George R Krois

George Robert Krois passed away peacefully on October 20, 2011 in Greenwich where he was born. His beloved wife Lynn was at his side, as she was for 44 years of marriage and through a week of comforting visits by many of his family and friends.

George leaves his wife Lynn, daughters Deborah Lynn and Deborah Helen, granddaughters Allison and Tammis, great-grandsons Brendan, Tyler and Ayden, plus their respective spouses, siblings and relatives. He also leaves countless friends around the world but concentrated near Greenwich and the Burning Tree Country Club.

His final written request was that all who loved him make a charitable or kind act with his memory in mind.

Memorial mass will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 12, 2011 at St. Mary Church on Greenwich Avenue.

George Krois’ life was filled with devotion, love and service:

He was devoted to the church, his family, his country and his golf.

He loved his dear friends, many of whom still reside in Greenwich and were able to offer personal support during his sudden decline from robust health. Even the Boston Red Sox remained on his “loved” list as they ended their season.

He served his country as an officer and pilot of the B-17 “Flying Fortress” in the Army Air Corps during World War II.

He was a founding member of Burning Tree Country Club – a swamp before improvements began in 1964 – whose membership and reputation stand as his memorial.

George was born on March 20, 1921 in Byram, Connecticut, to Theresa and Max Krois, the second-youngest of nine children. His father died when George was three, leaving his elder brother Max who was then 14 to head the family. They endured hard times with faith, love, and the American work ethic of the Greatest Generation.

George, a star high school athlete, was recruited by the Boston Red Sox while serving in the Army Air Corps (forerunner of the combined-services Air Force). He flew as a Captain and bomber pilot on numerous missions, ending by flying supplies to European forces that were even then rebuilding a continent.

Upon his honorable discharge George attended the University of Connecticut and was graduated in Civil Engineering. His major led to a job at Union Carbide where he worked 39 years until retirement in 1985.

George’s work at Union Carbide in sales of large-scale, technical industrial projects led him to travel the world when such travel was pioneering, romantic and requiring of an indefatigable spirit: perfectly suiting his personality.

George married Lynn Wolf on April 14, 1967, uniting two families with daughters coincidentally named Deborah and Deborah. Someone in the family commented that George was so frugal that he would never waste a new name when a good used one were available, the same way he and Lynn seldom wasted music without dancing or singing along.

George was never burdened by shyness. He could dance well, sing well, joke well, and would delight in doing so. His family remembers huddling around him every week during church services so his clear tenor voice would overarch their joyful noise. With Lynn as a partner, they showed several generations the elegance and expressiveness of classic dance styles.

Lynn and George were married 44 years at George’s passing. They were inseparable in life. Lynn knows that in God’s grace, at a time and in a place beyond our understanding, they will be reunited.