William Joseph Schettino, Sr.

William “Bill” Joseph Schettino, Sr. passed away on January 25th at his home in Freeport, Florida.  A resident of Florida for most of his life, he resided in Freeport for the past ten years. He was born in Astoria, Queens, NY on November 26, 1938 to Anthony T. Schettino and Mary Janacek Schettino. After growing up in New York, Bill joined the Army for two years followed by the Air Force, and proudly served his country for twenty-four years. This included three tours of duty during the Vietnam War as a Boom Operator on a KC-135 Tanker aircraft. He had a subsequent ten-year career with McDonnell Douglas and started several entrepreneurial businesses.

While stationed in Florida at MacDill Air Force Base, he met the love of his life Dorothy at the Colonnade Restaurant on Bayshore Boulevard. In 1958 he married Dorothy Fernandez, a native of Tampa. Together they had three children William Jr., Anthony, and Lawnene.

Everyone will remember Bill for his passion for his hobbies and activities. He was a motorcycle, classic car, and RV enthusiast. He was an active member of the Goldwing Motorcycle Club. He also enjoyed building and flying remote operated planes with his sons. Bill and his daughter Lawnene enjoyed working on digital embroidery and sewing projects together. He was a caring and supportive father, and he involved all of his children in projects to teach them life, trade and technical skills. One memorable project was when he and the children helped their swim team by building the starting blocks for the Whiteman Air Force base pool. Bill enjoyed helping the Boy Scouts with a community tree planting project. Bill prided himself on being able to fix anything, and he passed many of his skills and talents on to his children.

William J. Schettino is survived by his wife Dorothy, sister Joan Adametz, his son William Schettino Jr. and wife Denise, his son Anthony Schettino and wife Stacey, his daughter Lawnene Boswell and husband Steve, his grandchildren Ryan Schettino, Austin Schettino, Alexandria Schettino, Celeste Schettino, Jimmy Boswell and wife Brooke, and Savannah Boswell.

Funeral services and an interment ceremony will be held at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Florida, on a later date.

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