George William Timms

George William Timms, age 82, passed away unexpectedly in Helotes, Texas on August 17, 2023. George was born in Cando, North Dakota on April 5, 1941, to the late Harold G. Timms and Gladys Smith Timms. He grew up on a large farm with 3 brothers and 2 sisters.

While in high school, George joined the National Guard and was stationed at Camp Grafton, located near Devil’s Lake, North Dakota. After graduating high school in 1959, George pursued his desire to become a baker. He began honing his craft while working in both Devil’s Lake and Minot, North Dakota. While at Cox’s Bakery in Minot, he met the love of his life, Joan Catherine Swan, and they married in June of 1961. Shortly after, they were transferred to Grand Forks, North Dakota. While there, George and Joan had two children, Barry and Lisa.

In 1963, George was promoted and asked to manage Cox’s Bakery in Mesquite, Texas. The bakery was located inside Big Town Mall which was the first enclosed mall in the Southwest. During this time, they had two more children, Julie and Tricia. After the closing of Cox’s, George went to work for Safeway as a Bakery Supervisor for its in-store bakeries. George and Joan, not quite done with having children in the home, adopted a teenage son, Grady, in 1976. In 1981, George was named Director of Bakery/Deli Operations for Minyard Food Stores in Coppell, Texas. After more than 30 years’ experience as a scratch baker and industry veteran, George led Minyard’s to become the 1985 In-Store Bakery of the Year. He also served as vice-chair and chairman of the Retail Bakers of America. In 1986, George led the Supermarket Bakery Conference as the key-note speaker on the importance of attracting others to the bakery field and keeping those already in it. Being recognized for his efforts in the bakery industry was a huge accomplishment and highlight of his lengthy career.

After retiring and living in Mesquite for 42 years, George and Joan decided to move to a quieter part of Texas. In 2006, Longview became their hometown. After the death of his beloved wife in 2022, he decided to move to the Hill Country of Texas to be with his daughter Julie and son-in-law Wes.

Throughout George’s life, he found joy in both his family and his friends, collecting toy trucks and tractors, his John Deere collection (both small and large), tinkering on anything mechanical in his shop, baking all kinds of desserts, listening to Elvis music, and watching westerns on the television.

George William Timms was a caring son and brother, devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, and a friend to many.

George is preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Gladys Timms (Cando, ND), brother Donald Timms and wife Verna (Newark, OH), brother Robert Timms (Cando, ND), and his loving wife of 61 years, wife Joan Catherine Swan Timms (Breckenridge, MN).

He is survived by two sons and their wives, Barry and Shirley Timms (St. Louis, MO) and Grady and Linda Timms (Dallas, TX), his three daughters and their husbands, Lisa and Ali Abbad (Amman, Jordan), Julie and Wes Allred (Helotes, TX) and Tricia and John Michael Red Fox (Corpus Christi, TX). George is also survived by his sisters Karen Shadrick (Great Falls, MT) and Cindy Timms (Devil’s Lake, ND), and brother Gary and wife Mary Timms (Cando, ND), and his sister-in law Norma Timms (Cando, ND). George also is survived by 14 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.