James “Buff” Vella, 88, of Mobile Boulevard in Niles, died at 3:20 a.m. Saturday, June 19, 2010 at his home following an extended illness.

He was born on March 26, 1922 in Barnsboro, Pennsylvania to Carlo and Lucy (Barrett) Vella.
As a young man he was inducted into the U.S. Army Air Force and placed in the 509th Composite Group, serving on Tinian Island.

Corporal Vella received a commendation for his support of the 393rd Bomb Squadron during their atomic bombardments of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Buff came to Niles in 1951 and was employed at Niles Cabinet, United Dairy and the Holiday Inn. He was then employed by the City of Niles Public Works Department for 17 years.

In retirement he was employed at the former Peel’s Supermarket.

He is best known for his lifelong participation in baseball. He began in the Pennsylvania Moose leagues, played in the military and then with the House of David.

In Niles, he volunteered for 40 years in the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and Babe Ruth leagues serving as a coach and an umpire and behind the scenes maintaining and grooming the fields.

Buff was a member of the American Legion Post No. 26 in Niles as a veteran of World War II. He was a former member of the Loyal Order of Moose No. 449 in Buchanan.

He was formerly married to Helen (Butterworth) Vella.

Surviving family includes his children, James C. (Christine) Vella, Tim (Deb) Vella, Frank (Angie) Vella, Todd Vella and Lisa (Tom Fields) Scofield, all of Niles; grandchildren Gabriel and Todd Vella, Jennifer Lagoni, Fred Scofield, Tyler Weedon and Jamie and Corey Thacker; great-grandchildren Mahaila, Haidyn, Emma, Courtney, Alexis and Jacob; sisters Chistina Freda of Spangler, Pa., Marie Munoretto of Amity, Pa.; brother Nino Vella of Evansburg, Pa. and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a grandson, Scott Lagoni on Feb. 22, 1996; brother Frank Vella and sisters Katheryn LaBella and Mary McCarthy.

The funeral service for James “Buff” Vella will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at the Michiana Christian Embassy in Niles. Pastor Jeffery L. Whittaker of the church will be officiating.

Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with the Veteran’s Flag Presentation and “Taps” by an honor guard of the U.S. Air Force and American Legion Post No. 26.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Buff Vella may be made to the FOP Baseball league or to Hospice at Home.