In Memoriam: George S. Kairalla, Owner of Datura Auto Sales and Rentals and Founding Member of the South Florida Auto Rental Association
Kairalla, who passed July 1 while vacationing with family, was a founding member and past and current president of the South Florida Auto Rental Association, as well as owner and president of Datura Auto Sales and Rentals, where he worked for more than 50 years.
George S. Kairalla, age 68, passed away unexpectedly on July 1, 2012, while on vacation with his family and friends in the Bahamas doing what he loved: boating and diving. He was born in West Palm Beach, Fla., where he resided his entire life.
Kairalla was the owner and president of Datura Auto Sales and Rentals where he worked for more than five decades. He was a founding member and the past and current president of the South Florida Auto Rental Association.
Kairalla is survived by his best friend and devoted wife of 43 years, Lynne; and their three children, Suzanne and her husband, David Ghirardini, David Kairalla and Brian Kairalla. He was also "Ampa" to three beautiful grandchildren, Carlisle, Cate and Caroline Ghirardini; and the loving owner and friend to his dog, Oliver. Kairalla also leaves behind his mother, Mireille Cowan Kairalla; one sister, Patricia Kairalla Knowles and husband, Frank; and five brothers, Charles and wife Pie, Phillip and wife Jamie, Andrew and wife Susan, Samuel and wife Dolly, and Michael and wife Katherine; a sister-in-law, Susan Stoddard; as well as his aunt, Grace Covert; and his uncle, Robert Kairalla and his wife, Marilyn.
He is predeceased by his father, George E. Kairalla, and his brother, Ronald E. Kairalla (Carol Fedele). There is also an abundance of nieces, nephews, cousins, great nieces, great nephews and cherished friends, as well as the loyal employees of Datura Auto that will miss him very much. He was a loving and devoted son, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, friend and hero to the many whose lives he touched.
Services
The family will be receiving friends during visitation on Sunday, July 8, 2012 from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Quattlebaum Funeral Home 1201 S. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33401.
A remembrance Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Monday, July 9, 2012 at St. Ann Catholic Church in downtown West Palm Beach, with the interment to follow at Woodlawn Cemetery.
To express condolences and/or make donations, visit PalmBeachPost.com/obituaries.
More Rental Operations

Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise 3.6% in 2026 Before Easing in 2027
Car rental rates are projected to rise less than airfares and hotel rates in 2026, then become the only major travel category forecast to decline in 2027, according to projections from GBTA and ALTOUR.
Read More →
Avis Cuts Fleet as Summer Demand Trails Expectations
Avis Budget Group increased second-quarter earnings despite lower Americas revenue and softer-than-expected summer demand. The company also expanded Avis First and advanced its autonomous fleet operations with Waymo.
Read More →
Why Bookings Are Only the Start of the Rental Day
A reservation captures demand. The operating test is whether the business can keep the customer, vehicle, commercial terms, and next action aligned until the rental is closed.
Read More →
This Is the Oldest Car Rental Advertisement You’ll Ever See
This ad for Saunders Drive it Yourself, believed to be the first car rental company in the U.S., was found in an Omaha phone book from 1926.
Read More →
The Desk Upsell Is Costing Operators More Than it Earns
Counter upsells generate revenue, but they can also slow transactions, erode trust, and cost repeat business. Fully inclusive pricing may offer operators a better path to long-term value.
Read More →
U-Save Expands Indian Ocean Presence with New Master Franchise for Mauritius
The franchise has been acquired by Mauritian travel entrepreneur Umarfarooq Omarjee, an established figure in the island's tourism and mobility sector.
Read More →
Global Carsharing Fleet Projected to Reach 768,000 Vehicles By 2030
A new Berg Insight forecast outlines several business models driving the projected growth in public carsharing worldwide through 2029.
Read More →
Rental Car Fleet Sales Show Mid-Year Strength
June gains ensured rental fleets closed out the first half of 2026 in positive territory.
Read More →
Surprice Mobility Opens Corporate Rental Station at Milan Malpensa Airport
The Milan opening is part of Surprice Mobility's broader strategy to expand its corporate operations while increasing the use of technology across its network.
Read More →
Brazilian Executive MBA Targets Growing Domestic Rental Car Industry
Rental car companies face a unique combination of challenges that are rarely addressed in traditional programs.
Read More →
