George W. Dayhoff

George graduated from Ball High School in Galveston, TX. He received an Engineering degree from the University of Wyoming at Laramie WY and a Business Degree with a double major in Finance and Real Estate/Urban Development from the University of Texas at Austin TX.

In July 1952 he entered the United States Air Force through the aviation cadet program and on August 1st, 1953 he received his Pilot Wings and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. Also, on that date and more importantly, he married the love of his life and co-adventurer Sara Irene Hayworth at Saint Mark's Episcopal Church in Houston TX.

During his service in the United States Air Force he served as Pilot, Minuteman Missile Launch Commander and Senior Logistics Plans and Programs Staff Officer. George was qualified to fly both fixed wing and rotary type aircraft. He flew C-47, C-119 and C-130 transport aircraft and was an instructor and organizational test pilot for the H-13G and H-19B rescue helicopters. He participated in the 1954 H bomb tests (Operation Castle) in the South Pacific and in 1957 was a member of the on-site team that did the final survey for the extension of the Distant Early Warning Line across the ice cap of Greenland (Operation Look See). In 1958 he was awarded the Sikorski Wing S Rescue Award for a difficult rescue mission he performed as a pilot of an H-19B helicopter. While assigned to the 90th Strategic Missile Wing at F. E. Warren AFB Wyoming, his crew S-077, was constantly rated in the top 10% of over 150 crews within the wing and was awarded the coveted rating of Select Crew. He retired from the United States Air Force with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Following retirement from the Air Force he accepted a position as Vice President for Field Operations with Texas Share Guaranty Credit Union, a cooperative deposit insurer for over 350 credit unions chartered by the state of Texas. George was promoted to Senior Vice President and then President before retiring in 1993.

Early in his Air Force career both George and Sara developed a love and appreciation for travel and throughout their life together traveled extensively. Their travels took them to countries on 6 of the 7 continents and that love of travel and adventure continued well into their golden years. George had several hobbies, but perhaps the ones he received the greatest enjoyment from besides traveling were growing Cattleya orchids in a greenhouse he built, tracing his family's genealogy, and watching his granddaughter Nicole grow up to be the beautiful person she is today. He always looked forward to trips to Atlanta to watch Nicole and her teammates compete in softball and swimming. He considered himself very blessed and honored to have had Sara his wonderful wife and unwavering supporter for 61 years, Joyce his second wife who brought happiness in his later years, Jay, Diane and Nicole his son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter, and Jo Lynn, his daughter who shared his love for animals in his life.

He is predeceased by his first wife, Sara, his second wife Joyce, his father George, mother Elizabeth and younger brothers Eldred and Allan. He is survived by his son Jay Fred Dayhoff and his wife Diane, daughter Jo Lynn Dayhoff and granddaughter Nicole (Max) Block. He is also survived by sisters Elizabeth Wilhelm, Lenora (Pino) Farinola, Susan Storzum and sister-in-law Barbara Clendenin.

A memorial service celebrating George’s life will be held at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home on Saturday February 1, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in George's memory be made to those working to cure Parkinson disease (i.e., Parkinson's Foundation, American Parkinson Disease Association, Michael J Fox Foundation) or to your local pet rescue group as pets give so much and expect so little in return.