Edward Alex Voletti

Edward Alex Voletti, 102, born on January 2, 1919 in Manvel, Texas, peacefully passed away surrounded by his loved ones early Sunday morning, June 20, 2021. Edward was the beloved father of James Voletti, Carol (Robert) Spiwak and Joyce (Randy van Vliet) Voletti. He is also survived by 2 step-grandchildren, Terri (Mike) Carlill and Scott (Theresa) Spiwak, 7 step-great-grandchildren and 10 step-great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 72 years, Roberta Lee Voletti, his parents Joseph Voletti and Francesca Bugni Voletti and 10 siblings, James Voletti, Margaret Voletti, Josephine Kennemur, Joseph Balete, Lawrence Voletti, Florence Gullett, Rose Paisley, Louis Voletti, Jane Muneio and Ann Reichmann and 2 step-great-great-grandsons.

Edward was the second youngest of 11 children and his parents were both deceased by the time he was 7 years old. Determined to keep the family together, his older siblings decided to take on the responsibility of raising the younger siblings. This resulted in a very tightly knit relationship among the siblings. The family moved to Detroit, Michigan when he was approximately 9 years old. It was the beginning of the Great Depression. Times were very dire and he recalled always being hungry.

When he was 16 years old he joined the Michigan State National Guard because a friend told him he would get free meals. He signed up for 3 years (2 weeks camp each summer). He also worked under the New Deal programs, the WPA and the CCC before volunteering for the Army in 1941. He served in the Army Air Force as a flight engineer.

He met Roberta on a blind date while stationed in Colorado. After dating for 3 months, he was transferred to Arizona and feared Roberta would meet someone else and forget about him, so he asked her to marry him. They were married on May 27, 1944 in Arizona. After being discharged from the Army in 1945, they resided in Kansas City, Missouri.

He worked as a purchasing agent in Kansas City for 17 years and then in Los Angeles, California for 22 years for electrical wholesale companies until retiring in 1984. He was an avid sports enthusiast and thoroughly enjoyed all the free tickets to sporting events he received through his work relationships. He would usually receive multiple tickets to each event and would encourage his family to attend with him. One such event was the 1977 World Series between his beloved Dodgers and the Yankees.

His personal sports life consisted of playing softball, bowling and golf of which a highlight was getting his first hole-in-one at the age of 72 on the New Course at St. Andrews Golf Club in Scotland.

He loved to travel and had been to Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Ireland, many countries in Europe and even to Morocco on the African continent as well as to all the states (except Delaware). He relied on Roberta to make all the travel arrangements. They never took a packaged tour.

He was also an avid reader and loved to go to the movies.

Dad, we are sure you will have a happy reunion in heaven with our mother, your parents and all of your brothers and sisters and in-laws. You can play all the golf and softball you want with your best friend Joe and other buddies now in heaven. And we bet you can have all the "gimmies" you want, but you probably won't need them.

To commemorate the dedicated sports fan that he was, go play a round of golf, take in a football game (preferably the Chiefs, Rams or Lions), or a baseball game (Dodgers, Angels, Royals or Tigers), go bowl a game or even just have a beer in his honor. He'd be so happy to be the reason you did.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, July 1, 2021 at 3:00pm in the Church of the Hills at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California.

Our family would be honored by anyone who wishes to send flowers or make a contribution to their favorite charity in remembrance of Edward.