THOMAS EUGENE GEORGE, JR.
Thomas Eugene George, Jr. of Toronto, died on Saturday, July 16, 2022, at Stormont Vail Hospital, in Topeka, at the age of 89.
He was born December 20, 1932, in Benton, Kansas, the son of Thomas Eugene, Sr. and Mary Adella (Lang) George. He attended schools in Benton, Toronto, Chanute, and Neal. Tom graduated from Neal High School with the Class of 1950. After his schooling, he was drafted into the United States Army and was stationed in El Paso, Texas. After being discharged, Tom attended Wichita University and worked at Boeing Aircraft.
On December 29, 1954, Tom was united in marriage to Mila June Hanson at the Neal United Methodist Church. Tom and Mila made their home in California where he was a carpenter installing cabinets and later owned and operated his own shop. Tom was active at Orangethorpe Christian Church.
After returning to Kansas in 1969, he took a job with Williams Pipeline as a Technician. Tom built their home in Nortonville, Kansas. He retired from Williams in 1995. They moved to Toronto Lake where he built their home there as well. He also built a weekend and summer home south of Neal. They spent many days at Neal where he could hunt, fish, watch deer and other wildlife, drive his tractor, backhoe, and putter around in his Gator.
Tom loved his dogs and had several over the years. He watched a lot of football and basketball. Tom played basketball in high school. Family and friends visited many times and holidays were celebrated at their homes for years.
He was a member of the ARRA Association, and the Yates Center American Legion #13. Tom & Mila put out flags on Memorial Day at the Neal Cemetery for many years.
Tom was baptized at the Neal Methodist Church and reaffirmed baptism at Woodlawn Christian Church in Wichita. After retiring he attended church in Neal.
Tom had many friends and loved seeing them all. He liked to go to coffee in Toronto where he caught up on things with the guys. He had a big heart and was always involved with helping whenever he could. Ask, and he’d be there.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mila of the home; two sisters, Vessie Gulick of Reece; and Margaret Wyer of Eureka; many nieces and nephews; great-nieces and nephews; and special friends, John Parrott and David McLean. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Frank George, Sr.; one sister, Grace Williams; two brothers-in-law, Duane Gulick, and Robert Williams; one sister-in-law, Violet George; two nephews, Dale Anderson, and T.J. Suchy; and three infant nephews. Tom loved his family dearly and we will all miss him as we all loved him.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, July 23, 2022, at Koup Family Funeral Home, in Eureka with Pastor Warren Olson of the Oatville Community Church officiating. Interment will follow at Neal Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions may be made to the Neal Community Building. Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home, PO Box 595, Eureka KS 67045, which is overseeing arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family online, at koupfunerals.com.