John Curea Sr. 1927-2024

John was born March 20, 1927, in Niles, a son of the late Juan and Anna Oltean Curea.

When he was 8 years old, John’s family returned to Romania to live. After graduating from high school, John and his family returned to the United States. He later graduated from Youngstown College with a degree in engineering.

John served in the U.S. Army 103rd Combat Engineer Battalion from 1952 to 1954 and in the 28th and 9th Infantry Divisions during the Korean War, including a stint in Germany as part of the NATO Occupation Force. After his time in the military, John returned to the Mahoning Valley.

John was an engineer for Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation in Youngstown for over 36 years, retiring in 1992.

He was a member of Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Church on Wick Avenue in Youngstown, a member of The Legion of Romanian-American Volunteers, the American Legion Post 565 in Boardman, and VFW Post 3538 in Struthers. He was a licensed amateur radio operator. John also served as an auxiliary police officer with the Youngstown Police Department.

John was devoted to his faith as well as a husband, father, grandfather and brother. He was a member of the Mahoning Valley Olde Car Club, where he enjoyed working on old cars and restoring them. He loved listening to music and playing his harmonica.

John is survived by two children, his daughter, Shirley A. Collins of Coral Springs, Florida; and a son, John (Cathy) Curea Jr. of Enon Valley, Pa.; five grandchildren, Marlon (Faye) Pineda, Jason (Mohnka Abramchuk fiancee) Curea, Candace (John) Higbee, Christa (Justin) Cyr and Sarah (Austin) Nottke; and four great-grandchildren, Jionni, Myla, Declan and Sienna Rose.

Besides his parents, John was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, the former Patricia R. Ekionak, whom he married July 15, 1956, and who died Sept. 30, 2016; a son-in-law, Mark Collins; and his sister, Elizabeth “Veta” Nicoara.

Family and friends may call 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, and 10 to 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, at Davis-Becker Funeral Home, 8536 Market Street in Boardman.

A funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Fr. Cezar Cisloiu officiating.

Interment will take place in Belmont Park Cemetery in Youngstown.

The family requests that material tributes take the form of contributions to the American Cancer Society, c/o Breast Cancer Research, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741, in memory of John.

Please visit www.beckerobits.com to share memories and condolences with John’s family.

(special notice)