorial Park. Inurnment will be at a later date at St. Mary's Cemetery in Ridgefield, CT. In lieu of flowers memorial
contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN
38105. East Lawn Funeral Home is honored to serve the Valentino family, please visit
www.eastlawnkingsport.com to leave a condolence for the family.
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