Antone "Tony" Souza, 95, husband of Ethel (Wagner) Souza, died at his home In Little Compton on May 7, 2021.
He was born and raised in Tiverton, RI, the beloved son of Joseph and Rose Souza. Predeceased in death by his siblings: Frank, Joseph, John, Alfred, Manuel, Emily, Mary, Ann and Louise.
Mr. Souza joined the U.S. Navy in 1944 during WWII, stationed on the L.S.V. Monitor in the South Pacific. His ship participated in invasions at Leyte Gulf, Luzon, Lingagen, San Felipe, La Paz and Okinawa. When Japan surrendered the Monitor was refitted into a hospital ship and made the first landing on the Japanese homeland to assist in the removal of over 8000 Allied Prisoners of War.
On his return home he worked on his brothers fishing boat and at a mill in Fall River. In the early 1960's he bought a farm in Little Compton and put to use his love of hand raising vegetable crops to sell in the Providence and Boston markets. He had received a firsthand education in horticulture helping his father maintain several large greenhouses at the family home in Tiverton.
In 1997 he married Ethel Wagner and lovingly embraced her five adult children. His wonderful sense of humor and kindness made him loved by everyone.
An active member for many years in the New England Bantam Club, he raised rare breeds of bantams and won many awards exhibiting them. He was a devoted member of the Tiverton V.F.W. and the Fall River D.A.V.
Mr. Souza was forever grateful to the Little Compton Fire Chief who saw to it that he was included in an Honor Flight for veterans to Washington, D.C. to tour all of the military monuments.
Memorial service to which relatives and friends are invited will be Monday, May 17, 2021 at the Potter Funeral Home at 11:00 A.M.
Memorial visitation will be from 9:30 - 11:00 A.M. Monday prior to the service.
Burial will be in Pocasset Hill Cemetery, Tiverton.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Tiverton V.F.W. Post 5902, 134 Shove St., Tiverton, RI 02878.