Louis P. Charlo passed away June 11, 2015 at his home. The family niche-side memorial service will be at Blue Mountain Memorial Gardens, College Place, WA. Memorial contributions may be made to Walla Walla Community Hospice through Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA 99362.
Louis was born on March 27, 1926 in Walla Walla to Vincenzo and Josephine Depolito Ciarlo. He attended Braden School and Walla Walla High School, where he excelled at boxing. In 1944, he enlisted in the US Navy and served aboard ship in the South Pacific in World War II. After the war, he came home to work for Locati Motors in Walla Walla.
On June 22, 1947, Louis married Ruth A. Elsey. They purchased a home together in Calhoonville, on Stateline Road, where it seemed that everyone was related. It was an excellent place to live.
In 1951, Louis left Locati Motors and opened an auto repair shop in Walla Walla on his own. In 1952, he took a partner, Lester Parsons, and together they opened Charlo & Parsons Auto Service on Artesia Street. They were well known as excellent mechanics and had a loyal following of customers for their entire career. Louis retired in 1988.
Louis loved gardening, hunting and fishing, with many memorable camping trips with other friends and families in the neighborhood. There were many bass fishing trips to Chatcolet Lake in Idaho, and trips to the Oregon Coast salmon fishing and crabbing.
Louis is survived by his loving wife Ruth at home, son Michael Charlo of Milton-Freewater, grandsons, James (Lauren) Charlo of Milton-Freewater, and Christopher Charlo of Milton-Freewater, great-grandson Conner Charlo of Milton-Freewater, one brother, Ernest Charlo (Virginia) Charlo of Walla Walla, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Rosemary Callan and Jennie Weseman, and brothers, Frank Charlo and Edward Ciarlo.