Joseph Vitikas

Youngstown - Services will be held at 9:00 A.M. at Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home, Austintown Chapel and at 9:30 A.M. at Holy Name of Jesus Church for Joseph S. Vitikas, age 91, of Youngstown who died Saturday evening in the Austinwoods Nursing Center.
He was born Nov. 14, 1912 in Letanovec, Slovakia, a son of Joseph and Mary Brandebur Vitikas.
He came to the United States in 1913 and to this area in 1918. He had been employed as a machinist for Cold Metal Products and then for General Electric for 30 years, retiring in 1974. He completed elementary school at Holy Name and graduated from Chaney High School.
After living in Los Angeles for four years, Joseph entered the Navy and served during WWII. He was one of the few survivors of the destroyer he was serving on which was torpedoed in the South Pacific during the war. He was discharged as a Seaman 1st Class in 1946. He was a member of the Naval Reserve when he was again called to serve during the Korean Conflict. He was a member of the church, its Holy Name Society, and an altar server.
He was a fraternal member of the Saxon Club, the Saxon Socialites and the Bocce League at the club. He served as a volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels, was a volunteer for Income Tax Preparation for Senior Citizens and was a member of the Catholic War Veterans, Post 1292. He enjoyed playing cards and traveling.
His wife, the former Pauline Terpak, whom he married in 1947 died in 1976.
He leaves a sister Frances Martin of Austintown; three brothers, Frank Edna Vitikas of Austintown, Edward Joyce Vitikas of Ellsworth, and Stephen Mary Vitikas of Youngstown.
Besides his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Mary Labuda, Sister Alberta Veronica Vitikas, and Helen Vitikas.
Friends may call from 5 to 8 P.M. today at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home, Austintown Chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor?s choice.