More detail on this person: LT. Col. (USA ret.) Randolph C. Bourgeois, 90, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 19, 2018 in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The Colonel, as he was affectionally known, was born in Bay St. Louis on August 31, 1927. He attended both St. Joseph Academy and St. Stanislaus College where he graduated in 1945. Upon graduation, as many men did, Randolph enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in order to serve his country, and on September 7, 1946, he married the love of his life, Theresa Sartwell, with whom he shared 71 years of marital bliss prior to her passing in 2017. As a marine, the opportunity presented itself for Randolph to attend Officer Candidate School with the United States where he chose the paths of both Signal Corps and helicopter pilot. He served our country for 30 years and retired with an honorable discharge in 1975. He had a distinguished military career that spanned WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. During his service, he was awarded the following honors: Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal + Oak Leaf Cluster Bronze Large, Meritorious Service Medal + Oak Leaf Cluster Bronze Large (Double), Air Medal + Numeral 5, Army Commendation Medal + Oak Leaf Cluster Bronze Large, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon with Device (1960), Honorable Service Label Button WWII, Sharp Shooter and Rifle Bar. During his military career, he received Upon retirement, The Colonel returned to Bay St. Louis, where civilian life began for Theresa and him. Retirement did not slow The Colonel down. He immediately became a vital member of the community where his desire to serve his community and the Mississippi Gulf Coast began. In his "retirement," Randolph served as temporary administrator for the Hancock County Youth Court and obtained funding for the current youth court facility, manager of Stennis International Airport, Facility Operating Contractor for Global Associates at Stennis Space Center, Project Manager for Pan Am World Service, and finally served as Facilities Manager for Martin Marietta in New Orleans, LA. His retirement occupations did not take away from his desire to serve his community. Recently, The Colonel devoted his life to serving in both the Traditional and Men's Choir of St. Rose deLima Church, a member of the Hancock County Planning and Zoning Commission, and as Director of the Hancock County Human Resources Agency. Over the past 40 years, he was also a member of the following: American Legion Post 77 where he served as Judge Advocate, board of directors for the Hancock Chamber of Commerce, Army Aviation Association of America, Retired Officers Association, Knights of Columbus, vice-president/director of the Metropolitan Dinner Club of the Greater Mississippi Gulf Coast, OLG parish council (past president), United Way of Hancock County (director and board member), Mental Health Board Region XIII, and past Commodore of the Bay-Waveland Yacht Club. Most importantly, however, Randolph and Theresa both devoted the past 20+ years to Hancock Medical Center and the Medical Center Gift Shop. Randolph is proceeded in death by his wife Theresa Sartwell Bourgeois, parents Randolph Bourgeois and Jenny Marengo Bourgeois LaRosa and step father Frank LaRosa. Sister and brother-in-law Angelina and Jake Morreale, brothers-in-law Beza (BG) and Jimmy Sartwell, and son-in-law Michael Hamm. He is survived by his children (LIVING) and (LIVING) Bourgeois, (LIVING) Bourgeois, and (LIVING) Hamm. Grandchildren (LIVING) ((LIVING)) Dobbs, (LIVING) ((LIVING)) Bilnoski, (LIVING) Bourgeois, (LIVING) ((LIVING)) Bourgeois, (LIVING) DiPietro, and (LIVING) ((LIVING)) Hawkins. Great grandchildren, (LIVING) Bilnoski, (LIVING) Bourgeois, (LIVING) Bourgeois, (LIVING) Dobbs, (LIVING) Bilnoski, (LIVING) Bourgeois, and (LIVING) DiPietro. Sister and brother-in-law (LIVING) and (LIVING) Sager, sisters-in-law (LIVING) ((LIVING)) Grantham, (LIVING) ((LIVING)) Murray, (LIVING) Sartwell, and (LIVING) Sartwell. God Daughter, (LIVING) Morreale Thompson Munford as well as nieces and nephews and their families. The family would like to thank our extended family within the Bay St. Louis community, those who loved The Colonel as we did, especially those at Hancock Medical Center, Dunbar Village, and Notre Dame Hospice for your love and support for our father, grandfather, family. The family will receive friends on Tuesday April 24 from to 6-9 p.m. at Edmond Fahey Funeral Home 110 Necaise. Visitation will be Wednesday, April 25 from 9:00-10:00 at St. Rose deLima Church 301 South Necaise Ave., Bay St. Louis. Mass will follow at 10:00 with burial at 12:30 with full military honors at Biloxi National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Hancock-Ochsner Medical Center Foundation, Bay St. Louis or St. Stanislaus College, Bay St. Louis. Edmond Fahey Funeral Home in Bay St. Louis, MS is in charge of the arrangements. NOTE: Survivors are listed as (LIVING) for their privacy. Published in the Sea Coast Echo on Apr 21, 2018
Burial information: Biloxi National Cemetery
This information was last updated 04/25/2018
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