Vincent Ottimo

WILSON - Vincent "Vince" Ottimo, 89, died Thursday, August 11, 2011

Funeral, Sunday, 2 PM, Wilson Memorial Service, 2811 Fieldstream Drive, followed by a time of visiting. Burial will be for and at the convenience of the family.

Vince died in his home after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born in a small village in Sora, Italy, on February 21, 1922. Surviving is his wife of 69 years, Ruby Keen Ottimo; a daughter, Vicky O. Collie (Richard); a grandson, David Randolph Batten; a niece, Tina Little Burnette (Kenny); a brother-in-law, Francis Little; nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews of Schenectady, NY.

Four years after his birth, his family immigrated to the United States with his mother, Maria Mora Ottimo, and sisters, Ida, Theresa and Mary. His father, Frank Ottimo, was already working at General Electric in Schenectady. All have preceded him in death. He entered Riverside Elementary School in February, 1927, not knowing a word of English. As a young boy, he delivered newspapers and a famous customer was Albert Einstein. He graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1939 and attended Syracuse University where he was a running back on the football team in his sophomore year.

While attending college, he was drafted and chose to join the Marine Corp on September 11, 1942. He was sent to Parris Island, SC, with additional training at Cherry Point, Camp Lejeune and Camp Pendleton, CA. While hitchhiking with Marine buddies to Los Angeles from Camp Pendleton, a car stopped and the driver asked if they would like to spend the week-end at his ranch. The invitation was extended by Ronald Reagan and his first wife, Jane Wyman.

On January 31, 1943, he married Ruby, then a student at ECTC (ECU). He was soon shipped overseas from San Diego and served in the Fourth Marine Division, Artillery Section. The Division saw furious action in the Central Pacific in four bloody battles on the twin islands of Roi-Namur, Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. Their next battle would have been the Japanese mainland, but after the atomic bomb was dropped the war ended on August 1, 1945. The Division returned to San Diego in November and he was discharged in December. Semper Fidelis.

Vince and Ruby settled in Lucama after the war and lived there for 34 years before moving to Wilson in December, 1979. He participated in sand-lot baseball, softball and played in Wilson's basketball league.

He worked with the City of Wilson until retiring in 1986. He went on to spend his time managing rental property and playing golf with his buddies. Until age 85, he was an avid golfer who still had days where he shot below his age.

Memorials are suggested to the Marine Corp League, Gold Leaf Detachment #1276, PO Box 3975, Wilson, NC 27895.