W. Michael George

W. Michael (“Buddy”) George went to his eternal reward for a life well-lived on Palm Sunday, March 28, 2010. Mike was a strong man inside and out. He had a big heart and will be missed tremendously by his family and many friends. Mike was born May 19, 1921, in Spring Valley, Ill., to Kalil Assef George and Delia Haney George, both immigrants from Lebanon. In the late 1920s, he moved with his family to Toledo, where he lived for the rest of his life. Mike grew up on Huron Street in the North End, where he made many lifelong friends. He was an original member of Kappa Chi Fraternity, which he helped found in 1938 with a group of Lebanese-American friends. The men of Kappa Chi met regularly for more than 60 years, and the bonds Mike forged with his fraternity brothers meant a great deal to him. Mike attended Stickney School and graduated in 1940 from Macomber-Whitney Vocational High School. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas. He was honorably discharged in 1943 after being seriously injured in a Jeep accident. Mike was a proud member of the Conn-Weissenberger American Legion Post 587. After his military service, Mike worked at the Toledo Jeep plant and at Toledo Scale. He worked for the Superior Overall Laundry Co. as a delivery driver for 30 years, retiring at the end of 1984. For about 10 years after retiring, Mike was a part-time pharmacy courier for Toledo Hospital. Mike married the love of his life, Mary Tzanakis George, on May 21, 1960, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral. They were blessed with more than 47 happy years together, until Mary's passing Feb. 4, 2008. Mike and Mary were longtime members of St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church. Mike served on the Parish Council, helped maintain the church building and grounds, and enjoyed butchering and skewering meat for the annual St. Elias Lamb Roast. His Christian faith was steadfast and strong. Mike is survived by his daughter, Susan George Murphy; son-in-law, Stephen Murphy; and grandchildren, Gina and Adam Murphy. He was preceded in death by his beloved son, Robert; brother, Dalour; and sister, Margaret Hartje. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Ansberg-West Funeral Home, 3000 West Sylvania Ave., with Trisagion prayers at 6 p.m. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, 4940 Harroun Rd., Sylvania, the Very Rev. Fr. Paul Albert presiding. Burial will be in Toledo Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tenn., 38105, or Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 321 Monastery Lane, Ellwood City, Pa., 16117-6531. The family wishes to express special thanks to the staff at Franciscan Care Center for their loving care of Mike during his final months.

W. Michael George

May 19, 1921 - March 28, 2010