(1938) Russell Linus George is born in Rice Lake, Wisconsin to Russell Curtis George and Evelyn Aura DeMars George boasting a full head of blonde hair (1939) Russ’s father nicknamed his first born son “Skipper-Bell: which soon becomes “Skip” and is still today the name he is called by family and early friends (1945) The George family moves to Fairview, Oregon to work at the Reynolds Aluminum plant (1948) With a new brother Richard Allen added to the family, the George’s move to Davis Street in Portland and Russ’s Auto Laundry is established as the family business (1952) “Skip” graduates from Buckman Grade School and begins his high school studies at the “All-Boys” Benson Polytechnic as a Carpentry Major (1955) A 1948 “Fix-it” up Chevrolet becomes Russ’s big project and is soon a famed “Benson Buggy.” Titian Red in color, beautifully striped and equipped with all the bells, sirens and horns, the blue-eyed blonde blue-suede-shoed “Skip” makes quite a hit dragging Broadway on the weekends. A neighbor Barbara Caldwell sends a Valentine greeting to Skip which soon leads to “going steady” together (1956) Skip graduates from Benson High ready to begin a carpentry career but a change of interest leads him to work with the US Army Corps of Engineers at the Bonneville Dam Lab and soon after he took leave to seek admission to Portland State College to study geology. Geology leads to Civil Engineering and Russ settles into serious studies (1960) As a college junior, the 22 year old Skip marries Barbara and with the help of their dads, they make their first home in a “mobile” in Corvallis and Russ works to finish his engineering degree at Oregon State University. With studies complete, the first of four children arrive; (1962) John Russell (1963) Marianne Lynn (1965) Kathleen Claire and (1966) Michael Edward (1967) Russ completes his first five years of service to the Corps of Engineers in the Portland District Office Reservoir Control Center located in the Customs House in downtown Portland (1970) brings new interest in Russ’s life as the children join in Little League, AAU Swimming, Water Polo, Drama and other school related activities. As President of the Shaver School PTA and the Parkrose Swim Club, Skip performs well. He serves on the Mt. Hood Community College Aquatic Advisory Committee and assists in the decision which lead to Olympic qualified Aquatic Center in East Multnomah County (1975) John becomes a teenager and is soon followed by his siblings who turn the George household into a beehive of friends and fun (1980) One high school graduation after another fills these years (1984) Russ is assigned to a special project with the Corps of Engineers in Washington, DC for several months. The cross-country trip and work led to a visit to New York City and a love for the “Big Apple” is added to his list of favorite places (1985) begins a procession of weddings followed by a “Grand” litter of eight grand children to whom our Skip aka Russ becomes “PaPa” (1988) Alex Michael George is born followed by his sister Abby Elizabeth George (who arrives on her older brother’s birthday), Jordan Russell Zinsli make his world entrance just days after Christmas followed by his brother Jacob Dylan Zinsli and cousin Austin Hamilton George (just eight days later) (1994) Samuel Lawrence Zinsli emerges and in (1996) Tucker Michael George is welcomed and Russ retires from the Corps of Engineers (1997) President is inaugurated for a second term and Russ with Barbara participates in all the events including the Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C. (1998) Russ develops an engineering consulting practice Water Management Consultants with added identity as “RG Waterman”. The practice allows him to share commuting with Barbara as her work takes her to New York City and Russ is travelling to Canada, Texas, Idaho, Kansas and many trips with family to spend time in New York City (1999) Taylor Thomas George rounds out the grandchildren and with just one granddaughter in the clan….the boys identify themselves as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs….(2000) Russ continues his consulting and finds time to get to many OSU Beaver games and join friends in the Tail Gate customs to root on his beloved team… Grandchildren begin their post high school studies Alex as a ParaMedic, Abby as a Biomedical Engineer (MS Cornell University in Ithaca, New York) Jordan in Computer Engineering at University of Denver, Austin as a Mechanical Engineer Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (2010) two grandsons follow “PaPa’s” legacy and become students at OSU, Jacob as an Environmental Engineer and French major and brother Sam majors in Theater Arts and French. Papa becomes involved in the Portland Argay Terrace neighborhood as a member of the committee to build the Lewitt Park and through all these years, he found time to “fish” and troll for Salmon in his hardy “Reel George” boat. Smoking the Salmon he caught, PaPa loved to share his catch with his admiring family (2013) Graduations and many meet ups with these aspiring engineering students kept “PaPa Russ” up to date and deeply supportive of engineering education (2014) By now the George Family expands with the blending of two special grandchildren Josie and Alex Anderson, twin great grandchildren Audrey Lynn, Christopher James and (2017) the family grows again with Alex and wife Jessica bringing Elle, Max and their son Oliver Austin to join increasing the grands and greats census to fifteen! So loved by Papa ….each and everyone and did they love him. Always the smile and the warmth that only his love and life strengthened day to day. Tucker continues studies begun at Linfield College and Taylor completed his Basic Training in the Air Force the weekend his PaPa passed. October 22, 2017 is the day that the family gathered around PaPa for the last time …those away were near with the “devices” of the day. As we said our goodbyes, felt his warm touch, found his lips pursed when approached for a kiss, he let go and though we hang on to every shred of life we shared with him, we believe he is at peace with his God and remains within our hearts, our memories and love and life we shared with him. We are blessed with his life and his love for every one of us and all of his friends and colleagues. He carried everyone in his heart and all close in thought and prayer.

