On Friday, June 26, 2020, at 95 years of age, George H Best went home to be with the Lord. George was born on September 5, 1924 in Sarasota to Ira and Alva (Fortner) Best. He spent most of his childhood in Winter Haven, moving to Tampa in 1938. He was a graduate of H B Plant High School in 1943 and was immediately drafted into the Army. After basic training in Macon, Ga., he was stationed in Camp Crowder Missouri, quickly moving up the ranks to First Sergeant. He met his wife, Carrleen Crews Best, in Auburndale, FL while on leave. After being discharged from the Army in March 1946, they were married April 13, 1946, and they remained married until her death in 2016. George was a graduate of the University of Tampa. After graduating from college he worked in sales for Tampa Paper Company and then Kellogg’s. He ultimately landed in sales in the automobile business and that’s where he found his niche. He subsequently opened his own business in South Tampa in 1979 until his retirement in 2005. He was a member of Bayshore Baptist Church and served in many capacities most importantly as a Deacon. He loved the Florida Gators, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Tampa Bay Rays. He was known for his love of the Lord and respected for his strong opinions. George was preceded in death by his wife, Carrleen, and his daughter Nancy Turner. He is survived by 3 daughters, Sue (Keith Figman), Julie (Albert Lauro) and Beverly (Tom Saban), 9 grandchildren Sherri Carnes (Sue), Angela Maitland (Nancy), Amy Lauro, Jacquelyn Doherty , and Albert, Jr. (Julie), and Christopher, Louis, Sarah, and Lorraine Saban (Beverly). He has 11 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. The family will have a private ceremony at Turner Funeral Home in Spring Hill. In lieu of flowers please send donations to HPH Hospice 3010 W Azeele Street, Suite 120, Tampa, FL 33609, online at https://lifepathhospice.chaptershealth.org/HPHGeneralDonation or Bayshore Baptist Church, 3111 Morrison Ave., Tampa, Florida 33609, online at https://pushpay.com/g/bayshorebaptistchurch?src=hpp.
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