Leo J. Chico, of Kettering, Ohio, passed away peacefully on March 15, 2024, at the age of 95. One of 11 children, he was born Jan. 9, 1929, in Morgantown, to the late Julia and Samuel Chico. His family-owned Chico Dairy in Morgantown. Leo met his future wife, Rita Viola, when he delivered milk from his family’s dairy to the Viola family grocery store in Purseglove where Rita worked. On Dec. 27, 1952, they got married. It was a union that lasted 65 years.
As newlyweds, they moved to Atlanta, Ga., where Leo was stationed in the Army. Together they also lived in Charleston; Bowie, Md.; Morgantown; and finally in Kettering, Ohio, for the last 55 years.
Leo was a member of St. Charles Catholic Church, the Kettering Optimist Club and the John Pirelli Italian Club. He was an early pioneer in computers starting in the late 1950’s, beginning at Union Carbide as a programmer and ending with his own Apple Computer sales and service business.
Leo was a one of a kind. He was gregarious, had an amazing memory for facts, enjoyed growing and sharing tomatoes from his garden and could fix almost anything. He loved big band music, Italian food (actually all food), and dancing the jitterbug with his wife. He was an avid photographer.
Leo was preceded in death by his parents, Julia and Samuel; his wife, Rita; siblings, Helen, Catherine, Lora, Florence, Samuel and Joseph. Leo is survived by his children, Sandra Torgerson (Jeff), Peggy Keelan (Dan), John Chico (Amy), Nancy Butlin (Steve; and grandchildren, Kara, Kelly, Colleen, Conor, Ben, Kevin, Grace, Siena; and six great-grandchildren. He is survived by siblings, Mary Angela, Charlie, Teresa and Julia Ann.
A memorial mass will be held at St. Charles Catholic Church, 4500 Ackerman Blvd, Kettering, Ohio, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, followed by a luncheon with family and friends. The family requests no flowers. If you would like to make a gift in Leo’s name, please donate to Hospice of Dayton.
Condolences:
https://www.westbrockfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Leo-Chico/#!/TributeWall
