Lt. Col. John Szares

Lt. Col John Walter Szares, age 92 of S. Forest Lane, Lexington died Saturday, June 18, 2011 at his home. A graveside service will be held at 10:00 am Thursday, June 23, 2011 at National Cemetery, Salisbury with Father Peter Fitzgibbbons officiating. Burial will follow with full Military Honors. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 pm Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at Davidson Funeral Home and other times at the home. Mr. Szares was born January 19, 1919 in Port Chester, NY to Walter Szares and Josephine Bzodek Szares. He was a member of Our Lady of the Catholic Church. He served in the US Army during WWII and Korea. He served with the Military Intelligence after the Korean War. During his service he earned 3 Bronze Stars with Valor, 2 Purple Hearts, Parachute Jump Master Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, American Campaign Metal, Asia-Pacific Campaign Metal, World War II Victory Metal, National Defense Metal, Korean Service Metal, United Nations Metal, Armed Forces Reserve Metal, Navy Unit Commendation, Army Commendation Metal. He is listed on the Honor Roll at Fort Benning, GA, and retired as Lt. Col in 1963. Surviving are two sons, John Szares, Jr. and wife, Angela Varner Szares of Lexington, Steve Szares of Alabama; four grandchildren, Dawn Szares Stevenson of Sharpsburg, GA, Michael Loman of Albemarle, NC, Angela Fillingame of Dawson, GA, Stacey Bowers of Baconton, GA; three great grandchildren, Matt Bradley, John Bowers, Pamela Szares Vincente; one great great grandchild, Christian Vincente; two brothers, Robert Lepish of Port Chester, NY, Frank Lepish of Chicago, IL and one sister, Helen Lepish of Chicago, IL