Victor J. Zeto, 86, of Orange Texas, died peacefully surrounded by family on February 5, 2011 in his home in Dallas, Texas. He and the love of his life, Jean Marie Henley Zeto, moved to Dallas before the holidays to be close to loved ones. A bedside prayer service was held by family friend, Dr. Robert Kensel Smith. Last Rites were performed by Monsignor Zimmerman of Christ the King Church.
Mr. Zeto was a native of Orange, where he graduated from Orange Public Schools in 1941 and then briefly attended the University of Texas in Austin. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a flight school instructor during World War II. He returned to Orange to work for his family business, Zeto Enterprises which was the parent company of Zeto Construction Co., and other businesses including Land Development, Residential and Commercial Properties, Home Building, Insurance, the Falstaff Beer Distributor, as well as retail liquor outlets. Later in his career he was affiliated with the Orange Savings and Loan, Hodge Boats and Motors and apartment ownership.
V.J. was a member of the Orange Real Estate Board, a past President of the Builders Association of the Sabine Area, a director of Texas Association of Builders as well as a director of the National Association of Homebuilders ?NAHB?. In 1961, the coveted Silver Check Award was accepted by Mr. Zeto for the NAHB Journal-Life Magazine Design Merit Award Contest. Mr. Zeto was the only individual from the Golden Triangle to be awarded a Lifetime Membership by the board of Directors of the NAHB.
Mr. Zeto, was active in the Orange Rotary Club, and served on both the Orange and Beaumont Chambers of Commerce. He was on the Board of Boys Haven in Beaumont, the Orange YMCA, and the Orange Community Players. He was a member of the Orange Yacht Club and the Beaumont Boat Club, Sunset Grove Country Club and Beaumont Country Club. He was Chairman Emeritus of Orange Christian Services, a charity most dear to his heart.
V.J. was preceded in death by his parents, Charles A. Zeto and Lena Tramonte; brother, Frank Zeto; sister, Rosalee and her husband Ken Lakin; and his first grandson, Eric Zeto. He is survived by his wife, Jean Marie Zeto; brother, Charles A. Zeto Jr.; son, Charles Zeto and wife Jeanie; his daughter, Vicki and husband John Crew; grandson, Jason; and family, as well as granddaughter, Shannon and husband Conor Feeney.
A special thank you to Dr. Steven Mazzola, his wife Kay, and their staff for their attention and special care through the years.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00am Saturday, February 12, 2011, at St. Mary?s Catholic Church in Orange. The Reverend Joseph P. Daleo and Father Herbert May will officiate. Memorial contributions may be made to Orange Christian Services.