Richard George

Richard Allan â??Rickâ? George, 56 of Springdale Dr., Newton died Sunday, April 11, 2010. He was born January 8, 1954 in Oregon, the son of Georgia Beryl Bailey Sutherland George of Klamath Falls, Oregon & the late J.W. George. Rick served in the U.S. Marine Corps during Vietnam, was a 33rd degree Mason and member of the Riverside Lodge. He was a member of the Catawba County Shrine Club, active in Scottish rites, a commander of the VFW Post 5305 & a member of American Legion Post 16. He was instrumental in obtaining the Vietnam era helicopter at the Catawba County Shrine Club in Newton and has been a participant in â??Locks of Love.â? He retired from the NCDOT in 2005 after 30 years of service, opened, owned and operated with his son, GCS Company. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church where he was a Chairman of the Deacons & member of the Church Council. He was also active at The Corner Table in Newton. Rick was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend to all in the community. He was a man that gave so much & never asked for anything in return. In addition to his mother, his wife of 10 years, Joyce Linda Mellon Herman George of the home; a daughter, Lori Herman of Newton; three sons, Rob & Pennie George of Claremont, Steven & Tina Herman of Denver, NC, Rick Herman of Hickory; a sister, Ellen Sue Bailey of Tulelake, CA; four brothers, Lawrence LeRoy George of Klamath Falls, OR, Robert Dean George of Klamath Falls, OR, Jerry Wayne George of Lompoc, CA, James Arthur Sutherland of Eugene, OR; five grand-children, Cody & Madison Herman, Sidney & Megan Herman and Chandler Beatenhead survive him. A brother, J.W. George, Jr. preceded him in death. The funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, April 15, 2010 at Calvary Baptist Church in Newton with Pastor Arthur Yount & Pastor Fred Thompson officiating. Burial will follow at Catawba Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Danny Hoyle, Tony Shook, Robert Sherrill, Chris Scism, Eric Wifong & Tommy Styers. Honorary pallbearers will be Jerry Rudisill, P.C. Wray, Larry Huffman, David Reese, John Parker, David Crawley, David Bowman & David Reep. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at Calvary Church. Masonic Graveside Rites & Military Rites provided by The American Legion Post 16 will be at Catawba Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to The American Cancer Society, 600 Fairview Road, Charlotte, NC 28202 or to The Catawba County Shrine Club, 1418 West NC 10 Hwy., Newton NC 28658 or to The Newton Corner Table, 122 North Main Ave., Newton NC 28658. Condolence messages may be sent to www.jenkinsfuneralhome.net. The George family has entrusted arrangements to Jenkins Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Newton.