Obituary for Louis Joseph DiGuglielmo
Louis Joseph DiGuglielmo died peacefully March 1 at his Martinsburg home surrounded by family. He died of complications from acute myeloid leukemia. He was 74.
Born July 7, 1944, the Philadelphia native and grandson of Italian immigrants was son of the late Ralph and Marianna DiGuglielmo. He was a graduate of Girard College, a Philadelphia boarding school/orphanage; and Philadelphia College of Textiles & Sciences (now Thomas Jefferson University), where he majored in business administration and graduated in 1966.
He served in the U.S. Army in 1967-1968 working as a company clerk in Germany.
After being honorably discharged, DiGuglielmo was hired by Sears. In 1969, he was transferred to Martinsburg where he managed the Sears catalog store in the Berkeley Plaza Shopping Center.
In 1989, he became an insurance agent with Allstate where he worked until his death. His office was in Jefferson County.
He was a member of Independent Bible Church since 1970 when he received Jesus Christ as his Savior after attending a Lane Adams Crusade in Martinsburg. Active at the church for more than 40 years, DiGuglielmo served as deacon, elder, treasurer, youth leader and in other areas of ministry. He founded the church’s summer teen week program in the early ‘70s and was elder chairman for 30 years. Since 2016, he was elder emeritus.
He met wife Sonia through friends from work and church and they were married in 1972.
He is survived by wife, Sonia (nee Lupton); son Louis J. “Joey” DiGuglielmo II; daughter Elizabeth Ljubic, son-in-law Kruno and grandchildren Jack and Teyla; daughter Charity Lewis, son-in-law Robert and grandchildren Carly, Camryn and Carter; and daughter Ashley DiGuglielmo, all of Martinsburg; sister Loretta Gallagher and brother-in-law Michael of Philadelphia; sister-in-law Kay Breland of Martinsburg and many cousins.
He was preceded in death by an infant daughter Dorrie Faith-Ann in 1980 and his parents.
He played soccer and baseball in school; he was on the softball team at IBC and enjoyed golf and bowling. He was a lifelong fan of all major Philadelphia sports franchises, especially the Eagles. He also enjoyed spending time with his five grandchildren. He previously served on the boards of Faith Christian Academy and Washington Bible College. He worked on the side as a used car salesman and was co-owner of Mountain State Auction.
The family wishes to thank Tiffany Breedon and the staffs of Shenandoah Oncology and Hospice of the Panhandle and the staff of his Allstate office in Ranson — Pat Saxon, Chrissy Wilt and Kendra Nichols — who maintained the office during his illness.
Interment will be private. A memorial service will be held at Independent Bible Church on Friday, March 8 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the IBC mission fund.
Born July 7, 1944, the Philadelphia native and grandson of Italian immigrants was son of the late Ralph and Marianna DiGuglielmo. He was a graduate of Girard College, a Philadelphia boarding school/orphanage; and Philadelphia College of Textiles & Sciences (now Thomas Jefferson University), where he majored in business administration and graduated in 1966.
He served in the U.S. Army in 1967-1968 working as a company clerk in Germany.
After being honorably discharged, DiGuglielmo was hired by Sears. In 1969, he was transferred to Martinsburg where he managed the Sears catalog store in the Berkeley Plaza Shopping Center.
In 1989, he became an insurance agent with Allstate where he worked until his death. His office was in Jefferson County.
He was a member of Independent Bible Church since 1970 when he received Jesus Christ as his Savior after attending a Lane Adams Crusade in Martinsburg. Active at the church for more than 40 years, DiGuglielmo served as deacon, elder, treasurer, youth leader and in other areas of ministry. He founded the church’s summer teen week program in the early ‘70s and was elder chairman for 30 years. Since 2016, he was elder emeritus.
He met wife Sonia through friends from work and church and they were married in 1972.
He is survived by wife, Sonia (nee Lupton); son Louis J. “Joey” DiGuglielmo II; daughter Elizabeth Ljubic, son-in-law Kruno and grandchildren Jack and Teyla; daughter Charity Lewis, son-in-law Robert and grandchildren Carly, Camryn and Carter; and daughter Ashley DiGuglielmo, all of Martinsburg; sister Loretta Gallagher and brother-in-law Michael of Philadelphia; sister-in-law Kay Breland of Martinsburg and many cousins.
He was preceded in death by an infant daughter Dorrie Faith-Ann in 1980 and his parents.
He played soccer and baseball in school; he was on the softball team at IBC and enjoyed golf and bowling. He was a lifelong fan of all major Philadelphia sports franchises, especially the Eagles. He also enjoyed spending time with his five grandchildren. He previously served on the boards of Faith Christian Academy and Washington Bible College. He worked on the side as a used car salesman and was co-owner of Mountain State Auction.
The family wishes to thank Tiffany Breedon and the staffs of Shenandoah Oncology and Hospice of the Panhandle and the staff of his Allstate office in Ranson — Pat Saxon, Chrissy Wilt and Kendra Nichols — who maintained the office during his illness.
Interment will be private. A memorial service will be held at Independent Bible Church on Friday, March 8 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the IBC mission fund.