Joseph Patrick Veltre, Jr.

April 15th, 1947 - December 3rd, 2017   Joseph "Pat" Patrick Veltre, Jr. , 70, passed away suddenly in his home, on Sunday, December 3, 2017.    He was born April 15th, 1947, in Washington, eldest son to the late Joseph P. Veltre, Sr and Elizabeth J. Veltre.     Joseph was a 1965 graduate of Washington High, where he played football and baseball.  After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, and served multiple tours in Vietnam, as an infantryman, and later earning his wings as a helicopter pilot. Mr. Veltre was a highly decorated veteran, who earned Bronze and Silver Stars, and multiple Purple Hearts. After leaving active duty, he also served in the National Guard.     He worked for many years as a material handling systems engineer, a job that took him all over the north east.  He lived in West Chester, PA, and later Lancaster, PA, before returning home to be closer to his parents in their later years.  He loved the outdoors, and enjoyed hunting and camping.  Fishing was his favorite though, a tradition learned from his father, and passed on to his son.     He is survived by his son, Joseph P. Veltre, III (and his wife Laurie Lyn Veltre), his daughter, Valerie Veltre, two brothers, Gary Veltre, and John Veltre, two sisters Mary Beth Riddle and Myra Jo Decker, as well as four nieces, and five nephews.     Family invites you to join them in celebrating the life of Joseph, on Wednesday, December 13th, 2017, at the Edwin Scott Linton American Legion Post #175, 168 Park Ave., Washington, PA., from 2pm to 4pm, with a service to be held at 2:30 p.m.Inurnment will take place at a later date in a National Cemetery.