George John Galla

 George John Galla, age 80, of Diamondhead, passed away on Thursday, August 3, 2023. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, George had also lived in Corona, California but made Diamondhead his home for the last several years. He graduated from Rubidoux High School in Riverside, California, class of 1961, and attended Cypress College in Cypress, California where he studied Business. George then attended United States Navy School and was a Machinist Mate 2nd Class from 1965 to 1970. He received The Vietnam Service Medal with Three Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Medal, and The Armed Forces Medal. From 1972 to 1980 George was employed with the ABC Unified School District in Norwalk, California then went on to start the George Galla Service companies in Long Beach, California, and Corona, California. He retired to Diamondhead, Mississippi in August 2017.

 George was happily successful in our community of Diamondhead and everywhere else he went. He had a great sense of humor and shared it with everyone. He seemed to always be up to making people happy; he was probably the most popular man in town! He attended every event in Diamondhead in the most fantastic costumes and usually dressed his wife Dianne to match him. He would spend days preparing and assembling the most suitable outfit he could invent. He also loved shopping all of the "garage sales" and found it hard to let go of many treasures. George was very respected and loved by his neighbors and community. His dream for a first-class dog park in Diamondhead was a high priority and he worked diligently to make it successful. Sadly, George will not get to see it completed. George was always involved with giving to many, especially American Legion Post 289 in Riverside County, California. He was so much fun. How much we dreaded this day, so sad it came. He was a great fighter to the end. Thank you, George, for the ride of my life, Dianne.

 George was preceded in death by his parents, George and Margaret Galla; his brother, Frank Galla; sister, Bernadette Vandriak; and his son, Jeff Galla. He is survived by his wife of forty years, Dianne Galla; his five children, Damon (Shelly) Galla of Huntington Beach, California, Katrina (Rene) Burgos of Marana, Arizona, Carolyn (Jimmy) Courtney of Apple Valley, California, Vern (Stacy) Jones of Riverside, California, Casey Lyda of Sacramento, California; one brother, Paul Galla of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; twelve grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and two great great-grandchildren.

Friends are invited to join the family for visitation and services on Friday, August 25, 2023, at Riemann Family Funeral Home, 9113 Kiln Delisle Rd., Pass Christian, Mississippi 39571. Visitation will be held from 12:00 until 2:00 p.m., with the Service beginning at 2:00 p.m. Interment will be at 2:30 p.m., Monday, August 28, 2023, at Biloxi National Cemetery.