Obituary of Leonard A. Mecca

Leonard A. Mecca, Sr., beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, great grandfather, scholar, hero, leader and lover. Of Pitman, formerly of Camden, NJ, Dallas, TX and Abilene, TX died on September 1, 2010 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born in Camden, NJ and was a member of the 1941 graduating class of Camden Catholic High School. He enlisted into the military in August 1943 and was sent overseas in January of 1944. He was a decorated war veteran receiving four medals: an Air medal, an Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, a Good Conduct Medal and a WWII Victory medal. He participated in maneuvers in the Bismark Archipelago, Luzon, New Guinea, Southern Philippines and the Western Pacific. He returned to the United States in October 1945 and was discharged as a Technical Sergeant in December 1945. He flow over 30 missions on a B24 Liberator with the 5th Air Force, 22nd Bomb Group, 33rd Squadron in the Pacific Theatre during World War II as a radio operator and mechanical gunner. His professional career included management positions with RCA (Camden), Jerrold Electronics (Phila), and Sammons Communications (Dallas). He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Abilene where he sang in the choir, was a Eucharistic minister, a reader, taught bible study and religious education, was in the Legion of Mary and participated in the prison ministry. He was a bible scholar in the Little Rock Bible Study program and his liturgical research and reflections were posted daily on the Mecca Family website. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ruth Elaine Mecca (nee Yeager) and their eight children: Carol L. Mecca of Pitman, Lorraine Mecca of Kona, Leonard A. Mecca, Jr. of Linwood, George E. Mecca of Dallas, Randall C. Mecca of Dallas, Gerald A Mecca of Dallas, Kenneth P. Mecca of Dallas, Ruth Ann Pittman of Abilene. He has twenty grand children and eight great grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings: Mary Cuneo of Williamstown, Anthony Mecca of Pitman and Dolores Mecca of Audubon. Friends may call on Tuesday, September 7, 2010 from 10-10:45am in Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 161 Pitman Ave, Pitman, NJ. Funeral mass will be at 11am. Interment Harleigh Cemetery, Camden. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Catholic Charities, at www.catholiccharitiesusa.org, or 1-800-919-9338. Memories may be shared at www.kelleyfhpitman.com.