Ralph Pietrangelo

Major Ralph Pietrangelo (Army Air Corps) of Gulfport, formerly of Long Beach, died Monday, September 27, 2010 in Biloxi. He was born January 25, 1917 in Rhodesdale, Ohio. Major Pietrangelo was drafted December 17, 1940 at the age of 23 and commissioned in 1942. Immediately upon commissioning he was sent to Davis Monthon Field, Arizona and assigned to the 389th B24 Bomb Group as a navigator. The Group went to England to join the 8th Air Force and flew 28 Bombing Missions out of England and North Africa. On August 1, 1943 he participated in the low level bombing of the oil fields at Ploist, Romania. Upon returning to the United States he commanded the Air Force Recruiting Station at Cleveland, Ohio. He separated from the service in December of 1946. He worked for RCA Main Line Branch for 18 years, then moved to Mississippi in 1966. He enjoyed reading the classics and was an avid golfer. As a lifelong Methodist, he was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Long Beach where he served as Trustee and President of the Administrative Board. He was also president of the Timber Ridge Builders, a real estate broker and appraiser. In 1977 he was elected President of the "Mississippi Coast Home Builders Association" He is preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Merie Pietrangelo; his brother, Albert, his sister, Mary Pietrangelo; and his wife Gerry. Survivors include his brothers, Tony and Julius, both of Smithfield, Ohio; his son Greg and his wife, Alison and two grandchildren, Jesica and Clark, all of Gulfport. The family extends special thanks to the oncology staff, doctors, and nurses and the hospice staff at the Biloxi V.A. Medical Center. The funeral service will be held Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Long Beach where friends may visit at 11:00 a.m. until the service. Interment will be in Long Beach City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church Long Beach Building Fund, 208 Pine Street, Long Beach, MS 39560. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com