The family all residing in Portland/Vancouver are: (other locations for family noted)

WIFE: Barbara Caldwell George

SONS AND DAUGHTERS:
John Russell George and wife Jackie
Marianne Lynn George Neil
Kathleen Claire George Zinsli and husband Larry Zinsli
Michael Edward George

GRANDCHILDREN:
Alex Michael George and wife Jessica
Abby Elizabeth George Lee and husband Kevin Lee of San Jose, California
Austin Hamilton George and wife Virginia, Santa Rosa, California

Jordan Russell George of Denver, Colorado
Jacob Dylan Zinsli
Samuel Lawrence Zinsli

Tucker Michael George
Taylor Thomas George
Alex Anderson
Josie Anderson

GREAT GRANDCHILDREN:
Twins: Audrey Lynn and Christopher James Nagle
Elle Elizabeth Rose
Max Aaron Geislinger
Oliver Austin George

BROTHER: Richard Allen and wife Carolyn

SISTER IN LAW: Carole Anne Anderson and husband Donald Anderson

BROTHERS IN LAW:
Frank Caldwell
John Caldwell and wife Sandy – Westport, Washington

NIECES AND NEPHEWS:
Lindsey George and husband Jeff Helbling
Estella Helbling + Rest in Peace in God, O little Precious One
Who Welcomes Her Uncle Skip into Eternal Life
Kristina George and Jason Longeria
Gabriella Longeria
Joseph Longeria

Jay Caldwell – Helena, Montana
James Caldwell – Brooklyn, New York
Emma Lee Caldwell – Bozeman, Montana
Lily Ann Caldwell – East Helena, Montana

Katherine Caldwell Anderson
Nicholas Caldwell Anderson

GRATEFUL APPRECIATION
TO ALL WHO HAVE SUPPORTED AND GUIDED THE GEORGE FAMILY….

St. Francis of Assisi Parish – The Rev. Chuck Lienert, Pastor and Karen Mathew, Music Director

REMEMBRANCES OF SUPPORT ARE WELCOMED FOR:

St. Francis of Assisi Parish – 1131 SE Oak St., Portland, OR 97214

College of Engineering – Oregon State University – 101 Covell Hall – Corvallis, OR 97331

Benson Polytechnic High School – 546 NE 12th Ave., Portland, OR 97232

The Healing of the Nations – The Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., President
c/o of Union Theological Seminary – 3041 Broadway – New York, NY 10027

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon – 0245 SW Bancroft, Portland, OR 97201

Queen of Angels Monastery – 840 S. Main St., Mt. Angel, OR 97362

Funeral

11:00 AM ,Monday, November 6, 2017
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
1131 SE Oak Street Portland, OR 97214
Notes: The Rev. Elwin Schwab is the Celebrant and The Rev. James A. Forbes, Jr. of New York City will be the Guest Preacher. All are welcome to the funeral. Everyone is welcome to a reception following the service at The Madeleine on 24th and Siskiyou.