Henry Paul Capdepon

Born August 25, 1933, he passed away peacefully with family on April 12, 2013. Henry is the son of the late Henry Paul Capdepon, Sr. and Elizabeth Jones Capdepon of Bay St. Louis. He was pre-deceased by son, Jay Fitzgerald Capdepon; sister, Gloria Bolin; and daughter-in-law Donna Jean Capdepon. Henry was a 1952 graduate of St. Stanislaus College where he played football, was a member of the band and orchestra and was the state boxing champion. He attended Pearl River Junior College where they won a state championship under Doby Holdin. You could say his greatest accomplishment at PRJC was meeting his wife of nearly 60 years, Charlotte Ann Russ of Picayune—they met and married two weeks later. He joined the Marine Corps in 1954 where he proudly served 20 years. He served three tours in Vietnam and retired as captain in 1974. During his time in the Corp he enjoyed being a referee and coach for numerous sports. Upon his retirement he served as a helicopter maintenance officer. He continued his education at Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College where he received numerous associate degrees. Among the various jobs he held after his retirement from the Corp was as a disc jockey for WGCM where he used the pseudonym Rusty Hansen, in honor of a friend from his military career. He worked as operations manager and assistant coach to the men and women’s basketball team at Philips College, retiring in 1998. In his later years of life he enjoyed his time with his pals at Bayou View Hardware, where they tried daily to solve all the world’s problems. He instilled in all of us a sense of duty. This is very much apparent in the four generations of service to the Corps. Not only did they serve, but their families served as well. We have all learned there is never a job that cannot be met and completed as long as your heart is in it, something he did throughout his life. Henry is survived by his wife, Charlotte Russ Capdepon; three children, Bridget Capdepon Damratoski (Keith), Henry Paul Capdepon III, and Lt. Col. Ret. John Wesley Capdepon (Janice). Eleven grandchildren, John Wesley Capdepon Jr. (Taila); Henry Paul Capdepon IV (Brittany); Megan Damratoski Yoder (Ryan); Capt. Ryan Fitzgerald Capdepon (Jamie); Katie Jane Damratoski; Amanda Leigh Capdepon; Emily Rebecca Meyer (Jared); Molly Elizabeth Capdepon; Maggie Denise Melvin (Matthew); Sheldon Wayne Capdepon and Bonnie Jean Capdepon. Four great grandchildren, Madyson Denise; Dalton Gene; Kynleigh Ryan; Matthew James; and another on the way. He is also survived by sisters Mae Higgins of Long Beach and Gladys Bassett of Gulfport. He was loved and adored by all his family, including numerous nieces and nephews. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and marine…Semper Fi—Hu Rah In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to Semper Fi Fund to benefit wounded Marines at semperfifund.org The funeral service is Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport where friends may visit beginning at 12:00 noon. Interment with military honors will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery, Biloxi. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com