Richard E George

Retired Lt. Col. Richard Earl George, 86, of Fort Worth, TX, formerly of Berryville, AR passed away January 16, 2021.  Richard was born March 28, 1934 in Iola, Kansas, son of Harlan and Esther (DuMars) George.

Richard attended his first three years of high school in Norman, Oklahoma and graduated high school from Okmulgee, Oklahoma in 1952.  He attended the University of Oklahoma and joined the U.S. Air Force in February of 1954.

Richard met his wife Gerry Doty for the first time on November 3, 1952 on a triple date.  Their next date came in April 1953, when Gerry came to the University of Oklahoma for training.  On August 11, 1955 they were married in Frederick OK.  Over their sixty- three years of marriage laughter was never a shortage as Richard had a joke for everything.

Richard decided to go into Aviation Cadets as a Navigator (too long a wait for pilot training).  He graduated as Second Lieutenant and received his Navigator Wings on August 9, 1955.  The next 13 ½ years were spent in active duty with the Air Force (February 12, 1954 – April 5, 1967). After 13 months in Goose Bay, Labrador, he qualified for pilot training.  When he returned to the states in October 1957, he finished Pilot Training in November, 1958.  Richard is a veteran of the Vietnam War, where he earned several medals. After a tour with the F-102 aircraft in Vietnam in 1965, he was assigned as an Instructor Pilot in T-33/F102 aircraft at Perrin A.F.B., Texas.  In March 1967, he became a commercial pilot with Braniff International Airlines and flew for them from 1967 – 1984, serving both domestic and international routes. In 1970, Richard joined the Kansas Air National Guard flying F-100’s/F-105’s, then transferred to Carswell A.F.B., Fort Worth, TX flying F-105’s in 1972.  As part of the Reserve, he was eligible for a military retirement in May, 1978 with over 23 years of good service. His primary job until military retirement was the 301 Tactical Fighter Wing Life Support (LSO). After his Braniff days, he received his Bachelor’s in Computer Science from DeVry Institute, serving the next 7 years as a liaison for Lockheed Corp. in Fort Worth, TX, before retiring to the family farm in Berryville, AR.

Richard’s faith and love of God remained the most important part of his life.  He was a member of Berryville Assembly of God Church where he spent endless hours volunteering in many areas including choir, visiting the sick and any area that was needed. His sense of humor and wittiness was always at the forefront.  His hobbies included going to choir practice, Bible study and keeping the schedule up to date on his calendar and/or notecards.

Richard is survived by his children, Deborah George of Fayetteville, Mitzi Hudson and husband Forrest of Cumming, GA, Terri Nix and husband Michael of Fort Worth,  Kimberly Miller and husband Jon of Fort Worth, grandchildren, Angela and Daniel Hogan, Alicia Hudson, Matthew and Denise Nix, Mary Katherine and Drew Bergman, Jonathan and Christy Nix, William Stroud, Austin Stroud, Marissa George, Kaitlin Griffin, Drew and Ali Bicknell and Morgan Miller, great-grandchildren Tyler Porter, Liam Hogan, Ava, Benjamin, Samuel, Josiah and Ella Nix, Lauren Griffin.  He is preceded in death by his wife of 63 years Thelma (Gerry) George, his parents, one son, David George, brother Robert George and Sister Barbara Evans.

Celebration Of Life will be graveside at 11:30 AM, Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at Berryville Memorial Park Cemetery with Pastor Keith Butler officiating.  Military honors will be provided by Little Rock Air Force Base. Visitation will be 10:00 AM-11:00 AM at Smith Family Funeral Home Chapel.

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