Louis LaBonte Obituary

Louis "Skip" LaBonte III

Jul 2, 1946 - Aug 17, 2024

Bellevue

Louis "Skip" LaBonte III, 78, of Bellevue, passed away Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, at The Bellevue Hospital.

He was born July 2, 1946, in Bellevue, the son of Louis Jr. and Evelyn (McManaway) LaBonte.

Skip graduated from Bellevue High School in 1964. Even before graduation, he started running the projectors at the Star View Drive-In outside Norwalk, continuing to do so for more than 10 years. He worked in the body shops of Midway Inc. and Gildenmeister Motors before opening Skip's Auto Body in 1979. Skip's Auto Body served Bellevue and the surrounding area for almost 25 years. After retirement from the shop, he was employed part-time at ABJ Equipfix in Castalia where he formed some lasting friendships.

His favorite hobby was drag racing all over the country for over 35 years with his partner, Dan Seamon. During retirement, he enjoyed spending time with his many friends at the VFW posts in Bellevue and Clyde, Eagles in Bellevue and Clyde, Moose Lodge in Clyde, Elks Lodge in Bellevue, and Monroeville American Legion.

Skip and Jan did some out-of-state traveling, but particularly enjoyed visiting every county in Ohio to view the 88 painted bicentennial barns. They also eventually located every original covered bridge in Ohio, later expanding their travels to include bridges in a number of neighboring states. Winery stops were included in many of these excursions.

Skip is survived by his wife, Janice (Mortenson) LaBonte, whom he married Feb. 3, 1968, in Monroeville; daughter, Dr. Shannon Armer of Pretoria, South Africa; granddaughters, Sophia and Olivia Armer; brother, William (Thersia) LaBonte of Leesville, South Carolina; sister-in-law, Judith Shaw of Raleigh, North Carolina; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and sisters, Irene "Sandy" LaBonte, Jacqueline Rose-Michael, and Gloria Jeanne Holt.

Visitation for friends will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, until the time of Skip's memorial service at 12 p.m. at Foos & Foos Funeral Service, 151 Yorkshire Place, Bellevue, Ohio, 44811. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memory Gardens, Clyde.

Memories and condolences may be shared online at foosfuneral.com.