Mr. George Pitalo, Sr.

Mr. George Pitalo, Sr., age 82, of Ocean Springs, MS., died Thursday, July 20, 2006, at his home in Ocean Springs. Mr. Pitalo owned and operated Medical Arts Pharmacy for over 50 years and was a founding member of the Professional Drug Company of which he served as president of the board of directors. He was a member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church and was involved in the Slavonian Benevolent Association where he served as a past president. Mr. Pitalo was also a member of the Mississippi State Pharmaceutical Association, the Biloxi Bay Chamber of Commerce, and the Gulf Coast Carnival Association, reigning as duke in 1982. In the early 1970's, he was appointed and served on the staff of Mississippi governor, Cliff Finch. As a 1942 Biloxi High graduate, Mr. Pitalo continued his education at Perkinston Jr. College where he entered the Navy V-12 program and then transferred to Millsaps College in Jackson, MS. He was commissioned by the Navy at The University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN. He served in the Navy as Lt. Jg. until 1946. Afterwards he entered the University of Mississippi and graduated with a degree in Pharmacy in 1949. Mr. Pitalo was preceded in death by his parents, Matre and Mary Pitalo, two granddaughters, Carley and Brittany Jordan, and his son-in-law, Russ Jordan. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Hazel, son, George "Jordy" Pitalo, Jr. and wife Darlene, four daughters, Cindy Hebert and husband, Gregory, Lynn Creel and husband, Lance, Susan Jordan, and Penny Davis and husband, Billy, seven grandsons, Greg, Trae, Dax, Ryan, Chance, Jeff and Cliff, two granddaughters, Tara and Ashley, and two great-grandchildren, Trent and Jax, sister, Anastasia "Suzie" Jurich, and two brothers, Marion "Stag" Pitalo and Matthew "Red" Pitalo, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends. Visitation will be on Saturday, July 22, 2006, from 9:30 AM-12 Noon, with a 12 Noon Mass of Christian Burial, all at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Crestlawn Memorial Park.