Col. J.R. Conti USAF (Ret.) – Melbourne, Fla.

Col. Julius R. “Bud” Conti of Melbourne, Fla., died Saturday, July 20, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. Col. Conti was born in Monessen Aug.6, 1928, to Carrie Mitchell and Ju-lius R. Conti, a pharmacist who managed Thrift Drug stores in Monessen for many years. He graduated from Monessen High School in 1946 and attended the University of Pittsburgh for one year before entering the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1951. He completed an MBA at the University of Southern California in 1966. His military career included completion of pilot training in 1952, amassing more than 4,200 flight hours in his career, assignments in the United States and abroad, a tour in Vietnam, an assignment in the Pentagon, the command of the Titan III missile launch operation at Cape Canaveral, director of engineering and communications at the Air War College in Alabama and director of tactical weapons development at Eglin AFB in Florida. He was a member of the Space Coast West Point Society, Order of Daedalians, Air Force Association, TROA and the Missile and Space Pioneers. Upon retirement, he was employed for five years by Vought Corp. in Dallas, Texas. He returned to Florida, living in IRCC near Melbourne until his passing. He was preceded in death by a son, Ronald V. Conti of Orlando, Fla., in 2017. Survivors include his former wife, Irene McMahan Conti of Orlando, Fla.; a son, Robert L. Conti, his wife Jeanne and two grandsons, Christian Conti and Michael Conti, all of Orlando; a sister, Doris C. Zeli of Rostraver Township; a niece, Laura Reilly of Upper St. Clair; a nephew, William Zeli of Murrysville; three great-nephews, a great-niece and a great-great-nephew. Burial with full military honors will take place in the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Mims, Fla., on July 26, 2019.