Joseph G. DeMott, 100

April 13, 2019

Joseph G. DeMott, 100, of Landis Homes, passed away at Lancaster General Hospital following a brief illness on Saturday, April 13, 2019. Born in Big Run, PA, he was a long-time resident of Lancaster for many years before moving to Lititz. Joseph was the son of the late Gabriel and Theresa (Ferard) DeMott. He joins his beloved wife, Kathryn Y. (Salvaggio) DeMott, who died in 2015.

From the “Greatest Generation,” Joseph served in the US Army Air Corps during World War II as a radioman on a B17 Bomber, earning the rank of Sergeant. He was an American Defender of Bataan and Corregidor. Joseph’s plane was shot down over Japan and he was taken captive in a Japanese prisoner of war camp for three and half years before being liberated. He received two purple hearts, one for injuries sustained in combat and another for his time spent in captivity. In addition, he also received the American Defense Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Battle Stars, World War II Victory Medal, and Philippine Defense with 1 Bronze Battle Star.

Following his honorable discharge in 1946, Joseph went on to earn his Electrical Engineering degree from Penn State and went to work for Sylvania Electric Products, RCA, and Champion Blower & Forge where he was the General Manager of the plant.

Joseph was a member of the American Institute of Electronic Engineers, the Disabled American Veterans, the Blinded Veterans Association, and belonged to St. John Neumann Catholic Church.

He is survived by four nieces: RoseAnn Buchanan Cox, of Wapwallopen, PA, Diann Luff, of Newtown, PA, Joan Guarnieri, of Walton, NY and Cherie Carter of Denver, NC, and a nephew, David Salvaggio of Morristown, NJ. He is also survived by many great-nieces and nephews, 2 great-great-nieces, and his sister-in-law, Dorothy Salvaggio, of Pittsburgh.

The family would like to express their deep gratitude to the staff of Landis Homes for the excellent care provided to Joseph.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11AM, Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 601 E. Delp Rd., Lancaster, PA 17601, with Rev. Daniel F.X. Powell as Celebrant. A brief time of visitation at the church will begin at 10:30AM until the time of service. Interment with military honors will follow at St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery, Lancaster. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Joseph’s memory may be made to the Susquehanna Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 244 N. Queen St., Lancaster, PA 17603.