He spent his final years in the home he cherished and painstakingly maintained and shared with his wife, Marilyn. He was bound and determined to go out on his own terms, not in a wheelchair or hospital bed, still getting up each day, one way or another; continuing his uncompromising loyalty to his family.
He was born on July 12,1927 in Vienna, Austria. He and his family moved to Edinboro, Pennsylvania in 1939 where he later attended Edinboro High School. He graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Economics and remained a Nittany Lion to the end.
He met Marilyn Delavern in Erie where they were married on June 14, 1952. They led an enriched life together for 67 years, most of it involving their three children, George Jr., Margie and Mark.
After graduation he served in the U.S. Army in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Following discharge, he worked in Philadelphia as a reporter at the Philadelphia Inquirer. In 1955, he joined the public relations department at General Motors. In his 33 years at GM, he worked in various executive assignments in New York City and Michigan — Pontiac, Detroit (for Chevrolet) and ultimately in Lansing (Oldsmobile). He retired in 1988.
He was a member of the University Club, the Automobile Club of Lansing and GM Salaried Retirees Club.
He spent his retirement caring for his home and yard, reading historical novels and the daily newspaper, playing bridge with friends and faithfully watching Jeopardy every evening (and answering most of the questions correctly!) He was also a Civil War aficionado, visiting many of the major battlefields, some with his son, Mark. He enjoyed travel and maintained a taste for his favorite foods from his childhood, including beef tongue, weissworst, and gooseberry jam.
He will be lovingly remembered by his survivors, including his wife, Marilyn; son, George, Jr. and wife, Kim; son, Mark and wife, Mary Lee; and daughter, Margie Walsh. Also surviving are six grandchildren, George Stephens, III and Katie (Stephens) Cope; Kelly Walsh; Meggie, Connor and Haley Stephens; and two step-granddaughters, Abigail and Brooke Lady.
A celebration of George’s life will be held on December 14 at 11am at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home in East Lansing. Visitation will precede the service, starting at 9:15am.
Memories and condolences may be shared at www.greastlansing.com.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18