Russell Bonarrigo

Russ Bonarrigo, 86, of Blairsville, passed away Tuesday, July 5, 2011, at Latrobe Hospital . He was born in NuMine, son of Joseph and Antoinette Bonarrigo. A World War II veteran, he served in the African and European Theaters, 5th Army, part of the Anzio Beachhead Invasion of Italy . Russ started in the automobile business in 1947 and was the youngest Kaiser Frazer Jeep Dealer in the country at that time, and was the oldest living. In April of 1955, he purchased the Ford Dealership in Blairsville and renamed in Bonarrigo Ford. He acquired the Chrysler Plymouth Dodge Franchise In 1981, which he and his wife, Gerry, would run for more than 50 years. He was past president of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Citizens Ambulance, Lincoln Mercury Dealers Association and the Ford Dealer Alliance . He was involved in the Boy Scouts of America for many years, receiving the Distinguished Scouter Award. He was a past president and 50-year member of Blairsville Rotary, 50-year member of the Blairsville Masonic Lodge, the Gourgas Lodge of Perfection, Pittsburgh, American Legion Post 128, life member of the Blairsville Elks, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Anzio Beachhead Veterans Association, the Indiana Ballroom Dance Club, Italian American Club of Cape Coral Florida, the Loyal Order of the Moose, Fort Myers Beach Lodge 964, 60-year member of the United Commercial Travelers Council 598, a former board member of S&T Bank and the First United Methodist Church of Blairsville. Russ was also one of the original developers of the Chestnut Ridge Golf Course established In 1962. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Gerry Bonarrigo, of Blairsville; and their six children, Diane (Gene) Meier, of Blairsville, Roseanne (Mike) Henigin, of Blairsville, Pat Bonarrigo, of Blairsville, Kathie (Dan) Mantine, of Frederick, Md., Russell Bonarrigo Jr., of Blairsville, and Gerrie Bonarrigo-Burton (Michael), of Carmel, Ind.; his six grandchildren, Lt. Cmdr. Russell (Jessica) Meier, of Chesapeake, Va., Christopher Meier, of Delmont, Angelina Meier, of Greensburg, Erin Marie Henigin, of Ypsilanti, Mich., Michael Henigin, of Bentonville, Ark., and Isabel Bonarrigo-Burton, of Carmel, Ind.; and three great-grandchildren, Jeffery, Jacob and Joshua Meier, of Chesapeake, Va. A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the First United Methodist Church, 50 S. Walnut St., Blairsville, PA 15717, in Russell's memory. KEPPLE-GRAFT FUNERAL HOME of Greensburg is entrusted with the arrangements. For online condolences and information please visit www.kepplegraft.com.

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