Jake Francis LaBello

Jake Francis LaBello, at the age of 76, has made his final departure from this corporeal dimension. He passed away peacefully on May 22, 2026 in Chillicothe, Ohio. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on April 18, 1950, he was the son of the late Giacomo ‘Jake’ LaBello (1913-1973) and Gaitana ‘Tinnie’ Ethel Roppolo (1919-1992).

Jake is survived by his three sisters, Jackie (Les) Marshall, Carolyn (Irwin) Pugh, and Marilyn (Lee) White, and his five children, Joshua (Ruby) LaBello, Michael (Jessica) LaBello, Rachele (Eli) Alban, Teal (Joe) Miller, and Jared (Katie) LaBello.

Interested in aviation at an early age, Jake worked to pay for flying lessons and earned his pilot’s license around the same time other children were getting their driver’s licenses. He went on to achieve a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi, specialized training in federal banking regulations through the American Bankers Association, and became a Certified Public Accountant through the Louisiana Board of CPAs.

After a career that included leading an accounting firm and managing banks, Jake returned to his love of aviation, again earning his pilot’s license, achieving his instrument rating, and even building his own experimental airplane. A resident of Midlothian, Virginia, he was a valued member of the Wingnuts Flying Club, the Chesterfield Pilots Association, and the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 231.

Jake’s family will honor him in a private ceremony. If you wish to hear more stories about Jake, or want to share some of your own, please reach out.