Obituary of Hershel E. George, Jr.

Hershel E. George, Jr., 79, peacefully passed into Spirit at home in Albany, New York on July 11, 2014, after a courageous battle with cancer. Hershel was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, the son of the late Hershel E. George, Sr. and Margaret Theo George. He graduated from Parkers Chapel High School and received a BA in History and a BS in Physics at Arkansas State University, and attended Graduate Studies at the University of Michigan. Hershel proudly served in the U.S. Air Force from 1956-1962, and was an Air Force representative on the world’s first Gyro-Accelerometer Inertial System for the Snark Missile Program. He remained a patriotic citizen during his lifetime and honored his country by flying its flag. Hershel was employed at various companies throughout the world including: Honeywell, Inc., Boeing Co., Wyle Laboratories, Martin, Inc. and Span International, Inc. Highlights of his career include: engineering as an Inertial Navigation Specialist for the Apollo Moon Program at NASA; solving the fuel leak problem for the Titan II missile, hence saving thousands of lives by diverting a fatal catastrophe over Arkansas; and assisting the U.S. military by establishing the asthmas missile points during Desert Storm. Left to honor Hershel’s life and mourn his death are his loving wife of 25 years, Patricia L. George; his sister, Rosa Sharon Nichols; his children, David W. George, Hershel E. George III, and Vivian Ellingston and step-daughter, Holly A. Sanderson; nephews, James Ray and Gary Crawford; two grandchildren, three step-grandchildren and other caring family and friends. Hershel was predeceased by his sisters, Susan Westbrook and Mary Lois Crawford. A Celebration of Life graveside service and interment will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery, 6707 Dollarway Road, Pine Bluff, Arkansas at 10:00 a.m. on August 11, 2014.