George Bartalone

George N. Bartalone, 78, of Ellenton, FL, formerly of St. Joseph & Riverside, MI, passed away Thursday, September 11, 2003 at James Haley Veteran?s Hospital in Tampa. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:30 A.M. Tuesday, with Father Rob Johanson officiating, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens, Coloma. Friends may call from 5-8P.M. Monday at the funeral home, where the Rosary will be recited at 7:30 P.M. Memorials may be made to the Michigan Kidney Foundation. Those wishing to share a memory, or sign the guest book online, may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Mr. Bartalone was born May 15, 1925, in Coloma, MI, to Anthony and Frances (Lomanoco) Bartalone. On June 4, 1949 in Benton Harbor, MI, he married Loretta Jean Hammond. He had worked at Whirlpool Corp. for 33 years, retiring as an assembly foreman in 1990. Mr. Bartalone was a veteran of the U.S. Army, receiving a purple heart during his service in WWII. He was a life member of the DAV; a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Palmetto, FL; and a former member of St. Johns and St. Joseph Parish. George enjoyed doing carpentry work, and also loved playing cards. He is survived by his wife Loretta Jean; 2 sons, Anthony (Valerie) Bartalone of Okemos, MI and Michael Bartalone of Burnips, MI; 2 daughters, Maria (David) Kelley of Riverside, and Pamela (Steve) Schadler of Riverside; 5 grandchildren, Amber (Chris) Horton, Janna (Shaun) Bitterle, Jason (Sarah) Kelley, Brianne Schadler, and Brooke Kelley; 1 great grandson, Kobe Hunter; 1 brother, James (Vi) Bartalone of Benton Harbor; 2 sisters, Rose Monte and Frances Pradon, both of Benton Harbor; and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death are his parents, a daughter-Debra Bartalone, and a brother-Joseph Bartalone.