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Sam Magnasco, Jr.
March 9, 2011
Sam Magnasco, Jr., 92, passed away at Covenant Hospice Inpatient and Palliative Care Center on Sunday, March 6, 2011 due to complications from a broken hip.
A native of Pensacola, he was a veteran of WWII, where he was injured in Germany and received the Purple Heart. He graduated from “the school of hard knocks”, having started working and providing for himself at a very early age. He did what was necessary to survive but learned that hard work has its advantages.
He was married at an early age to his wife, Edith Pate, and celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary before her death in April of 2005. He worked various jobs, the last of which was as a Postman before going into the Army. He was injured in the Army and sent back to the States to recover.
After returning from the war, he worked at Faircloth Grocery and Pate’s Gulf Service Station. He opened his own business, Sam’s Gulf Service Station, in 1960 in East Pensacola Heights and retired in 1981. He loved his work and the people with whom he came in contact and often said he wished he could still work. He and Edith moved to Cantonment, FL and had what they called the “Funny Farm”, where he planted anything that would grow. He loved to see things mature and enjoyed harvesting what he raised.
They moved back to town in 1990 due to health issues. During this time in the country, he worked at Resthaven Gardens Cemetery as a groundskeeper. He was always helping people, even during times of sorrow.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ida Bell Etheridge and Sam Magnasco, Sr.; sisters, Ethleen Waldrop and Hazel Waldrop; uncle Tomy Magnasco and brothers, Tommy, Vincent and Carlo Magnasco. He is survived by a daughter, Mary Ann Moseley (Ronnie), a son, Anthony Ray (Tony) Magnasco; grandchildren, Michael T. Willett (Valarie), Melinda L. Weems (Bruce), and Samuel Carlo (Sammy) Magnasco, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and other relatives, all of whom he loved.
Sam was a member of Heights Baptist Church in East Pensacola Heights. He loved his Lord, his church and his church family and spent many happy hours reminiscing about the individuals and families he had known throughout the years. The family will receive friends on Thursday, March 10, 2011 at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel from 5-7 p.m.
The Funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 11, 2011 at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Brian Nott and Rev. Fred Martin officiating. Burial will follow at Bayview Memorial Park. P
allbearers will be deacons from Heights Baptist Church. Honorary pallbearers will be friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Heights Baptist Church (General Fund), 600 Pickens Avenue, Pensacola, FL 32503 or Covenant Hospice, 5041 N. 12th Ave., Pensacola, FL 32504. HARPER-MORRIS MEMORIAL CHAPEL is in charge of arrangements.
Comments
One Response to “Sam Magnasco, Jr.”
I wish to extend my sympathy to the Magnasco family. I am proud to know that a member of the family was a Purple Heart recipient. I would have loved to meet the Magnascos. I would also like to inform the Magnascos of my relations to the family. I am a great nephew to Edith(Pate)Magnasco’s father Robert E.Pate. I would like to say hello to the children and grandchildren. We are cousins.