COLUMBIA A Mass of Christian Burial for First Sergeant Joseph Conte, U.S. Army (Ret.), 83, will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 29, 2012, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church. Final Commendation and Farewell Prayers will be in Fort Jackson National Cemetery at 12:00 noon. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8:00 p.m. Thursday, June 28, 2012, at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel. 
Mr. Conte died Tuesday, June 26, 2012. Born on November 3, 1928 in New York, he was a son of the late Pasquale and Mary Tuis Conte. Mr. Conte served his country in the U.S. Army for 25 years receiving many badges and awards: Expert Infantryman Badge, Marksman Badge-Sharpshooter (Rifle), Drill Sergeant Identification Badge, Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal (1st OLC), and the Good Conduct Medal (5th Award). He worked an additional 18 years with the South Carolina Department of Corrections as a corrections officer. Mr. Conte attended the U.S. Armed Forces Institute, the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant School, the University of Maryland and Midlands Technical College where he obtained Associate Degrees in Business Marketing, Criminal Justice, Management and Real Estate. Three words sum up the life ofJoseph Conte: charitable, loving and hard-working. 
Surviving are his wife of 47 years, Hanne-Dore Bauser Conte; children, Michael C. (Heidi)Conte, Robert W. (Diana) Conte, Joseph R. (Yvonne) Conte, John R. (Tracy) Conte and 12 grandchildren. 
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (www.stjude.org/tribute).