Dr. Charles Anthony Panetta

Panetta, Dr. Charles Anthony OXFORD, Miss. Dr. Charles Anthony Panetta, 80, died Sunday, September 23, 2012 at Allen Morgan Health Center in Memphis, Tenn. Survivors include his wife, Alicia Panetta of Oxford; two sons, Lawrence Michael Panetta and his wife, Adell of Ashburn, Va. and John Carl Panetta and his wife, Clayann of Memphis; four grandchildren, Margaret Adell, Christopher Rocco, Anna Clay and Joshua Charles and three sisters, Anna Zumbo, Rosemary Daly and Marian Neil all of Albany. Born in Albany, Dr. Panetta was a 1950 graduate of Christian Brothers Academy in Albany. During his youth, he worked at his family's well-known Albany restaurant, Panetta's Restaurant, a favorite among locals for great Italian food. He continued his education at Manhattan College in New York City where he received his bachelor of science in biology and went on to earn his Ph.D in chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy. He remained in New York working in Syracuse with Bristol-Myers where he contributed and was named on the patent of the drug, Ampicillin. He served his post-doctoral position at MIT in Boston from 1965 to 1967. Following the completion of his education, he moved to Oxford where he taught chemistry at the University of Mississippi and retired in 1999 as professor emeritus. He enjoyed spending time outdoors, was an avid bicyclist and was meticulous in tending to his camellia plants, many of which still produce beautiful blooms, which he planted and grew around his home. Dr. Panetta loved classical music and was especially fond of the opera. Dr. Panetta was preceded in death by a sister, Catherine Burke, and a brother, Joseph Panetta. A funeral Mass will be held at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, in Oxford on Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 1 p.m. with Father Joe Tonos officiating. Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 26, 2012 from 4 to 6 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church with a rosary service to follow at 6 p.m. A graveside service will be Monday, October 1, 2012 at 1 p.m. at Holy Cross Cemetery in Pensacola, Fla. Waller Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements. Memorial contributions in Dr. Panetta's memory may be made to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church Building Fund, 416 South 5th Street, Oxford, MS 38655 or to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905. For further information, or to sign an online guestbook, please visit wallerfuneralhome.com or call (662) 234-7971.