Mr Arnold Edward LaPete

Arnold Edward LaPete, 87, of Clearwater, Florida, passed away Wednesday, February 8, 2017 at his home. He was born on January 27, 1930 in Chicopee, Massachusetts to John and Lucy (Cherrier) LaPete. When Arnold's father died at an early age, 39, Lucy married Frank Mongeon.

Arnold attended West Springfield High School, in Massachusetts. He joined the United States Air Force in June 1949. His most significant service was at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas, where he served with the 3547th Field Maintenance Squadron as an AP&Eng Mech, Airman First Class. He was honorably discharged in December 1952.

On August 8, 1953, he married the former Anne Connors in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Arnold worked at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in Hartford, Connecticut, where we think he worked at testing materials capacities in aerospace applications for aircraft research metallurgist, and/or as an airplane mechanic. He was always fixing planes, and bringing home scraps of interesting metals and ore, his children said.

During their 63-year marriage, they raised 3 children and shared many wonderful memories including a very special trip to Ireland. Arnold’s interests also included gardening and landscaping in addition to spending time with family enjoying good food and laughter. Following retirement, he and Anne moved to Clearwater, Florida where they spent the past 22 years together.

Arnold is survived by his 3 children: Jane Anne (LaPete) Cowles and her husband, Richard, of Bluffton, SC; John Edward LaPete and his wife, Malbea (Heilman) of Atlanta, Georgia; Joanne Marie (LaPete) Perman and her husband, Carl, of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts; 5 grandchildren (Justin, Jessica and Kaitlyn Perman; Laura (Babkiewicz) Byrne and Joseph Babkiewicz); 3 great-grandchildren (Bryce Byrne and Andrew and Ashlyn Babkiewicz), his sister, Carol Cook, of Kentucky, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Stanley LaPete.

A private service with Air Force military honors for family and close friends is planned at Bay Pines National Cemetery in Florida. A funeral mass for Arnold is planned at Light of Christ Catholic Church, Clearwater, Florida.

Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P. O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675, phone 877-958-2233 or online at www.WoundedWarriorProject.org.

Those wishing to sign Arnold’s online guestbook may do so at http://www.mem.com/Messages/7286391/113024462/113024472?title=Guest%20Book