Felix Salvatore DeLorenzo, Jr

It is with great sadness that the family of Felix Salvatore DeLorenzo, Jr. announces his passing on Friday, April 10, 2015 at Smokey Springs Retirement Home in Gainesville, GA, following an extended illness. Felix, 58, was born in Savannah, GA on August 15, 1956.

Felix served his country for 20 years in the U.S. Air Force as a firefighter and retired as a Technical Sargent in 1993. He served 14 years at Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, FL., the home town of his parents and siblings. For several years he was assigned at Bens Lake Housing Fire Station as Battalion Chief, where he was affectionately known by the fellow firefighters as “D.” He was deployed for a year to Desert Storm at Storm King Faisal Air Base, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia with the Eglin AFB 33^rd Provisional. He took great pride in his military service and in being a firefighter.

Felix loved to fly and was a licensed pilot and an avid fan of aviation. Another one of his passions was SCUBA diving, which made Florida an ideal location for him to live. His other hobbies included boating, skiing, and model airplane building. He was also an active member of the Sons of Italy when he lived in FWB.

Felix was preceded in death by his parents, Felix and Shirley DeLorenzo and sister, Teresa Eskald. He is survived by his daughters, Shannon and Megan DeLorenzo, his son, Felix S. DeLorenzo III,  and his grandson, Brayden Hodge, all of Marietta, GA; sisters, Felicia Newton of Flowery Branch, GA, Kathy McCarty of Fort Walton Beach, FL and Angela DeLorenzo of Atlanta, GA.

Felix was a loving father and grandfather. He spent countless hours of his free time annoying all four of his sisters with towel snaps and noogies. When scolded by our father that he shouldn’t treat girls that way, he would lovingly snatch us into a gentle headlock, pat our heads, and say “I’m just trying to give them a hug.” I don’t believe his children were spared these “hugs” either. Our father always affectionately referred to Felix as his pet gorilla. And that he was…a gentle, silly, gorilla.

Memorial Services will be held on Friday, April 17, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Flowery Branch. The family will receive friends directly after the memorial service in the church’s reception area. In lieu of flowers please send donations to a Veteran’s Charity of your choosing.

Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Road, Gainesville, GA  30504 is in charge of arrangements.

Send online condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.