Sammy Joe George, 80, was called home on Thursday, April 25, 2019, at 4:30 p.m. After battling cancer for 2 years he died comfortably at his son’s home in Austin, surrounded by his wife, Nancy, and other family members.
Sammy Joe was born in Marshall, Texas, Feb 20, 1939, to Ada Jo (Pike) and Sam George. As a child, Sam enjoyed hunting and fishing. He graduated from Marshall High School in 1957 and went on to graduate from Texas A&M University in January 1964, with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. While in engineering school he met Nancy Ruth Harris, and they married Dec 19, 1959, in Palestine, Texas, with the Rev. Richard Sparks officiating.
After graduation Sam began his career as a distinguished Mechanical Engineer. Among his many work accomplishments Sam designed the ignition system for the Apollo spacecraft, worked on the side-winder missile, military drones, and was a pioneering architect for streaming magnetic tape drives, plotters, and voice-coil motors.
Sam would tell you his greatest achievements began with his wife Nancy and their children, Lani and Greg, and when he was upgraded to being PaPaw for his 5 grandchildren. He loved every minute of fatherhood and treasured all 5 grandbabies. He was also an eager and avid hobbyist of genealogy. He lived on Ancestry.com for years, completing many generations of research on our combined families.
PaPaw is survived by Nancy George, Lani (George) and Gary Faber, Greg George and Carrie (Wiedenfeld) George, and grandchildren Kelli Faber, Garrett Faber, Taylor Faber, Kendall George and his namesake Sami George.
He is preceded in death by his parents Ada Jo and Sam George, and his sister Mary Alice Peteet. Sammy will be greatly missed by so many, but his sense of humor, commitment to family, work ethic, love and his memory will live on with his family. And family to PaPaw extended to countless others over the years, like his honorary daughter Dr. Donna Bennett and husband Pete Zimmerman, and includes many of his grandchildren’s friends.
The service honoring and celebrating Sam’s life will be held at 1 pm Saturday, May 4, Cook Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home, 9700 Anderson Mill Road, Austin, Texas, 78750. The Reverend Richard Sparks will be performing the service. Viewing and visitation begin at 10 am, the family will be present at noon. He will be laid to rest at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery, on Hancock Drive. Pallbearers include Greg George, Garrett Faber, Taylor Faber, Tyler Tucker, Link Harris, Huntleigh Harris, James Green, Pete Zimmerman, and Eric Tome. Honorary pallbearers will be Tom Bills and Jim Sparks.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenchapelofthehills.com for the George Family.
