Anton ' Tony' Dal Sasso

Anton "Tony" Dal Sasso, 86, of Orange, died Sunday, February 8, 2009, at Harbor Hospice in Beaumont.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 11, 2209, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Orange, with the Reverend Joseph P. Daleo, pastor, serving as celebrant.

Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens near Bridge City.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

Born in Clinton, Indiana on May 26, 1922, Tony was the son of Christopher and Madeline Gromola Dal Sasso.

He graduated from Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana with degrees in History and Economics and he was a veteran of WWII, serving in the U.S. Navy Air Corp.

In 1955, Tony married Margaret E. Dunlevy and upon moving to Orange, founded Dal Sasso Enterprises. As a builder, he was involved in the construction of over 4000 homes, apartment complexes and many commercial projects in Orange and the surrounding area.

Tony was a member of the Lion's Club, Orange Rotary, Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and St. Mary's Catholic Church.

He was also a member of the Home Builders Association of Southeast Texas and a founding member of the Apartment Association of Southeast Texas.

Tony is survived by his wife of 53 years, Margaret Dal Sasso; daughter, Chrisleigh Dal Sasso; grandchildren, Austin Reid Mellen and Madelyn Margaret Mellen; brother, Mario A. "Ray" Dal Sasso, all of Orange and sister, Lynn Slagle of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Serving as pallbearers will be Bill Mello, Jerome Go, Chris Slagle, Kurt Slagle, Rod Dal Sasso and Harry Joe Wolf.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Howard Williams, Kelly Price, Hayward Go, Dr. Elwood Hood, Dr. Jim Cloud, Ernie Willey, Jack Murray and Stump Weatherford.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to St. Mary's Catholic Church or to St. Mary's School Foundation, 912, W. Cherry, Orange, Texas 77630.