MEANS, George O. (1884-1950)

MEANS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 5/3/2019 at 15:07:36

George Oscar Means
(July 4, 1884 – May 17, 1950)

Des Moines Register, Des Moines, Iowa, Thurs., May 18, 1950, p.1
George Means is Death at 64
George O. Means, 64, a Des Moines auto dealer for 31 years and secretary-manager of the Iowa Automobile Dealers Association since 1945, died Wednesday afternoon in Perry after suffering a heart attack. One of Iowa’s veteran dealers, he had handled 21 makes of cars during his selling career, which began in 1909. Mr. Means of 3420 Forest Ave., [Des Moines] who was in Perry on a business trip Wednesday, had been in good health. He returned home Tuesday from a meeting of officers of the National Automobile Dealers Association in Chicago, Ill.
A native of Tama, he had served from 1943 to 1945 as superintendent of the dealer’s license division of the Iowa Department of Public Safety, before resigning to take the state association post. For many years before taking the state job, he had headed the Means-Nash Co. here. Seventeen of the 21 makes of cars he handled during his 31 years are not manufactured today.
Surviving him are his wife, Genevieve T.; his mother, Mrs. Mary C. Thompson, of Tama; two sons, George Jr., and Richard, of Des Moines; a stepson, Louis Evans, Des Moines; and a daughter, Mrs. Bernard C. Lowe, Des Moines. George Jr. and Evans now operate the Means Motor Co. here. Mr. Means was an officer in the Automobile Trade Managers Association and an adviser to the national dealers group. He was also a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, the Shrine and Elks Lodge here.
p.31
George Means Rites Saturday
Services for George O. Means, 64, of 3420 Forest Ave., Des Moines Auto Dealer for 31 years, will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Dunns Funeral Home. Burial will be in Glendale Cemetery. Mr. Means died of a heart attack Wednesday will on a business trip in Perry. He had served as Secretary-Manager of the Iowa Automobile Dealers Association since 1945 and was a member of Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church, a Shrine, and Elks Lodge. Surviving are his widow and mother, two sons, a daughter, a step-son and one sister, Edna Means, of Chicago, IL.