Anthony Lavite Jr.

Colonel Anthony "Tony" Lavite Jr. USA ret., age 82, died Tuesday, February 15, 2005 in Weatherford.Anthony Lavite Jr. was born December 17, 1922 in New Orleans, Louisiana to Anthony Lavite Sr. and Mary DeGange Lavite. He was a graduate of Warren Easton High School and Louisiana State University. Col. Lavite entered the United States Army in 1945 as an enlisted man. He served his country for 32 years including World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Col. Lavite retired in 1973 as Commandant of the United States Army Primary Flight School at Fort Wolters. Tony married Geri Boyce in 1965 and moved to Weatherford in 1972. He was a member of the Parker County Sheriff's Posse, a rancher, cattleman, and raised Jack Russell Terriers. Tony was preceded in death by his parents, and son, Captain Anthony Lavite III, killed in Vietnam in 1969.Col. Lavite is survived by his wife, Geri Lavite of Weatherford; son, Jerry "Butch" Lavite and wife, Deborah of MO; daughter, Cathy Pfaltzgraff and husband, Dennis of Killeen; five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren; sister, Mary "Honey Girl" Crovetto of Mandeville, LA; sister-in-law, Anne Onderdonk of Amityville, NY; mother-in-law, Marie Boyce of Amityville, NY; nieces, Mia James and husband, Jeff of Baton Rouge, La, Cara Vann and husband, Greg of Houston, Kristin Horan and husband, Paul of Ireland; nephew, Eric Onderdonk and wife, Kristen of Amityville, NY.Graveside services will be held 10 a.m. Friday, February 18, 2005 in the Dallas- Fort Worth National Cemetery. The family will receive guests from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at White's Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the Parker County Livestock Improvement Association for Parker County Youth, P.O. Box 1744, Weatherford or to Meals on Wheels, 1225 Holland Lake Drive, Weatherford.