George E. Hadaway

George E. Hadaway was born in San Diego, California on January 28, 1952 to parent's George E and Jeannette I. Hadaway. George was the youngest of 6 children known as the wild bunch. His siblings are Jeannette, Carlos, John, Michele, and Walter. George has joined his parents and brother's Carlos and John in Heaven. It must have been a comfort for George to be reunited with his parents and his older brothers whom he missed very much.

George grew up and went to school in San Diego. He would tell stories of him walking through the alleys and eating fruit right from the trees that hung over the fences. George pursued his love for gemology, which he learned from his Mother who was self-taught. He would cut and polish all types of stones and made many beautiful pieces of jewelry he gave away. George was very good at geography and history. He was a man who read national geographic cover to cover from 1970 until 2022. George was a man who knew every map and in which book they were in from his collection. His National Geographic collection was donated to a teacher for the school library here in Arizona.

After high school, George worked as a stagehand for several months doing stage production for a local theater company building props and sets. George enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he fought during the Vietnam conflict and called in the air strikes, along with jumping out of a perfectly good flying airplanes and helicopters, as he would say. There was one instance where his parachute didn't open, a tree and the radio pack on his back broke his fall. George never took anything for granted and realized he was very lucky to have survived. George wrote about his experiences in Vietnam as he was writing a book. After finding a copy of it buried in a drawer and started reading it, I couldn't put it down. George never spoke much about his experiences there and that was his way of giving account of what happened during that time. He attended and graduated the Airmen's academy and NCO Leadership School. George was certified as an F4, F-15 and F-16 mechanic. He received his certification for canopy rigging. George assisted in Crash Investigation for the Air Force, was the noncommissioned officer in charge of support and supply for 2 squadrons and worked accounting and finance for the 550th TES Silver Eagle's Squadron in Japan before retiring. He was also certified as a forklift operator and a F.O.D specialist. George was a man of many talents, which he never really spoke of or elaborated on.

He traveled the world and went to some very interesting places. Thailand, Spain, Turkey and Japan, to name a few. He would learn about local cultures, could speak enough of the language to get by and take took some amazing photographs. One of the photo's he took in Spain his Brother Carlos did and oil painting from the photo, which George has to this day. He's reunited with Carlos in heaven and I'm sure Carlos is showing him the ropes up there. One of his assignments was to be stationed in Las Vegas, Nevada assigned to Nellis, AFB.

In Las Vegas, is where George met Lynnmarie. She would become is wife, given the fact he was lovingly told she wouldn't be good for him and she wasn't the right one, by someone very close to him. George followed his heart and didn't listen to the loving advice he was given and married Lynnmarie. Turned out to be the best decision of his life, as they spent 36 and a half years together. She was there until the very end like she had promised she would be. After George's assignment was up at Nellis Air Force Base, he was re-assigned back to Luke AFB Arizona where he owned a home. George and Lynnmarie would spend the next 4 years in Phoenix. Once George re-enlisted after making the rank of Master Sergeant E-7, he received orders to Okinawa, Japan. After 4 years in Japan, they returned to the states back to Phoenix, so George could retire out of Luke and this was his 3rd assignment there. After retirement, George was hired and went to work for Graham Packaging. The plant wasn't even finished being built when he was hired. He literally built and set up the parts room.

George spent the next 25 years working at Graham. He was a very dedicated employee, taking his job duties and responsibilities seriously. George would pass every inspection, was always there to help and he made some good friends while there. He made very good career choices in his life and Graham was one of those. George was truly a very hard worker, dedicated and prided himself on never being late and always striving for that perfect attendance. He was truly a model employee. The company threw George a very nice retirement party and when he came home, he told us all about it with tears in his eyes. He loved it there and it showed. The actions of his fellow employees, friends and supervision really touched George deeply, as he was never really one to show much emotion.

George will be missed by so many. Lynnmarie who took care of him to the end, his best friend Manuel of 25 years, his Mother in Law Bernice, Sister Jeannette and her beau Von of San Diego, his brother Walter and his loving wife JoLee of Chino Valley, his Sister Clara "Michele" of Youngtown, Sister-in-Law Nancy of Fountain Hills, Nephew's Jason, Anthony, Steven and Nieces Holly, Mary Beth, Corey, Kryis and great nieces and nephews he didn't get a chance to meet. He will be missed by friends and co-workers at Graham and everyone who knew him. George was a man of stoic character, quiet and with a very dry sense of humor. When he did make a joke with a straight face, it would have everyone laughing hysterically because it was so darn funny.

George would not want us to be sad or have tears but that is a tall order to fill. If nothing else always remember George, talk about him and his stories or experiences you've had with him that way his memory will live on forever and he will never be forgotten. It's said that God only takes the best and he must have needed another angel up there. I'm sure the heavenly gates were opened without a doubt so he could go to heaven and watch over all of us from there. One thing we should all be truly thankful for is in his final days he was at peace and at home where he wanted to be. George always knew that no matter what, no matter how hard it was for Lynnmarie, she would keep her promise and that was to take care of him at home until the end of his life and she did just that.

ALS is very rare. It's not a disease for the weak, that is for sure. George's ALS was a result of his military service. George didn't die in Vietnam but he did pass away as a direct result from his military service to this country. He loved this country and fought for it. He believed in freedom, he believed in the good fight and most all of all he was always true to his country. Losing George just leaves a big space of emptiness that we have asked God to fill with peace, love and understanding. I know George would want everyone to be at peace. I also know that George understood and knew he was loved, cared about and never alone. I know if it was possible for George to personally thank everyone who made a donation in his honor no matter how large or small to the ALS Society Arizona Chapter he would surely have done that. On George's behalf thank you all from the bottom of our hearts, we love and appreciate you all. Every dollar raised will hopefully bring the ALS Society closer to finding a cure for this rare and incurable disease. May George's memory be eternal.