Joseph Christopher Scaparra

Joseph Christopher Scaparra, 95, a World War ll veteran, passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early morning of Monday, December 12, 2016 at a care center in Lewisville, Texas having enjoyed the previous weekend with many visiting family members from out of town.

Funeral Events: On Tuesday, December 20, 2016 viewing and visitation is at Colonial Funeral Home, 625 Kitty Hawk Rd, Universal City, Texas, from 5:00pm -8:00pm with a Rosary at 6:30pm. A brief slideshow will follow.

On Wednesday, December 21, 2016 a funeral Mass at Randolph Air Force Base Chapel 1 will be held at 9:30 am, burial will follow at 11:00 am at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Afterwards a Wake will be held at the VFW Post 8541, 2222 Austin Highway, San Antonio with a Celebration of Life Narrative and Singalong following the noon meal.

Biography: Joe was born in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania on Christopher Columbus Day, October 12, 1921; fittingly as he was the son of Italian immigrants, Louisa Terzaghi of Rivergaro, Italy and Francesco Scaparra of Partinico, Sicily. The priest who baptized him at St. Coleman’s Roman Catholic parish suggested his middle name for this reason. Joe had an older sister, Sara Elizabeth, and a younger sister, Ermalinda. He attended the parish grade school, and later graduated from Turtle Creek High School in 1939.

He joined the Civilian Conservation Corps planting trees and later enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War ll. While stationed in Oklahoma City at Tinker Air Force Base his future wife, Mary Helen Elizabeth Burns Woods, danced into his heart. After a whirlwind romance of six weeks they married in 1946. Joe attended Officer Candidate School, became an officer and while taking advantage of the GI Bill earned his college degrees and made the Air Force his career. He served in Guam, Korea, and many stateside deployments including San Antonio. Joe and Mary Helen had 5 children, Joan Louise, Sharon Kay, Linda Frances , Joseph Christopher Jr., and Frank Anthony.

Retiring from the Air Force as a Major in 1963, Joe had a second career in the Civil Service managing Education Centers in Mannheim and Bamberg, Germany as well as Fort Sam Houston for the US Army. He enjoyed handball, racquetball, tennis, bridge, and ballroom dancing till late in his years. He was devoted to his Catholic faith and frequently was a lector at Mass. He led his family to attend Mass on Sundays and holydays, receive the sacraments, and pray the rosary at least once a week. He will be remembered as a patriot, loving son, faithful husband, strong father, devoted Catholic, and a loyal friend who loved life and good homemade food piping hot!

Predeceased by: an infant sibling of influenza; his parents in 1976 at the ages of 88 and 89; his beloved wife for almost 49 years, Mary Helen, in 1995; and his dear younger sister Ermalinda Degler in 2011.

Survivors: his beloved older sister, Sara E. Dietrich; all of his children, his 12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.