Joseph William Gentile

On November 23, 2014, Joseph William Gentile, Jr., age 61, passed away after a long and courageous battle with a terminal illness. He was surrounded by his family as he passed from this world into the next. His cheerful laugh and smile will be deeply missed. Joe was born on April 22, 1953, in Pascagoula, Mississippi and was a lifelong resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He graduated from Our Lady of Victories High School in Pascagoula and attended Mississippi State University where he played football as an Offensive Lineman. He was proud to play in the 1974 Sun Bowl. After his football days, he attended school at the University of Southern Mississippi where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. Joe spent his career working for Mississippi Power Company where he was Manager of Revenue Accounting. He retired in May of 2013 after 33 loyal years to the company he loved. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph William Gentile, Sr., Catherine McClure Gentile Lippian and his step-father, Charles Joseph Lippian, all of Pascagoula, MS. He was also preceded in death by his beautiful grand-daughter, infant Rose Margaret Watts, who left this world too soon. Joe is survived in death by his loving wife of 37 years, Sharon Tatum Gentile, his daughters Allison (Mark) Watts and Jennifer (Byron) Walker, all of Biloxi, MS and his sister, Dorothy Gentile Putnam of Gulfport, MS. His grandchildren Hope, Brandon, Kaden, Lila Grace, James Joseph, Isabel, Tatum and Rosie meant the world to him. He was fondly known as Papa Joe not only to them, but to all their friends as well. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to St. Vincent de Paul at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 2090 Pass Road, Biloxi, MS 39531. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church on Friday, November 28, 2014 at 11:00 am. Visitation is from 9:00-11:00 am. Interment will follow at Machpelah Cemetery in Pascagoula, MS. The Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.