Roll Call Tribute
George Gillespie '46 October 8, 2014 12:22 PM
(Published in) Colorado County Citizen (on) September 9, 2014
Gillespie
George Duncan Gillespie, 88, died Saturday, August 23, 2014, in Gainesville, Florida. He leaves his wife of 64 years, Marion Gillespie; children Patty Andress (Tony) of Gainesville, Tom Gillespie (Deb) of Melrose, Florida, Linda Kramer (David) of Wichita, Kansas, and Laura Cesare (Malcolm) of Boise, Idaho; two nephews, Robert Gillespie (Pat) and Charles Gillespie (Carole); 11 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
The youngest of three boys, George was raised on the family farm in Alleyton, Texas, by his parents Robert W. Gillespie, Sr., and Ruth Gillespie. George told stories of life on the farm during the Great Depression and of his many adventures, including learning to drive a Model T at age six.
George attended school in nearby Columbus and began attending Texas A&M University at age 16. During WWII, he was accepted into the Naval Air Corps where he had a memorable year of flight training. The war ended just as he was finishing Primary Flight School in Norman, Oklahoma, so he was put on inactive duty. He returned to Texas A&M on the GI Bill, receiving his degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1947.
After graduation, George went to work at Convair in Fort Worth, Texas. During the chaos of the Flood of 1949, George ran into a girl he had met before and decided she was someone he would like to date. George and Marion married in 1950, and travelled to Monterrey, Mexico, for their honeymoon.
In 1961, George and Marion packed up their four young children and Great Dane, Candy Barr, and moved to Orlando, Florida, where George began his long career with Martin Marietta. George and Marion saw to it that the family had an active Florida lifestyle of camping, boating, water-skiing, scuba diving, competitive swimming, and travel. George was very interested in fitness, taking up jogging well before it became popular. His favorite hobby was definitely the raising of his beloved Great Danes, the last being Czar, a rescue dog. His other hobbies included raising orchids, tending his yard, playing Bridge, and listening to classical music. George could play one song on the piano, Debussy’s Clair de Lune, which will always remind his family of him.
George took early retirement so he and Marion could indulge in their love of travel. Over the years they traveled to many exotic locales and later created mini-documentaries of each trip to share with friends and family.
George and Marion moved to Melrose, Florida, in 2001 to be near family. In 2006, George was invited back to Columbus, Texas, to be awarded one of the first Columbus High School Distinguished Alumni awards.
George requested a celebration of his life rather than a traditional memorial service and chose to donate his body to the Anatomical Research Board at the University of Florida Medical Center.
Gillespie
George Duncan Gillespie, 88, died Saturday, August 23, 2014, in Gainesville, Florida. He leaves his wife of 64 years, Marion Gillespie; children Patty Andress (Tony) of Gainesville, Tom Gillespie (Deb) of Melrose, Florida, Linda Kramer (David) of Wichita, Kansas, and Laura Cesare (Malcolm) of Boise, Idaho; two nephews, Robert Gillespie (Pat) and Charles Gillespie (Carole); 11 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
The youngest of three boys, George was raised on the family farm in Alleyton, Texas, by his parents Robert W. Gillespie, Sr., and Ruth Gillespie. George told stories of life on the farm during the Great Depression and of his many adventures, including learning to drive a Model T at age six.
George attended school in nearby Columbus and began attending Texas A&M University at age 16. During WWII, he was accepted into the Naval Air Corps where he had a memorable year of flight training. The war ended just as he was finishing Primary Flight School in Norman, Oklahoma, so he was put on inactive duty. He returned to Texas A&M on the GI Bill, receiving his degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1947.
After graduation, George went to work at Convair in Fort Worth, Texas. During the chaos of the Flood of 1949, George ran into a girl he had met before and decided she was someone he would like to date. George and Marion married in 1950, and travelled to Monterrey, Mexico, for their honeymoon.
In 1961, George and Marion packed up their four young children and Great Dane, Candy Barr, and moved to Orlando, Florida, where George began his long career with Martin Marietta. George and Marion saw to it that the family had an active Florida lifestyle of camping, boating, water-skiing, scuba diving, competitive swimming, and travel. George was very interested in fitness, taking up jogging well before it became popular. His favorite hobby was definitely the raising of his beloved Great Danes, the last being Czar, a rescue dog. His other hobbies included raising orchids, tending his yard, playing Bridge, and listening to classical music. George could play one song on the piano, Debussy’s Clair de Lune, which will always remind his family of him.
George took early retirement so he and Marion could indulge in their love of travel. Over the years they traveled to many exotic locales and later created mini-documentaries of each trip to share with friends and family.
George and Marion moved to Melrose, Florida, in 2001 to be near family. In 2006, George was invited back to Columbus, Texas, to be awarded one of the first Columbus High School Distinguished Alumni awards.
George requested a celebration of his life rather than a traditional memorial service and chose to donate his body to the Anatomical Research Board at the University of Florida Medical Center.
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