Staff Sgt. Berthold A. Chastain, U.S. Army Air Corps, 27, lost his life during World War II. He was a tail gunner on a B-24 Bomber which crashed during a reconnaissance flight in New Guinea on Oct. 27, 1943. His remains were not recovered until recently.

He was born in Whitfield County, Ga., on Feb. 2, 1916. He was a member of Harmony Baptist Church in Dalton, Ga.

He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas Lester Chastain.

His family included, at the time of his death, his mother, Estella Mae Chastain; four brothers: Drennon Arthur Chastain, Rembert William Chastain, Clifford Lester Chastain (who is still surviving) and Vernon Thomas Chastain; and his daughter, Tulie Mae (Chastain) Swilling of Birchwood, who also still survives.

Grandchildren born later were Thomas Allen Swilling, Danny LaMar Swilling, Ralph Stephen Swilling, Cheri Yvette Childs and Tina Claudette Falkowski; four great-granddaughters; five great-grandsons; seven great-great-grandsons; five great-great-granddaughters; seven nieces, three nephews and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb 2, 2011, in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with Pastor Dale Tennell officiating.

Interment will be held at the McInturff Cemetery with military honors.

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Chastain family guest book at www.ralphbuckner.com.