Lewis Virgil Gillotti, 95, of 2 Greeves St, Kane, PA passed away on Saturday, June 21, 2024 in Erie.  He was born September 16, 1928 in Kane to William and Zella Knapp Gillotti.  

He was a 1946 graduate of Kane High School.  On December 31, 1949 in Kane, he married Elaine Neale Gillotti, who preceded him in death in 2019.  Elaine died 10 days before their 70th wedding anniversary.   

He was proud of playing football for the Wolves, being nicknamed “Radar” for playing without his much-needed glasses.

Virgil was a corporal in the US Army, serving with the Reconstruction Force in Austria during the years of the Korean Conflict.  

Virgil worked for 25 years for Spring Water Company and then Pennsylvania American Water Company, never missing a day’s work.  When he retired in 1985, he and Elaine moved to Tavares, Florida for 30 years until health problems brought them back closer to their children.  In Florida, they enjoyed mall-walking and beach-walking at Daytona.

Virgil was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Warren. He was known for his story-telling and his accurate recall of historical events, particularly Kane history. He was a well-known figure walking around Kane. He loved the Emeritus Reunion,  which was held on the day of his death, and was still planning to attend the day before.        

At age 88, Virgil decided he wanted to be a world traveler. He asked his daughter to accompany him.  The first trip was to Austria to revisit the places he knew from his military service there.  Amazingly, the Old City of Salzburg was still the same and he spent a wonderful week reliving memories.  At 89, he did a bus tour of Italy.  He especially wanted to see Pompeii, which he had visited on a military leave.  He celebrated his 91st birthday in London as part of a bus tour of Ireland, Wales and England.  When his children curtailed his overseas travel, he insisted on a family trip to Disney World at 93, riding all of his favorite rides.   

Survivors include a daughter, Debbie Airgood of Kane, and son, Randall(Kim) Gillotti of Warren, 3 grandchildren, Rebecca Miller of Kane  Rev. Michael Airgood of Clairton and Tyler Gillotti of Erie, 2 great-grandsons, Hemi and Warn Miller of Kane, 5 nieces and special friend Nancy Johnson of Florida.

He was preceded in death by his parents, all of his siblings, William Eugene Gillotti, Donald Gillotti, Frances Santilli and Wilbur Gillotti, a daughter Nancy in infancy, and son-in-law Jim Airgood  

A viewing will be held at Cummings Funeral Home in Kane from 1-3 pm on Thursday, June 27, with services following at 3 pm with Pastor Bill Beatty of Grace UMC, Warren officiating.  

Burial will be in Forest Lawn cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Online condolences can be expressed at www.cummingsfh.com.