Panfilo “Pam” Sciarro 88, of Beaver Falls, formerly of Sulmona, Italy, died Sunday, Jan. 3, 2009.

   Born  Sept. 8, 1921 in Beaver Falls, he was the son of the late Emidio and Nicoletta Agostinone Sciarro.  He left Beaver Falls at the age of 2, was raised in Italy, and returned to Beaver Falls when he was 16 years old. He was a Roman Catholic and had retired from Armstrong World Industries with 42 years of service.  He was a veteran of World War II having served with the U.S. Marine Corps in the Pacific Theater.  He earned three battle stars, a heavy machine gun operator, earned the Asian Campaign Ribbon, and had also been a firing instructor at Camp Lejuene.   In North Carolina he was a squad leader and he taught recruits how to operate anti-tank weapons and how to fire a 37 mm cannon. He was a member of the Beaver Falls Owls Club, and was  a well known umpire for 48 years having umpired baseball games from Little League all the way up to the American Legion Regional Playoff games and he earned the distinction of being placed on the Honor Roll for the PIAA in Harrisburg.

     In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Rudolf and Elidio Sciarro, and a sister, Anna Baggiossi.

       He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Connie Pace Sciarro, a son Jeff Sciarro, Beaver Falls, two daughters and a son-in-law, Mrs. Robert

(Belinda) Burau, Patterson Heights, Rhonda Barnes, Beaver Falls, five grandchildren, Mrs. Keith (Bernice) Benton, Mrs. Jay (Beth) Fedisin, Pamela and Toni Barnes, Taylor Sciarro, three great-grandchildren, Tyler and Natalie Fedisin, Brooke Benton, his God child Gina Sciarro, and a sister, Titina DeLuca, Braea, CA.

              Friends will be received Thursday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Hill & Kunselman Funeral Home, www.hillandkunselman.com., 3801-4th Ave, College Hill, Beaver Falls, where a Blessing service will be held on Friday at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Father James Farnan officiating.

    Interment will be private.

     In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the family in care of the funeral home.

  The Beaver County Special Unit will meet at the funeral home on Friday at 9:50 a.m. to conduct military honors.