Lela Charlene Pio, of Avon Park, Florida, formerly of Fort Wayne, passed February 1, 2020 at Good Shepherd Hospice House in Sebring, Florida at the age of 99 after a stroke.

Lela was born Oct. 14, 1920 at home in Hartville, MO.  She attended Mountain Grove High School.   After high school she received her teaching certificate and taught school in a one room schoolhouse grades 1 through 8.  She then moved to Fort Leonard Wood area and took a job sewing.  One fateful night she went roller skating and met the love of her life, Bob Pio stationed there before heading overseas to fight in WWII.  They were married for over 70 years.  Bob and Lela lived in Fort Wayne and later retired to Avon Park, Florida where she enjoyed playing cards with her friends and neighbors.  Bob passed away on Father's Day of 2016 from cancer.

She leaves behind a son, Robert Pio of Avon Park FL;  a daughter, Deborah (Kenneth) Hirsekorn of Marco Island, Fla., eleven grandchildren, Chris Pinter of Fort Wayne, Nicole  Warner of Huntertown, Nanette  Laughton of Norwalk, CT,  Ed Hirsekorn of Brant Beach NJ, Jeff Pio of Morristown NJ,  Heather Bible of Bryan OH, Kevin Pio of Fort Wayne,  Donna Beck of New Haven, IN,  Joe Wallace of Fort Wayne;  Auriel Wallace (deceased) and Brian Pio (deceased); 26 great grandchildren; and 18 great great grandchildren.

Funeral Service is 11:30 A.M. Saturday, February 8, 2020 at Covington Funeral Home, 8408 Covington Road, with calling starting at 10:30 a.m. She will be laid to rest at Covington Memorial Gardens.  Memorial Donations can be made to:  Good Shepherd Hospice House, 1110 Hammock Rd., Sebring FL 33870 in memory of Lela Pio.