Robert “Bob” Morelli, 98, passed away surrounded by his family on February 16th, 2025. He was born in Beaver Falls on July 25th, 1926, a son of the late Agnes (Muoio) Morelli and Domenic Morelli, both immigrants from Cerisano, Calabria, Italy. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Norma (Legge) Morelli, his brother and Joseph (Rose) Morelli, his sisters ,Eleanor and Mary (Tom) Magnifico, as well as his sisters-in-law, Mary Ann (Gilbert) Tarquinio and Patti Legge. He is survived by his daughter, Maria (Rob) Morelli, his son, Robert (Melanie) Morelli, a brother-in-law, Aldo Legge and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Robert was a man of deep faith, devotion to his family, hard work, boundless humility, and a true example of the American Dream. During the Great Depression, he worked as a child selling newspapers and Liberty Magazine on 7th Avenue in Beaver Falls and making deliveries from his uncle’s grocery store to help the family make ends meet. At 16, he got a job at B&W sweeping floors. While there, he suggested using water from the Beaver River in the steel making process, as the mill was using and paying for city water. For this, he got a bonus.

Next, his ambition, steely determination, and adventurous spirit led him to get his A&P license at Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics; to get to the city for classes, he took a daily train from Beaver Falls and walked three miles to get to the PIA hangar for classes. Sometimes he missed the evening train and stayed overnight in the hangar. When Robert said he walked uphill both ways in the snow to build the life he wanted, he truly meant it.

He was drafted into the US Army Air Corp in December of 1944. He served as an aircraft mechanic in the European theater at the end of the war, based in France and Germany. When he returned, he worked for All American Aviation doing mail delivery in the days when a hook was lowered from the plane to pick up and drop off mail bags. He also obtained his private pilot license during those years.

In 1949, he and his brother took over their father’s small business and he grew it into a very successful enterprise. As founder and president of Northway Petroleum Equipment, Inc., he sold, installed, serviced and maintained all brands and types of service station equipment in Western Pennsylvania and Northern West Virginia. In 1975, he became the founder and president of Exxon Brodhead Car Wash and Gasoline in Monaca.

After retiring from both businesses in the 90s and 2000s, Bob spent most of his time with his family, traveling with his wife and friends, visiting his children in far-flung states, and pursuing his two passions: landscape maintenance at his home and volunteering at Air Heritage Air Museum restoring vintage aircraft. He worked on B17s, the Memphis Belle movie aircraft, the 909, a Fairchild 24, and a Stinson Reliant similar to the one he worked on with All American Aviation;he also taught and mentored many of the volunteers who worked there with him. Robert was also a founding member of the Beaver Falls Wolves Club and a member of Air Heritage Museum, the Moose Club and the American Legion.

Gratitude goes out to all of our loving and compassionate caregivers and family members who in one way or another, helped in caring for him and in giving Robert a comfortable and dignified end of life transition in his home: Teresa Morelli, Joey and Rick Lehner, Sarah Zielinski, Debbie R., Kim C., Jenny C., Amanda A., Nancy V., Morgan C., Tammie H., Kathy S., and Alivia A. Those are also forever grateful for the attentive care of Robert’s physician, Dr. Carl Sestito, and the teams at Pinnacle Hospice and Advanced Home Health. Those couldn’t have kept Robert in his home to the end without all of your loving care. It truly takes a village.

Friends and family will be received on Friday, February 21st from 12 noon-2 P.M. and 5-7 P.M. at the Gabauer-Lutton Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc, 117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls. The funeral mass will be held on Saturday, February 22nd, at 10 A.M. at St. Monica Church, 116 Thorndale Drive, Beaver Falls.

Donations in Robert’s memory can be made to Air Heritage Museum, St. Mary’s school’s Angel Fund, Alzheimer’s Association, or the Beaver Falls Salvation Army Food Bank.