Dr. Banlu Potitong

October 7, 1935 – December 1, 2024

Retired Thomaston physician Dr. Banlu Potitong passed away on December 1, 2024 at Brightmoor Hospice in Conyers, Georgia. He was 89 years old.

A memorial service for Dr. Potitong will be held on Saturday, January 18, at 2:00 PM in the chapel of Coggins Funeral Home. Prior to the service hour, the family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM at the funeral home.

Dr. Potitong was born in Chantaburi, Thailand on October 7, 1935. He received his medical degree in Thailand in 1960 from Siriraj Medical School (now Mahidol University). He then completed his medical training at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia and graduated in 1965 with a degree in Internal Medicine. Thereafter, he completed his residencies in Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

After returning to Thailand and practicing for a few years, Dr. Potitong immigrated to the United States. In 1972, his whole family joined him in Beaufort, South Carolina, where and he was working in a medical clinic serving the very impoverished islands off the coast of Beaufort.

While the Potitongs were in Beaufort they met the late Sue Hicks, a nurse who was from Zebulon, Georgia. She told Dr. Potitong about a new Intensive Care Unit at Upson County Hospital, and that they needed an experienced physician to manage it. After an interview with the late Dr. R. E. Dallas, Dr. Potitong accepted the position and the whole family moved to Thomaston, Georgia in 1973.

Besides working in the ICU at the hospital, Dr. Potitong also practiced internal medicine first on Thurston Avenue, then later on West Main Street until retiring in 2004. He had been taking care of patients in Thomaston for 31 years.

Dr. Potitong married Rojanart "Rose" Koompalum in 1984. He and Rose loved to travel and after retirement they traveled frequently across the United States and to many countries around the world. At home they enjoyed working in their extensive gardens where they grew organic vegetables, herbs, fruit trees and beautiful flowers.

After Rose passed away in 2020, Dr. Potitong moved back to Thailand to live with his sister. He returned to the States in 2021 and moved in with his daughter Jupe in McDonough where he enjoyed his last years.

Dr. Potitong is predeceased by his wife, Rose. He is survived by his two daughters, Chongkolni "Jupe" Potitong of McDonough, Georgia, and Nullie Potitong Stockton (Eric) of Great Falls, Virginia; his granddaughter, Katherine "Kat" Stockton of Bloomington, Indiana; and his former wife Pratoom "Pat" Potitong of Reston, Virginia.

Those desiring may make memorial contributions to URMC Health Foundation, 801 West Gordon Street, Thomaston, GA 30286.

Coggins Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements. Condolences and remembrances may be expressed at www.cogginsfuneralhome.com.