Mr. Martin J. Vota, 97, of Taylorville, passed away on Jan. 8, 2015 at 5:24 a.m.
He was born June 12, 1917 in Cedar Point, Illinois to Martin and Katherine (Pasqueno) Vota.
A year later, he and his family moved to Jeisyville and eventually Langleyville. He graduated from Taylorville Township High School in 1934 and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps shortly thereafter. During World War II, he enlisted in the Army Air Corp. While in the service, he taught mechanics at Chaunte Air Force Base near Rantoul, Illinois, joined the Flying Cadets out of Sikeston, Missouri and participated in the European Theater in the later part of the war. After returning to the United States, he went to the American Television School in Chicago for television engineering and married Dorothy Spisak on May 30, 1953 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Chicago. He and Dorothy then moved to Decatur, Illinois and opened Decatur Television Engineers when WAND-TV began broadcasting. In 1966, Martin and his family moved to Taylorville to continue to sell and repair televisions. He and Dorothy owned and operated Vota TV and Appliances until their retirement in 1989. In his retirement, Martin enjoyed chronicling his family genealogy, emailing extended family in France and Italy, mowing his yard and working outdoors, and spending time with his loved ones.
Martin is survived by his wife Dorothy; children Cathy (Marty) Arnold of Aurora, Illinois, Martin (Deanna) Vota, Cindy Drea and Lori Ward of Taylorville, and Robin Vota of Springfield; grandchildren Matthew and Katie Arnold, Heidi and Haylen Vota, Andrew and Bridget Drea, and Arika and Keegan Ward; nephews Dennis (Carol) Zarr of Palos Hills, Illinois and Richard (Sue) Zarr of Cedar Lake, Indiana; and several other nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother Joe Vota; and sister Lucy Zarr.
Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 12, 2015 at St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Kincaid. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in Taylorville. The Rev. Mariadas Chatla will officiate.Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015 at Masterson Funeral Home in Kincaid.A guestbook is available at mastersonfh.com.
