Junius W. Klein

Junius W. Klein died peacefully on Sunday, May 21, 2017 in Fairhope, AL where he had resided with his wife, Verna Stearns Klein, since his home in Biloxi at 1202 Kensington Drive was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Mr. Klein was born May 22, 1922, the last of three sons, to Fred, Sr. and Josephine Klein in Biloxi, MS. After graduating from Biloxi High School, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. Following the war, he returned to Biloxi and began working in the family business, Klein’s Biloxi Bakery, until it closed in 1973. Also, soon after his return from service during World War II, he married his sweetheart, Mildred Fayard Klein, the mother of his two children, Gary P. Klein and Linda Klein Andrews. Mildred passed away in 1995 after an extended illness. Mr. Klein had a lifelong passion for the water. He loved all kinds of boating and could often be spotted skippering his sail boat all over Biloxi Back Bay up until 2005 when Hurricane Katrina destroyed his home on Kensington Drive. He also enjoyed horseback riding, caring for the various animals, and hosting his children’s birthday parties on the family farm. Mr. Klein was a lifetime member of the Benevolent & Protective Order of the Elks (BPOE) Biloxi Lodge where he enjoyed watching football games and attending dances. Mr. Klein was well-known as a skilled ballroom dancer and received many invitations for the Mardi Gras Balls throughout the years. One of his best memories came several years back when he was honored to join fellow WW II and Korean War veterans on a special “Honor Flight” to Washington, DC to tour the Nation’s War Memorials and other famous landmarks. Mr. Klein was preceded in death by Mrs. Mildred Klein; his parents; and his brothers, Fred, Jr. and Ralph Klein. Mr. Klein is survived by his second wife, Verna Stearns Klein; his son, Gary P. (Patsy L.) Klein, of San Antonio, TX; his daughter, Linda K. (L. Ryan, III) Andrews, of Athens, GA. He is also survived by three grandsons, Jason and Joshua Klein of San Antonio, TX and Ryan L. Andrews of Beavercreek, OH and his granddaughter, Kelly A. Jones of Misawa, Japan and three great-grandchildren, Sophia Andrews, Merritt and Truly Jones. Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 25, 2017 at the Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. A 10:30 a.m. graveside service will follow at Southern Memorial Park in Biloxi, MS.