- Date Of Birth: January 15, 1924
- Date Of Death: June 5, 2012
- State: Ohio
Paul Birtalan, age 88, of Salem, died at 5:50 a.m. on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at the Mercy Medical Center in Canton. He was born January 15, 1924 in Salem, the son of the late Joseph and Clara (Szakacs) Birtalan. Before his retirement, Mr. Birtalan had been employed at Eljer Plumbing as a molder, crane operator and enameler for 40 years. Paul was a member of the American Legion Post 56, the Disabled American Veterans and a member of the Forty and Eight. He was an airplane pilot for skydivers and was also an avid fisherman and hunter. Paul served in the U.S. Army during WWII with the 264th Field Artillery Division and received a purple heart at the Battle of the Bulge. His wife, Helen J. (Wright) Birtalan, whom he married July 4, 1947, survives him along with three sons, Robert (Debra) Birtalan of Jacksonville, Florida, Scott (Susan) Birtalan of Salem and Gregory (Pam) Birtalan of Salem; a daughter, Dena Zines of Salem; two sisters, Helen Wooden of Scottsdale, Arizona and Shirley DeMelio of Sebring; six grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Two brothers, Stephen and Joseph Birtalan also preceded him in death.
