Guido J. Didonato

Guido J. “Weed” DiDonato, 92, of 228 Grant St., Dennison, O., died Monday, June 8, 2009, in his residence after a period of declining health.

A World War II Navy veteran, he served aboard the USS Griswald and his ship was among the flotilla surrounding the USS Missouri during the signing of the peace treaty for World War II.

He was born Aug. 1, 1916 in Coatsville, Pa., a son of the late Pantelone and Elisa (Palandrani) DiDonato. He spent most of his life in Dennison, having worked on the railroad in his younger years and later was a bartender for the former Gardina’s Café for Men at Dennison. A graduate of St. Mary’s High School in the class of 1935, Guido attended Immaculate Conception Church in Dennison.

He enjoyed keeping up on the news and faithfully read two daily newspapers. He was a familiar figure in the downstairs lobby area of the Lanning House, where he resided, doing the newspaper crossword puzzles. An avid sports fan, particularly baseball, he also liked late-night television, especially Jay Leno’s monolog. He could recall the heyday of Dennison and, in an interview for the Claymont Library’s history project, told how the Italian residents of the Center Street area lived during those years.

He is survived by his son, Michael (Carol) Donato of Uhrichsville; two brothers, Enrico “Rico” and Arthur “Arco” DiDonato, both of Dennison; three granddaughters, Lisa (Tim) Eschbacher of Columbus, Jennifer (Kurt) Stewart of Dennison and Julie (Shawn) Harris of Powell, O.; four great grandchildren, Jacob Eschbacher, Noah Stewart and Kate and Max Harris; and a number of nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his stepmother, Teresa (Rastelli) DiDonato, who helped rear him and his brothers, and by a younger brother.

Services for Guido, officiated by Father Martin J. Ralko, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 13, in the R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home at Dennison. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery near Dennison.

Family and friends are invited to call at the funeral home from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday. Those wishing to honor his memory by a charitable contribution are encouraged to do so to the charity of their choice.
R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home, Inc.
(740) 922-1970
www.lindseyfh.com