Salvatore Azzara, 97, of Columbia, died, Saturday, September 7, 2019. He was born August 1, 1922, in New York, New York, a son of Italian immigrants Joseph and Anna Carlotti Azzara. He honorably served his country in the US Army during WWII. Following the war, Mr. Azzara re-enlisted in the US Marine Corps and served his country for two more years. He was employed from 1957-1987 with ARA Services at the University of South Carolina. After his retirement, Mr. Azzara continued to work for Cribb's Bakery until the business closed following a fire. Mr. Azzara was of the Catholic faith and will be remembered as a devoted husband and a loving father.

He is survived by his daughter, Sally A. Byrd (Dwight); son-in-law, Robbie Sweet; daughter-in-law, Nancy Azzara; siblings, Rose, Teresa, Margie, and Anthony; grandchildren, Tommy, Salvatore, Mikey, Timmy, Nikki, Jacqueline, Natilee, and Margureite, as well as numerous great grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jean in 1997; daughter, Judy Sweet in 2013; and son, Joseph "Joey" in 2017.

The funeral service for Mr. Azzara will be held 2:00 o'clock, Thursday, September 12th, at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia. The family will receive friends at the funeral home prior to the service beginning at 1:00 o'clock. Burial with military honors will immediately follow at Memorial Gardens of Columbia.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.