GEORGE, Clara
GEORGE, SMITH, WILSON, CONGER, KUHLMAN, EASON, RICH, MERCER, MCCORMICK
Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 11/14/2007 at 15:56:05
"The Fairfield Ledger", Monday, November 12, 2007, Page 10
GEORGE, Clara -- Clara (SMITH) GEORGE, 90, died peacefully Sunday evening November 4, 2007 at Maplewood Manor in Keota, IA. She was born June 16, 1917 at home to Frederick (Fred) W. and Kathryn (WILSON) SMITH in Richland, IA. She grew up in Richland, attended Parsons College in Fairfield and graduated from State Teachers College in Cedar Falls in 1938. Following graduation, she taught elementary school in La Porte City, Iowa. She married Andrew G. GEORGE of Waterloo, IA in Shenandoah, IA on May 30, 1940 with the Rev. J. Richard Sneed officiating.
She was a lifelong member of the Richland United Methodist Church. In 1997, she moved to an apartment in Keota where she spent her summers. She enjoyed going to the Senior Center and the many friends she had grown to cherish. Despite her move to Keota, she was an active member of the Richland Federated Women's Club and was recognized for sixty years of membership at the 79th Annual State Convention of Federated Women's Club.
Clara was active in the Richland Lions' Club and was a strong advocate for the construction and on-going financial support of the Richland Public Library. She was honored by Veteran's Hospital in Iowa City for voluntering for over 1000 hours. Clara was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Ollie Chapter of the Eastern Star, the American Legion Auxiliary and the United Methodist Women.
After WW II, Andy began working for Clara's father in the local lumberyard. In 1952, Andy and Clara GEORGE entered a partnership, and the name of the store changed from F.W. SMITH Co. to F. W. SMITH & Co. Clara and Andy bought the business in 1964. They owned F. W. SMITH & Co. until their retirement in 1975. At the time they retired, the store had been in the family since 1896. After retirement, Clara and Andy began spending winters in Mesa, AZ but would return to Richland each spring. Despite Andy's death in March 1983, Clara had remained a "snowbird" for over 20 years.
She is survived by a son, Dr. Fredrick GEORGE and his wife, Dianne (formerly Dianne CONGER of Packwood, IA), whose address is 5528 154th PL SW Edmonds, WA 98026; and a daughter, Dr. Kathryn (George) KUHLMAN and her husband, Paul whose address is P. O. Box 64 Keota, IA 52248. Fred's two sons, Dr. Thaddeus (Erin EASON) GEORGE and Andrew GEORGE, and their families live in the Seattle area; Kathryn's daughter, Anna (Jamie) RICH, and her family live outside Riverside, IA, and her son, Seth (MaRanda MERCER) McCORMICK, and his family live outside Miami, OK. In addition, six great-grandchildren, a younger sister, Martha (SMITH) WHITE, of Marion, IA and numerous nieces and nephews, survive Clara. Her husband, Andrew G. GEORGE, her parents, an infant brother, Carlton Frederick, and an older brother William Wilson SMITH, preceded Clara in death.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that gifts in Clara GEORGE's honor be made to the Richland United Methodist Church or the Richland Public Library and sent to the family. Clara bequeathed her body to the University of Iowa Department of Anatomy. Arrangements for a memorial service in Richland are pending. Arrangements are in the care of Gould Funeral Home of Richland.
Copied with permission from The Fairfield Ledger, Inc.
*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.
Note: Clara GEORGE's brief death announcement was also transcribed and can be found here: http://iagenweb.org/boards/jefferson/obituaries/index.cgi?read=174201 .
Jefferson Obituaries maintained by Joey Stark.
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