Emile George Wiltz

Mr. Emile G. Wiltz, 77, formerly of Biloxi, MS, passed away Thursday, December 18, 2008, in O'Fallon, Illinois, surrounded by family and friends. Born June 7, 1931 in Biloxi, he was the oldest of two siblings. On April 11, 1953, he married Helen Lepre. He served in the U. S. Army in the 1950's during the Korean Conflict. After his discharge he sold insurance for a brief period before opening his own business. He first owned and operated a restaurant then transitioned into the auto parts industry. As a businessman, he managed Quality Auto Parts, Inc., in Biloxi for 36 years, retiring in 1995. Mr. Wiltz was a member of Biloxi BPOE Lodge 606 and Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Biloxi. Emile was preceded in death by his parents, Gilbert and Helen Barras Wiltz. He is survived by his wife, Helen Lepre Wiltz, currently of O'Fallon, Illinois; his son and daughter-in-law, Tommy and Cathy Wiltz of Biloxi; daughter, Emilie Wiltz McLain of Tuscaloosa, AL; daughter and son-in-law, Anna and Bruce Card of O'Fallon, IL; grandchildren, Katie and Jason Wiltz, Christian and Madeleine McLain, and Kathleen and Nicholas Emile Broussard. Memorials in honor of Mr. Wiltz may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, One St. Jude place Building, Memphis, TN 38148-0552. or at www.stjude.org. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 23, 2008, at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Pass Road, in Biloxi where friends may visit from 9 a.m. until service time. Interment will follow in Southern Memorial Park.