REMEMBER HIM. TRYING TO SUM UP THE MORE THAN A CENTURY LONG LIFE OF WORLD WAR TWO VETERAN JOSEPH FOLIGNO IS NO SMALL TASK. WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TIME. WHAT HIS SON AND DAUGHTER CAN SAY IS THE IMPACT HE HAD ON PEOPLE WAS INSURMOUNTABLE. A LOT OF GREAT THINGS HAPPENED DURING MY LIFE, BUT I HAVE TO SAY THIS WAS THE BEST. WE SAW THAT FIRSTHAND IN 2022, WHEN HIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY THREW HIM A 100TH BIRTHDAY PARTY. WE’RE SO BLESSED THAT HE LIVED SUCH A WONDERFUL LIFE FOR OVER 100 YEARS. 75 OF THOSE YEARS WERE SPENT WITH HIS WIFE, MARILYN, WHO DIED LAST YEAR AT 98. IF YOU ASK ANYBODY IN THIS AREA, THEY’LL TELL YOU THEY KNEW JOSEPH AND MARILYN FOLIGNO, DESCRIBED BY FAMILY AS A SIMPLE BUT GREAT MAN. AFTER SURVIVING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, FOLIGNO RECEIVED THE FRENCH LEGION OF HONOR, FRANCE’S HIGHEST AND MOST PRESTIGIOUS DECORATION, AND HE’S IN THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS IN WASHINGTON, DC FOR HIS WAR STORIES, FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCES HE OFTEN SHARED. HE LOVED TO EDUCATE. YES, HE THOUGHT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT THAT EVERY GENERATION KNOWS WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH IN WORLD WAR TWO SO THAT WE COULD BE FREE TODAY. SURVIVED BY HIS CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN. JOSEPH. HIS LEGACY LIVES ON. HE WAS A TREMENDOUS HERO TO ALL OF US IN THE FAMILY. HE WAS A LARGER THAN LIFE. WE APPRECIATED HIS SERVICE AND HE HAD AN IMPACT ON SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY AND THE REGION
World War II veteran from Westmoreland County dies at 103
WWII veteran Joseph Folino remembered for his impactful life
Updated: 11:58 PM EST Jan 22, 2026
Joseph Folino, a World War II veteran who fought in the Battle of the Bulge and dedicated his life to service, sacrifice, and educating future generations, has died at the age of 103.Loved ones came together Wednesday to remember Folino.”We’re so blessed that he lived such a wonderful life for over 100 years,” Folino’s son, John, said.Folino’s son and daughter said their father had an insurmountable impact on people.A 2022 report by Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 showed how Folino was honored by his community with a 100th birthday party in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County.Folino spent 75 years with his wife, Maryland, who died last year at 98.”If you ask anybody in this area, they’ll tell you they knew Joseph and Maryland Folino,” John Folino said.After surviving the Battle of the Bulge, Folino received the French Legion of Honor — France’s highest and most prestigious decoration — and his war stories are preserved in the Library of Congress in Washington.”He loved to educate. He thought it was very important that every generation knows what they went through in World War II so that we could be free today,” Folino’s daughter, Rita Gochenaur, said.Survived by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, Folino’s legacy continues to live on.”He was a tremendous hero to all of us in the family. He was larger than life. We appreciated his service, and he had an impact on so many people in the county and the region and anybody that was connected to him,” John Folino said.
JEANNETTE, Pa. —
Joseph Folino, a World War II veteran who fought in the Battle of the Bulge and dedicated his life to service, sacrifice, and educating future generations, has died at the age of 103.
Loved ones came together Wednesday to remember Folino.
“We’re so blessed that he lived such a wonderful life for over 100 years,” Folino’s son, John, said.
Folino’s son and daughter said their father had an insurmountable impact on people.
A 2022 report by Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 showed how Folino was honored by his community with a 100th birthday party in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County.
Folino spent 75 years with his wife, Maryland, who died last year at 98.
“If you ask anybody in this area, they’ll tell you they knew Joseph and Maryland Folino,” John Folino said.
After surviving the Battle of the Bulge, Folino received the French Legion of Honor — France’s highest and most prestigious decoration — and his war stories are preserved in the Library of Congress in Washington.
“He loved to educate. He thought it was very important that every generation knows what they went through in World War II so that we could be free today,” Folino’s daughter, Rita Gochenaur, said.
Survived by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, Folino’s legacy continues to live on.
“He was a tremendous hero to all of us in the family. He was larger than life. We appreciated his service, and he had an impact on so many people in the county and the region and anybody that was connected to him,” John Folino said.