Smsgt. Richard Lorei (Ret.)

SMSgt. Richard Lorei (Ret.), age 76, of Forest City, passed away, Thursday, November 5, 2020 at his residence.

Richard was born April 30, 1944 in Erie, Pennsylvania to the late Charles Lorei and Josephine Kolenda Lorei. He served in the United States Air Force for twenty years before retirement. Richard retired as a Senior Master Sergeant and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He spent over three and a half years in the war zone and was awarded thirty-three medals for his exemplary service to his country. Richard was a lifetime member of the VFW and was also a member of the Erie Catholic Diocese. He loved his family dearly and especially his grandbabies.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of twenty-eight years, Beverly “Bev” Lorei; son, Robert Houck; two brothers, James and Jerry Lorei and a sister, Rose Mary Calabrese.

Those left to cherish his memory include one daughter, Judy Simmons of Forest City; three sons, Steven Houck and wife, Wanda of Sherrill, New York, Jonathan Houck of Bradenton, Florida and David Jones of Erie, Pennsylvania; sister, Jean Wise (Rich) and brother, Roger Lorei (Sharon) all of Erie, PA. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Justin Houck, Robert Houck, Emily Rose, James Houck, Tyler Houck, Jason Houck, Brooke Houck, Mark Crane and six great-grandchildren.

No formal services will be conducted.

Memorial donations are requested to the Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org