He was born on September 9, 1934 in Sykesville, Pennsylvania to the late Lucia (Ferante) and Amerigo DeChurch He grew up in the small town and graduated from Sykesville High School, where he played football; and college from Penn State University. He served briefly in the United States Army. He began a long career with General Electric after graduating and relocated to Louisville, KY, where he met his wife, Patricia Simpson. The couple had five children.
George retired from General Electric after 35 years working primarily as a Labor Relations manager. George was a lifelong musician playing multiple instruments (horns) and singing with the Louisville Bach Society and Master Chorale for 25 years. He formed a vocal jazz quartet called “The Generations,” comprised of members aged from the 30s to the 70s. George had many talents including painting and writing. He wrote a memoir “Memories of Sykesville,” about growing up in a small coal mining town in western Pennsylvania in the 1940s. He painted many works in his lifetime, often depicting birds and landscapes.
George was a cherished husband to his wife of 62 years, Patricia; and devoted father to his five children; and grandfather to seven grandchildren. Survivors left to cherish his memory include his wife, Patricia Ann DeChurch; daughters Lucynda Koesters (Willi, deceased), Julie DeChurch, Elana Harris (Ed), a son, Rick (Katey Perini) and grandchildren, Blasé, Ronin and Ella Harris, Nicholaus, Andrea and Gracina Koesters, and Dimitri DeChurch Silva. He has one remaining living brother, Alfred DeChurch (Phyllis) of Youngstown, OH. He was preceded in death by one son, Thomas Blasé DeChurch; his brother, Lawrence DeChurch, and three sisters, Adeline Matusky, Elsie Maimone and Patricia Clapsaddle.
A visitation and mass will be held at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church, 1395 Girard Drive, Louisville, KY 40222 on Saturday, October 26. Visitation will be from 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM. Mass will be at 10:30 AM, with burial to follow in Calvary Cemetery in Louisville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of George T. DeChurch to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
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