Martin Pavolini

Martin Houston Pavolini, Sr., age 88, a resident of Pass Christian, and known by his family and friends as Houston, died on Friday, November 28, 2008, in Pass Christian.
He was born on February 26, 1920, to Felix & Elizabeth Pavolini, and was one of 12 children. Mr. Pavolini, along with his father and uncles, was a boat builder and a fisherman.
He served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific during WWII, and spent 3.5 years making landings and moving cargo and troops from ship to shore and shore to ship. He was a member of the 543rd Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment. Because he had experience at operating a vessel, he was promoted to sergeant after completing his two months of training and came home a highly decorated soldier; having been awarded the Philippine Liberation Ribbon w/ one Bronze Star, the Bronze Indian Arrowhead, and the WWII Victory Medal.
Mr. Pavolini resumed his fishing occupation, and married Juanita Ricks, at the age of 26, and together they raised six children. He made a lot of friends during his 88.5 years, and helped anyone that asked for it. After he retired from the fishing industry, he continued to work part-time by repairing fishing nets, and would begin by spreading the net in his front yard. He would sit on the ground and work until he finished the job. Fisherman from all over would bring their nets to Houston for repairing. When asked how much they owed him, he would always say, """"Give me whatever you think its worth.""""
Mr. Pavolini will be greatly missed by a very large family and a great number of friends. There is truly a place in Heaven for this great soldier, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. You will be missed dearly Houston!
He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Felix, Norman, Gerald, and Leroy Pavolini; his sisters, Aletha Vanzandt, Roslyn Bergeron, Beatrice Winsteed, Inez Bourdin, and Elaine Pavolini and a great-grandson, Jacob Zollinger.
Houston is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Juanita Ricks Pavolini of Pass Christian; his children, Judy Dickenson, Martin H. Pavolini, Jr., and Warren Pavolini all of Pass Christian, Doris (David, Sr.) LaRosa and Elaine Duprey all of Long Beach and Glenda (Art) Bennett of Diamondhead; his brother, Emery Pavolini of Delisle; his sister, Sylvia Patton of Bay St. Louis; 20 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Monday, December 1, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. at the Riemann Family Funeral Home, 9113 Kiln Delisle Road in Pass Christian, where friends may visit one hour prior to ther service. Interment will follow at the New Delisle Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, 417 Security Square, Gulfport, MS 39507.
The family would like to extend a very special thank you to the doctors and nurses with the Oncology Department at Memorial Hospital and the entire staff at MHG Hospice. For more information, please call (228)586-0510.