Robert Evard Pio Sr., 95, of Avon Park, Florida, formerly of Fort Wayne, passed June 19, 2016 at Good Shepherd Hospice House in Sebring, Florida after a long battle with cancer.

Bob was born Aug. 7, 1920 in Fort Wayne. He attended South Side High School and he was active in the reunions with the last one being the 75th. After high school he worked for Don Hall and his brother Bud cutting meat which eventually led to his own Pio Meat Market on State Street which he successfully ran for 30 years before retiring to Florida. At the age of 22 he joined the United States Army to fight for his country in WWII. During his basic training he was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, MO where he met the love of his life, Lela Thornhill at the skating rink. They were married prior to his departure to Europe. He landed in Normandy Beach and fought in five major battles including Battle of the Bulge. He was wounded but returned to his tank division and his unit the 610 Tank Destroyer Battalion and he remained close throughout the years with his buddies. He is the recipient of a Purple Heart, along with the highest French medal awarded the Knight of the Legion of Honor for France and Western Europe "Honneur Patrie" from Le President De La Republique Francaise.

He leaves behind his wife, Lela; son, Robert Pio Jr. of New Haven; daughter, Deborah (Kenneth) Hirsekorn of Marco Island, Fla.,; nine 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 Montpelier OH, Kevin Pio of Fort Wayne, Auriel Wallace of New Haven, Donna Beck of Fort Wayne, Joe Wallace of Fort Wayne; 25 great grandchildren; and 12 great great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by one grandchild, Brian Pio of New Haven.

Funeral Service is Noon, Saturday, June 25, 2016 at Covington Funeral Home, 8408 Covington Road, with calling starting at 10:30 a.m. He 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 Robert Pio.