LAKE WALES – Carmine ‘Charlie’ Stango of Lake Wales, Florida died peacefully on March 26, 2016 after struggling with dementia and heart disease for quite some time. He was 95 years old. He was born at home in Brooklyn, New York on April 19, 1920 to the late Rocco Stanco and Teresa Vito Stanco.
From April, 1942 to November, 1945, Carmine served his country during WWII and the Korean Wars as a Sergeant in the US Army Air Corps. He specialized as an Airplane Engine Mechanic. While performing service in Avon Park, FL, he met his future bride of 70 years, Barbara Ann Sims of Lake Wales.
Carmine retired from Florida Power Corporation as a truck mechanic and was an active member of the First United Methodist Church for many years, After retirement from Florida Power in 1982, he worked performing many duties for Johnson Funeral Home, volunteered his time with the ‘Piddlers’ benefiting people in need of home repairs, and was a member of LWPD’s V.O.I.C.E. (Volunteer Observers Impacting Community Effort). For quite a few years he was a member of the Lake of the Hills Club, volunteering countless hours of his time, which included serving at their annual chicken dinner and ice cream socials. Also, during retirement, he found great fulfillment serving his Lord and Savor, Jesus Christ by doing prison ministry. Finally, Carmine ‘Charlie’ was passionate about building and crafting birdhouses and lawn art, which was a big hit to many in the Lake Wales community and beyond.
Carmine is survived by his wife, Barbara Sims Stango (93), his four children: Shirley Stango Jolly and husband, George ‘Butch’ of Ft. Meade, FL, Charles Richard Stango of Long Beach, CA, Edith Stango and husband, Barry Tetreault of North Miami Beach, FL and Asheville, NC, and Holly Stango Thornhill and husband, Jonathan of Lake Wales, FL, seven grandchildren: Angie Jolly Hall of Lake Wales, Barbi Jolly Goodin of Somerset, KY, Sherry Stango of Chico, CA, Ricky Stango of Talcoma, WA, Amber Thornhill Pierson of Winter Haven, FL, Ashley Thornhill Russell of Gainesville, Fl and Rebecca Thornhill of Lake Wales, 14 great grandchildren and seven great great grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, Carmine was preceded in death by four sisters.
Carmine was remembered by a private family memorial gathering.
