Ben V. Pillitary

Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, December 30, 2017 at St. James Catholic Church for Ben Vincent Pillitary, age 89, of Gadsden, who passed away Tuesday, December 26, 2017. Father Jose B. Chacko will officiate. Burial will be at Forrest Cemetery. Collier-Butler Funeral and Cremation Services directing.

Mr. Pillitary was a graduate of Emma Sansom High School Class of 1947. He attended University of Louisville, Jacksonville State University, and University of Alabama, Birmingham. Mr. Pillitary served in the US Army during the Korean War. He was a teacher and coach at Etowah High School and teacher, coach and Administrator at Emma Sansom High School and Director of Neighborhood Youth Corp.

Mr. Pillitary was a member of the 1947 University of Louisville undefeated football team and was named to the 1952 Jacksonville State University All Time Football Team. He is a member of the Emma Sansom High School Wall of Fame, Etowah County Sports Hall of Fame and had the Emma Sansom Outdoor Classroom Courtyard named in his honor. He was also a member of the Alabama City Lions Club.

Mr. Pillitary was preceded in death by his parents, Carrie Lucia Pillittire and Louis Pillittire; sisters, Lena Pillitary Hite and Mary Pillitary Baker; and brother, Joe Pillitary.

He is survived by his Wife of 63 years, Ida Jo Pillitary; daughters, Lisa Pillitary Robertson (fiancé Ed Mulvaney), Benida Pillitary Bonville, and Elizabeth Pillitary Waits(Mark); and grandchildren, Taylor Robertson, Blaine Russell, Aly Bonville, and Anders Bonville.

Pallbearers will be Taylor Robertson, Blaine Russell, Mark Waits, Ed Mulvaney, Charles Atchley, Chuck Treece, Don Wilson, and Jerry Glover.

Honorary Pallbearers are Anders Bonville, Harold Gross, George Baker, Bobby Shrum, Harold Milner, Bill Hale, Joe Cuilla, and his Alabama City Jacks afternoon friends.

The family will receive friends Friday, December 29, 2017 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Collier-Butler Funeral Home.

In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. James Catholic Church Center of Concern, and Autism non-profit AdysArmy.org.

Special thanks to Dr. Oluwole Akisanya MD and staff; Southern Care/New Beacon Hospice, special appreciation to Shirley Headrick, RN.

Online condolences may be made at www.collier-Butler.com.