NATCHEZ &8212; Natchez businessman George J. Guido died Saturday. He was 82.

He loved his family, the outdoors and flying airplanes; and he loved his work as a real estate developer, family members said.

&8220;He started out when they were selling houses for $6,000 to $7,000,&8221; son Gary Guido said. As business grew, he built entire subdivisions around town.

&8220;I started with him in 1979. I was his right arm for 30 years,&8221; Gary Guido said.

Born in Natchez and a 1941 graduate of St. Joseph Catholic School, George Guido attended Louisiana State University. From LSU he went directly to cadet school and became a B17 bombardier in World War II.

&8220;One of his proudest accomplishments was flying 50 missions in World War II over Europe,&8221; daughter Janice Guido said.

&8220;He began flying airplanes when he was 17, and he flew until he was 80,&8221; she said.

Guido went into real estate development when he returned to Natchez from the war.

One of his early partners and colleagues in building was Paul Green. &8220;He was a good friend of mine, and we enjoyed our business together,&8221; Green said. &8220;We worked together many years and had a lot in common.&8221;

Green came to Natchez in 1947, when Guido already was established. &8220;We had many joint ventures,&8221; Green said. &8220;He was a hard worker and respected business man. He was a good citizen, and we&8217;ll miss him.&8221;

Gary Guido said his father was proud of his association with the National Homebuilders Association. In recent years, he was inducted into the NHA Hall of Fame.

In fact, he organized the Natchez chapter of the association and later became president of the state chapter.

&8220;Up to his death, he continued to be a director with the national association,&8221; Gary Guido said.

His father&8217;s largest development was Westover Heights, which he built in four stages, Gary said. &8220;He also built Woodhaven as a joint project with Paul Green.&8221;

In addition to the custom-built, higher-end homes, his father was proud of the lower-income homes he developed for people who otherwise might not have had the chance to be homeowners, Gary said. &8220;Daddy enjoyed filling that niche.&8221;

Family friend James C. &8220;Caddy&8221; Meng remembers the early days of Guido&8217;s real estate development and how Guido urged him to get into the business.

When Meng&8217;s veneer mill was in financial trouble, Guido stepped up to help. &8220;He absolutely saved my life,&8221; Meng said. &8220;He was a good friend.&8221;

Hayden Kaiser Jr. is another who will remember a good and long friendship. &8220;George was so active and full of life,&8221; Kaiser said. &8220;He had a knack of making people happy. He will be missed.&8221;

Janice Guido will remember how her father nurtured her brothers in the business. &8220;He was very close to his family,&8221; she said.

He is survived by his wife of

59 years, Margaret Guido; four children, Janice Guido, Stephen Guido, Gary Guido and Gail Guido; and four grandchildren.

Services arrangements were incomplete late Saturday.