Dr. George C. Christian

Dr. George C. Christian, 79, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Monday, April 10, 2017, at St. Francis Medical Center.

Dr. Christian, the son of the late Vernon Quinton and Clarice Rowland Christian, was born March 12, 1938, in Poplar Bluff. He attended Poplar Bluff High School. Dr. Christian proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force. He later attended Southeast Missouri State University and then the University of Missouri Kansas City, where he obtained his Doctorate of Dentistry. He practiced dentistry in Poplar Bluff from 1970 until he retired in 2008. Dr. Christian enjoyed spending time with his family, watching and playing baseball, and fishing the creeks and rivers around the Poplar Bluff area.

Survivors include his wife, Marie Louise; three children, Michelle Matava and her husband, Dr. Matthew Matava, of Creve Coeur, Dr. Karlyle Christian-Ritter and her husband, John Ryan of Cape Girardeau, and Emily Smith and her husband, Rob Smith of Spring, Texas; eight grandchildren, Sarah, Christian, and Matthew Matava, Jessie and Abby Ritter, and Kate, Lilly, and Robby Smith; and a brother, Myron Christian, and his wife, Rosetta, of Poplar Bluff.

A sister, Verna Marie Sloan, and a son-in-law, Dr. John Lynn Ritter, preceded him in death.

Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m., Thursday, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with a Liturgical Service following. Father William Hodgson and Deacon David Farris will be celebrants. Burial with full military honors will follow at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery.

The family requests donations be made to the local branch of the Salvation Army in lieu of flowers.