June 23, 1936 – July 3, 2024
Louis Forella, oldest son of the late Carmela (Parrotta) and Ralph Forella, was born in the Bronx, NY. He entered into eternal rest surrounded by his children. He was predeceased by the love of his life, Elizabeth Caroline (Powell) Forella, with whom he is now reunited. They met in Myrtle Beach and had been married 54 years. He was also predeceased by his brothers, Ralph Forella and Kenneth Forella, and his sister, Nadine Forella. He was a proud first generation Italian.
July 4, 2024 would have marked their 60th wedding anniversary and they were finally back together.
In his early teens, Louis lived on a farm in Brooklyn and trained to be a jockey. When that career path ceased to be an option, Louis enlisted in the Air Force and made a 25 year career of the military. He traveled the world before he married. With the exception of several years in Spain, the last half of his career was spent stateside, and he rose to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant, the highest rank attainable for a non-commissioned officer and was highly decorated for his exemplary service. He served in Thailand in support of the troops in Vietnam. At his final duty station, he was the ranking NCO.
He and his family retired to Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania, but their shared love of the beach brought Louis and Elizabeth back to NC. For several years, they owned and operated Carmela’s Restaurant in Shallotte but retired when their oldest granddaughter was born. He loved his Yankees and Penn State football. But most of all, he loved his family. He was a member of St. Brendan’s Catholic Church.
He is survived by a daughter, a self-proclaimed Daddy’s Girl, Lea Christina (Forella) Moyer, wife of Steven, who was born during his Air Force travels at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. He is survived by his oldest grandson, Corbin Louis Moyer, husband of Laura (Anthony). Corbin followed in his grandfather’s footsteps and is an Air Force veteran, having achieved the rank of Captain.
He is also survived by a son, Ralph Anthony Forella, husband of Kelley (Ratchford), who was also born during his Air Force travels and also at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. He is survived by two granddaughters, Skylar Elizabeth, Reese Madeline, and his youngest grandson, Evan Raphael.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, July 8, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at White Funeral and Cremation Service, 3660 Express Drive, Shallotte. The family will receive friends following the service at the funeral home.
A memorial service and inurnment will take place in New Freedom, PA at St. John the Baptist Church within the month.
You may offer online condolences at www.shallottefunerals.com
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Air Force Wounded Warrior Program https://einvitations.afit.edu/inv/index.cfm?i=816897&k=0A6044017250 and the Air Force Aid Society Merit Scholarship https://afas.org/afas-merit-scholarship/
White Funeral and Cremation Service, Shallotte, North Carolina.
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