George E. Yakaitis, a retired postal worker who played alto saxophone in a family band for many years, died of a heart attack Sunday at St. Agnes HealthCare. The Glen Burnie resident was 84.

Mr. Yakaitis retired in 1982 from the Glen Burnie post office, where he had been a letter carrier for 15 years.

Born in New Castle, Pa., the son of Lithuanian immigrants, he was raised in Baltimore and graduated from City College in 1935. He worked as a butcher and as a security guard at Food Machinery Corp. in Curtis Bay before joining the U.S. Postal Service in 1967.

Mr. Yakaitis established the Y's, a family band that performed at bowling banquets, bull roasts and weddings. He retired from the band in 1975.

He enjoyed woodworking, gardening and watching baseball.

Mr. Yakaitis was a communicant of St. Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church, where a Mass of Christian burial was offered yesterday.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, the former Anne Yanchuk; a son, William E. Yakaitis of Severn; a daughter, Marilyn A. Colley of Linthicum; a brother, Frank Yakaitis of Tucson, Ariz.; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandson.