Remembering Charles B. Kitowski, III, (Trey)

Remembering my nephew, Charles B. Kitowski III, (Trey) who died in Afghanistan in 2007 at age 33.  May God bless you, and God bless America! 

(Posted on Facebook by Rita Martin Holland, sister to our classmate, Theresa Martin Kitowski).

Class of 1961 ~ Mercy Babes!

Can’t believe these beautiful Mercy Babes graduated 60 years ago.

Col. George Booth ~ SAHS (Class of 1966)

My cousin, Col. George Booth (St. Aloysius Class of 1966), laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.

Among other duties ... he was a “fighter pilot during the Vietnam War, flying with the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing based in Ubon, Thailand. He flew the F-4 and F-15. During his years of service, Col. Booth also served at Air Force bases in Bitburg, Germany; Soesterberg, Netherlands and Nellis AFB, Nevada. He spent one year in Toronto, Canada at the Air Command and Staff College, an institution designed to provide high-quality professional military education for selected Canadian and international officers. He then provided services to the Canadian government for 2 years at the Canadian Forces Base Rockcliffe headquarters in Ottawa, Canada. Col. Booth subsequently returned to the United States with an assignment to Langley AFB in Virginia where he served as Commander of the 48th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. He later trained at the Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama, the senior professional military education school of the USAF. His final duty station was in Colorado Springs, Colorado where he was a senior officer at NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command).” by Peter Pikul

Arlington National Cemetery

October 2020

Blanche Loviza Irby Obituary

Blanche Irby, 83, of Huntsville and Madison, passed away Monday, May 24, 2021. Born in Vicksburg, MS to John Joseph and Mabel Harris Loviza, Blanche graduated from St. Francis Xavier Catholic School in Vicksburg. Education was invaluable to her, and she returned to school as an adult to earn a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Theology from Athens State College. She continued to soak up life as a forever student. With a heart of gold, Blanche never knew a stranger and radiated love and compassion. She saw the good in everything and everyone and treated each day as a gift. She was a volunteer at Meals on Wheels and a devoted member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Her loved ones believe she had a "direct line to God," as she was a true prayer warrior for everyone she knew. Fittingly, two priests were drawn to her side to deliver her last rites. She always wanted to meet God, and those who knew her to find peace in knowing she now rests in His embrace. Blanche is survived by her husband of 62 years, Thomas "Tom" Irby, with whom she built a life of laughter, love, travel, and plenty of dancing. Their romance sparked at school dances, and they married on April 12, 1959. At every wedding, she and Tom stole the dance floor with their light feet and loving gaze. They celebrated two vow renewals and served as pillars of love and devotion for their family and friends. Marriage to Tom was an adventure Blanche bravely embraced. She willingly tried new things, such as hiking, backpacking, snow skiing, sailing, and scuba diving. She water skied until age 70 - a passion she and Tom passed down to their children and grandchildren. As a patron of the arts, she enjoyed reading, weaving, and theatergoing, especially to Fantasy Playhouse with her grandchildren. Blanche was preceded in death by her parents; and two of her siblings, Dorothy Faye Vedros (Phillip) and John William Loviza (Emily). A beloved mother, sister, and grandmother, she leaves behind children, Lisa Derasaugh (David), Peter Irby (Yvonne), Thomas "Griff" Irby (Anna), and Christie Burgess (Ron); siblings, Joseph Loviza (Glenda) and Myrtle Curro Alvarado (Bobby); and grandchildren, Andrew, Jessica (Tom), Ryan, Meagan, Rachael, Grant, Grace, Zachary, and Brandon. She lives on in their loving memory and will be deeply missed. Visitation will be from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 27, 2021, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Madison, AL. The funeral service will begin at 2:00 p.m. and be officiated by Father Bryan K Lowe, Pastor. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Madison Senior Center Nutrition and Meal Program, 1282 Hughes Road, Madison, AL 35758.

Blanche, Joe, and Myrtle.

Happy Mother's Day Classmates!

William "Fred" Baldwin Dies

November 11, 1939 ~ April 10, 2021

William "Fred" Baldwin, a retired certified public accountant (CPA) and long-time resident of Vicksburg, MS died at his home on April 10, 2021. A graveside service for family and friends will be held on Tuesday, April 13, 2021, at 11:00 am at Greenlawn Gardens Cemetery in Vicksburg. 

Fred is survived by his wife of 55 years, Rosalye Wilkerson Baldwin (Class of 1959), his son Trent Baldwin (Marissa) of Ridgeland, MS, his brothers Harold Baldwin (Caroline) of Waynesboro, Virginia, and David Baldwin (Patty) of Vicksburg, MS, and his grandchildren; Shelby Beckett Baldwin, Blake Wilkerson Baldwin, and Ashley Ann Baldwin. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Minnie Rae Baldwin, and his youngest son, Troy Beckett Baldwin. 

Fred was born in Memphis, TN on November 11, 1939. He lived in Vicksburg most of his life and graduated in the last class of Carr Central High School in 1958. He then attended Mississippi State University and graduated with a degree in accounting. He worked as an accountant for 56 years of which the last 42 years were spent in private practice before retiring in January 2019. He was a long-time member of First Baptist Church of Vicksburg where he served as a Sunday School teacher, deacon, executive committee member, and was on the board of trustees. Fred deeply loved and was always faithful to his Lord, his family, and his church. Memorials may be made to the Troy Baldwin Scholarship Endowment, MSU Foundation, P.O. Box 6149, Mississippi State, MS 39762 or to the First Baptist Church, 1607 Cherry Street, Vicksburg, MS 39180.

(Just found out that Rosalye's husband had passed away. Rest in peace). 

Happy Easter Classmates