Gary L. Pirtle

Gary L. Pirtle, 75, of Glen Ellyn, Illinois died on March 12, 2015.

He served our nation for 45 years. The first 20 years he was a member of the U.S. Air Force. He served across the globe including on Tactical Air Command's Inspector General Team and as non-commissioned officer in command of all security forces at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, one of the largest military bases in the world. After retiring as a highly decorated Senior Master Sergeant, he served 25 years as a security expert with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. After 9/11, he helped ensure that nuclear plants in the Midwest were secure from possible terrorist attacks.

As a young man, Gary was an amateur boxing champion. He was the first person in his direct family history to obtain college degrees earning both bachelors and master's degrees with the highest honors.

Gary is predeceased by his first wife Rita (Whitehouse) with whom he had his three children. He is also predeceased by his daughter Sharon and his parents Glenn and Wilma (Vance) Pirtle of Park Hills, Mo. He is survived by his wife Victoria, his sons, attorney Alan (Cathy) Pirtle of Columbia, Ill. and veterinarian Roger (Layla) Pirtle of Du Quoin, Ill., grandchildren John, William, Fatima, Michael and Timothy Pirtle, his brother Herb Pirtle, aunts, nieces, nephew, and cousins.

A visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 21 at Shipman Funeral Home, 449 S. Cedar, Bismarck, Missouri. A burial ceremony will begin at 12:00 p.m. noon at the Masonic Cemetery in Bismarck where he will be interred next to his first wife, daughter, parents and sister-in-law.

Flowers may be sent to Shipman Funeral Home. Memorials in Gary Pirtle's name may be sent to the American Lung Association or to someplace he loved spending time, the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Ill. (http://www.mortonarb.org/make-donation).