Sebastian Zappulla

Sebastian (Buster) Zappulla, 94, of Petersburg died March 14, 2011, at Colonial Heights Health Care. He was born April 23, 1916, to Sicilian immigrants, the late Domenico and Grace Dâ??Amico Zappulla. He was preceded in death by his son Michael Vincent Zappulla, his siblings Rosina Zappulla, Josephine Moxley, Vincent E. (Pete) Zappulla and Frank Zappulla, and a cousin Sebastian (Sebby) Zappulla. He is survived by his wife, Mary Agnes, his son Gerald Domenico Zappulla and wife Mary of King George, Virginia, their children and grandchildren, and his daughter Mary Ann Dennis and husband Bob of Hampstead, North Carolina, their children and grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters Lena Skelton and Martha Hawkins, and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family. Buster served as a radio operator in the U.S. Army 3rd Division, 7th Infantry during World War II and participated in five major campaigns. He was involved in the landing at Anzio and the liberation of Rome, and was awarded two purple hearts and the bronze star. He followed his father in the fruit business and was proprietor of the Sycamore Fruit Store until the early sixties, and then operated the Blue Star Restaurant into the seventies. He was a longtime member of the American Legion Post No. 2 and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. A graveside service will be held Wednesday March 30 at 1:00 at St. Josephâ??s Catholic Cemetery (Blandford) with Reverend Chantal B. McKinney officiating. Visitation will follow at the residence. The family thanks the staff of Colonial Heights Health Care for their kindness over the years and asks that memorials be made to Medi Home Health & Hospice 8100 Three Chopt Road Suite 226 Richmond, Virginia 23229.