Clyde Fred George ^{2 3 4}

  General Notes:

Source: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, March 18, 1984
Source: Three separate obituaries

Rifle native, Clyde Fred George, 30239 U.S. 6 & 24, died at 5:15 p.m. Friday, March 16, 1984, at Clagett Memorial Hospital in Rifle following a long illness. He was 68.

Mr. George was born Jan. 19, 1916, at the family home on Rifle Creek. He attended the Rifle schools. Prior to his military service, he worked on the family ranch. On March 10, 1941 he was inducted into the U.S. Army and served until November 5, 1945 when he was honorable discharged. He served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations, including Hawaii after Pearl Harbor, and at various Army forts and camps in the United States. He discharged as a First Sergeant. He served most of his time as a drill sergeant in Texas.

After marrying, he and Ola moved to Glenwood Springs for a year where he worked for the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service of the US Department of Agriculture. Later he entered into a ranching partnership with his father and brother Burt on Rifle Creek.

The family sold their ranch interest in 1957 and Clyde entered into service with the Bureau of Soil Conservation Service, serving in Rifle and Glenwood Springs before retiring in 1978 after 22 years. While serving as a soil conservation engineer technician he received several merit certificates.

In 1958 Clyde and Ola bought the Antlers [Colorado] Store which they operated until 1969. He had been an Honorary Chapter Member of the Future Farmers of America for several years and also had been a 4-H leader, receiving the Silver Clover 4-H Award. As a young man, he helped with the building of the community house and campgrounds at Rifle Mountain Park and helped build trails up Ward Gulch. He helped organize the Bookcliff, Sopris, and South Side Conservation Service districts. After his retirement, he assisted local ranchers with their conservation practices. He had been a CETA leader at the airport. He was a long time member of the Rifle Lodge #1345 Loyal Order of the Moose.

Services were held at 2 p.m. Monday at the United Methodist-Presbyterian Church in Rifle by Rev. Lonnie R. Eakle. The Sowder Funeral Home handled the burial. Clyde was buried in the Rifle Moose Cemetery.

Survivors include his wife, Ola Henson, of long view Texas, his two sons, James T. George of Glenwood Springs and Ray D. George of Saguache; six brothers, Clarence "Bud" George, Cedaredge, Burt George, Gypsum, Walter and Dale "Curly" George, Rifle, Bill George, Grand Saline, Texas, and Gene George, Grand Junction. Also surviving are one sister, Annie Randolph, Rifle, and three grandchildren.

The following is a poem written by his coworkers to honor Clyde when he retired in 1978 from the BSCS. It was dated April 21, 1978.

There's a man upon whom the field office has always relied;
Of course, everyone knows that the man is Clyde

Whenever there's a question about a field location, we've cried,
"I don't know, but why don't you check with Clyde"

When the farmers and ranchers have something big to decide,
They wander in the office, gaze around, then ask, "Where's Clyde?"

Of course, when the Warrent Officer comes around Clyde wanted to hide
'Cause no one likes to go to court, not even our man, Clyde

The lunch table won't be the same without this man by our side,
For we all have thrived on the tales told by our friend Clyde.

He's been our rock and his experience, a most valuable guide
For DC's conservationists and technicians - - - they've all relied on Clyde

When the SCD secretary was stumped, she would always abide
By the answer and opinion expressed by that patient man, Clyde.

Even the ASCS office crew often must confide,
"I can't answer that question until I've talked to Clyde"

And now that Clyde is retiring after more than 22 years, it can't be denied,
The Glenwood Springs field office will be panic-ville without our man Clyde

To put our deep feelings for you into words, in vain we've all tried,
But we hope you know that we'll all miss our fantastic friend, Clyde
H A P P Y R E T I R E M E N T

(And don't be a stranger Drop in often)

Gene Homer George documented the following interesting story about Clyde.

Clyde was told of going to the Grandparent George's home at the Wilder place on Rifle Creek for Christmas the year he was in first grade. As the day went on he became extremely ill with the flu. Rather than take him back home he was left with the Grandparents to recuperate and spent the remainder of the school vacation with them. On the morning he was to return to school the only way to the bus was horseback. It was extremely cold so the Grandparents wrapped his body with newspaper and then put on his clothes. He was put on a horse bareback to ride the 6 miles alone and told "when you reach the bus take the bridle off the horse and put it in the mail box, the horse will go on home." He made it without incident but said it was certainly a lesson in fear.

Farms, crops, horses and cattle were his interests in life. He also greatly enjoyed the high country and hunting, but probably his greatest love was that for children; there was always time for them.

Social Security had his last residence as Rifle, Garfield County, Colorado. ⁴

  Additional Information:

• Military Service: Sgt, US Army during World War II, Between 10 Mar 1941 and 5 Nov 1945, Southwest Pacific during World War II. ⁶

Clyde married Ola Henson, daughter of John Tilman Henson and Lorena Belle Mayes, on 5 Feb 1945 in Longview, Harrison County, Texas.¹ (Ola Henson was born on 22 Mar 1913 in Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma,^{1 4} died on 24 Nov 2002 in Glenwood Springs, Garfield County, Colorado ¹ and was buried in Moose Lodge Section, Rose Hill Cemetery, Rifle, Garfield County, Colorado ^{4 8}.)