George Arp Chastain, 87, died Tuesday, August 15, 2017 at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo after battling Alzheimer’s. Mr. Chastain was born on September 2, 1929 in Stephens, Alabama to the late William Arp and Annie Bell Chapel Chastain. He grew up in Alabama and enlisted in the U. S. Navy in l948 where he proudly served for 4 years discharging as a Petty Officer Second Class. George then attended Auburn University where he majored in Forestry. He married Laura Gail Burton on June 10, 1962 and, to this union, three children-Paul, Richard and Claire, were born. George enjoyed a long career as a forestry consultant. He enjoyed the outdoors and his communion with nature and seeing things grow. He was the longtime forestry director at the Noxubee Wildlife Refuge and enjoyed working professionally in several capacities with the Forestry School at Mississippi State University. He and his family attended the First United Methodist Church in Starkville many years. At his death, he was a member of the Meadow Wood Baptist Church near Starkville.
A service to remember George and celebrate his life will be held at 6 PM Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017 in the Chapel of Welch Funeral Home in Starkville with visitation one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. A committal service with Military Honors will follow at 10 AM Wednesday, August 23, 2017 at the new North Mississippi Veteran’s Cemetery, 2 Legion Road, Kilmichael, MS. Holland Funeral Directors, Tupelo Chapel is honored to be serving the family. Condolences may be e mailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net
Survivors include his wife, Laura Gail Chastain, his three children, Paul, Richard and Claire and their families.
