George T. Bulatowicz

George T. Bulatowicz, 70, of Billings passed away Friday, Feb. 10, 2023, at Footsteps Memory Care in The Springs at Grand Park due to complications of Early Onset Atypical Alzheimer’s.

He was born April 1952 in Staten Island, New York, to Marie and Joseph Bulatowicz. The third of eight children, he graduated from Port Richmond High School in 1970. In 1972, he enlisted in the Air Force and was assigned first to Mount Laguna Radar Site in Southern California, then Guam, and finally Opheim Radar Site in Montana.

While in Opheim, he met the love of his life, Renee Padgett. They were married in 1974 and made their first home in Opheim while George finished his four years in the service. After an honorable discharge, he attended Montana State University in Bozeman, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology in 1979. He went to work in Billings for Child Protective Services as a social worker handling child abuse cases. He left to work as a counselor at Alternatives, Inc. In 1997, Renee was transferred to Tulsa, Oklahoma. George went to work as a counselor at the L.E. Rader Center for troubled teenage boys. In 2000, Renee was transferred to the Los Angeles area. George again found work as a counselor for troubled teenage boys at the Ericson Center in Van Nuys. Another move in 2007 saw them back in Billings, where George felt that he had come home. He was immediately offered a position again at Alternatives, Inc. He worked there until 2010 when he retired.

George had a deep love for all his family, especially his children and grandchildren. He was known for his quick wit and easy smile, and was respected by colleagues for his ability to help people through his wise advice. He had an amazing capacity for remembering people’s names, birthdates, and phone numbers. George loved to travel. In addition to visits to Staten Island to see family and to Wisconsin to visit his son and family, he thoroughly enjoyed going on cruises. After he retired, he would take daily walks in the neighborhood and then settle in the recliner with his dog for some TV watching and naps. As Alzheimer’s took its toll, he could no longer travel, then no longer walk without assistance, and finally moved to Footsteps. There, he received loving, wonderful, and compassionate care.

We are so thankful and grateful to the staff at The Springs at Grand Park. These wonderful and compassionate people cared for George with love and dignity, and made his last two years so much easier. We give our thanks also to Dr. Severa of the Billings Clinic for his care of George while he was at Footsteps.

Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Renee; daughter Donna; son Michael and wife Julie; grandsons Joshua and Matthew; sisters Laurel Glebocki and her husband, Anthony, and JoAnn Castaldo and her husband, Tom; brother Joseph; sisters-in-law Donita Cantrell and her husband, Richard, and Marcella Padgett; aunt Helen Struble; uncle William Gieseking and his wife, Chicky; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins; a great-great nephew; and godson Chase Boyd.

George is preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Marie Bulatowicz; father-in-law and mother-in-law Raymond and Donna Padgett; brothers Robert “Bob,” William “Bill,” David “Dave,” and Harry; brother-in-law Kevin Gilmore; sisters-in-law Marietta and AnnMarie.

Graveside services will be 10:00am, Monday, August 14th at Lawndale Cemetery, Opheim, MT

A Memorial Mass with military honors will be held 12 noon, Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at St. Patrick Co-Cathedral, Billings. 

Memorial services in Staten Island will be scheduled later.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to Family Tree Nurturing Center, 2520 Fifth Ave. S., Billings, MT 59101; Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306; or the charity of your choice.

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