George was born on December 5th of 1921, in Brookline, Massachusetts to George Alfonsis Earley and Mary Margaret O’Brien. He grew up a long side his younger brother Richard and graduated from the Boston Latin School in 1941.
George enrolled at Harvard University in 1941 with the class of 1945 but interrupted his education to enlist in the United States Army during World War II. He entered the war through the Mediterranean Sea landing in Marseille, France. He served with 70th Infantry Division which quickly moved to the front lines in the Allies drive of German forces through the Rhone River Valley, north through Lorraine and Alsace and finally into Germany to join the final offensive to end the war. After VE Day he served in the Army of Occupation in Germany. He later attended the University of Glasgow, Scotland for the fall term of 1945 as part of a program sponsored by the United Kingdom to help repay U.S. soldiers for American assistance during the war.
After returning from Europe, George completed his degree and graduated from Harvard University in 1948. He spent the next few years working for a public relations firm across the United States before deciding on a career in social work. He enrolled in Boston College during which time he met Marcia Elmira Charest. They were married on May 25, 1957. He continued with his studies and received his Masters Degree from Boston College School of Social Work in 1958. He first resided in Worcester and worked for the Massachusetts Division of Child Guardianship for several years and learned about life as it is “lived” by the several thousand neglected children in the Commonwealth. The vast majority of his professional career was spent at the U.S. Veterans Administration Hospital in Jamaica Plain, Boston. He and Marcia raised five children in Holliston, MA. George worked in many medical specialties and was coordinator for services to the hospitalized blind veterans and hospital based home care. He also supervised graduate social work students and undergraduate case aids from local universities. He realized great professional and personal satisfaction serving fellow U.S. veterans who made physical and emotional sacrifices in the service of their country. He remained in military service in the Army Reserve in the Infantry and later in the Medical Service Corps. He finally retired from the Army Reserve as a Major. He retired from the U.S. Veterans Administration Hospital with Marcia to their summer home in North Eastham, Masssachusetts.
George dedicated his life’s work to the service and care of others, as Lector and Eucharistic Minister at St. Mary’s Parish in Holliston and with veterans throughout his career at the U.S. Veterans Administration Hospital in Jamaica Plain. He is fondly remembered as a caring, compassionate and selfless man who was always willing to help those in need.
He is survived by his four sons; George R. Earley Jr of Holliston, MA; Brian A. Earley of Franklin, MA; John F. Earley of Northborough, MA; Michael J. Earley of Southborough, MA; and his daughter, Marianne Earley of North Eastham, MA, their spouses, 8 grand children and dear friend Marjorie Sandblom.
A wake will be held at Nickerson Funeral Home in Orleans, MA from 3-6 PM on Sunday, November 18, 2012. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Joan of Arc Church in Orleans, MA on Monday, November 19th at 11 AM, followed by a burial service at 2:15 PM at the National Memorial Cemetery in Bourne, Massachusetts.
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