William Thomas George

William (Bill) Thomas George, age 90 of Starke, Fl, passed away on Sunday morning, July 23, 2017. He was born to the late Erastus James George and Annie Laurie Denny on February 27, 1927. That was the year Charles Lindberg flew across the Atlantic. Bill was the middle child of five siblings: Edith, Jane, Joe and Don. Bill grew up in Walker Town, North Carolina. As a young boy he grew up in a farming community and Reynolds Tobacco region where he had the experience of working in the tobacco fields and barns. He loved to tell the story of being out in the fields and looking up and seeing planes in the sky and how exciting that was to him and his brother Joe. After graduating from high school, Bill joined the Navy a few days before his 18th birthday. He tells the story that he would have enlisted earlier but his mother was against it. As it were, he did make four complete Atlantic crossings on the USS Savannah Heavy Cruiser. He participated in operation "Magic Carpet" which returned the 81st and 101st Air Borne Divisions back from Europe to participate in the big victory parade in New York City on November 11, 1945.His family moved to St. Petersburg, Florida when his Father entered the furniture business. After getting out of the Navy Bill moved there as well. While living in St. Petersburg Bill went to Flight School and earned his pilots license. He was working various delivery jobs when he met and married Audrey Virginia Cox on July 11th, 1948 in Hyannis, Massachusetts; and were married for 67 years.Bill soon decided to enter the ministry and serve the Lord musically which came from a mentorship of his then choir director, Milton Jones. He graduated from South Western Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas and served initially in Pensacola, Winter Garden, Hialeah, and then to First Baptist Church of Starke, Florida in January of 1966. While he grew all aspects of choir participation and musical training, his primary focus was on the youth choir - where he became known as "Big G". The influence spread and bonds cemented during those early years are still fondly remembered and treasured by those who had the privilege to participate. After retiring from First Baptist he became a prison chaplain with the Florida Department of Corrections in July of 1978. He retired from the DOC after 13.5 years. While serving as a chaplain he also worked part time at several area churches as a Minister of Music. Those churches included Madison Street Baptist Church and The First Presbyterian Church of Starke. He continued with the Presbyterian Church until he decided it was really time to retire. At his death he was still a member of The First Presbyterian Church of Starke.Throughout his life Bill always managed to stay connected to his love of flying. He was a gifted pilot and airplane modeler. He treasured the friendships that he developed while flying remote control airplanes and was building remote control airplanes in his last days. Bill is survived by his four children, William David George, (Laurie) of Wylie, Texas; Laurie Ellen Komorowski (Ron) of Gainesville, Fl; Tracy C. George of Starke, Fl; and Joel Denny George, (Hallie) of Trenton, Fl; 13 Grandchildren: Allison, Daniel, Brian, Morgan (Drew), Lauren, Christian, Alan (Shelley), William (Megan), Oliver and Matthew. 5 Great-grandchildren: Dominique, Cora Lee, Dave, Rylee, and Owen with two additional great-grandchildren due in the next two weeks. Bill is preceded in death by his late wife Audrey, both of his parents, and all four of his siblings. Memorial services are to be held at Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home in Starke, Florida on SATURDAY, JULY 29th, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation for family and friends beginning at 10 oclock. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Supporters of Sheltered Animals, 1228 Blanding Street, Starke, Florida, 32091. Arrangements are by Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home of Starke 904-964-6200. Memorial Service Saturday, July 29, 2017 11:00 AM - DeWitt C. Jones Chapel 620 Nona Street Starke FL 32091 US Visitation Saturday, July 29, 2017 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM DeWitt C. Jones Chapel 620 Nona Street Starke FL 32091 US Funeral Home Jones - Gallagher Funeral Home - Starke 620 E. Nona Street Starke FL - 32091 US (904) 964-6200