George R. Ochsner

George Robert Ochsner was born in Marshall, Missouri, to Mabel and Oliver Ochsner in 1931 – sparking a long debate of whether it is pronounced Missour-a or Missour-e (II’s Missour-a). While Oliver was about sauerkraut and all things German, Mabel balanced things out with a beautiful gentility, giving George the best of both worlds.

Oliver’s job with the Army Corps of Engineers forced the family to move A LOT and George to attend schools in Banning, Long Beach and L.A. before enrolling in Dorsey High School in 1947. Although gifted in math and anything quantitative, George was most interested in the Dorsey Dons baseball team and his time on the mound. He spent many an afternoon rooting for the Los Angeles Angels and Hollywood Stars at Gilmore Field, and was elated when the Brooklyn Bums moved West in 1958, sparking a lifelong passion for Dodger Blue.

He eventually enrolled in UCLA but had to interrupt his studies and time with his Delta Sig brothers to serve as an U.S. Air Force aerial photographer in Korea. Upon discharge, he finished his theatre arts degree while working as a courier at Warner Bros. in Burbank – a job that led to a position in Warner’s Sound Effects Department. While he loved the creative aspects of making movies and TV, the frequent strikes didn’t provide much stability so he enrolled in banking school at night to provide for his future family.

A fateful blind date with a perky, poetry-writing brunette from the private school across town changed his life forever, and Virginia “Ginner” Lee would remain by his side for 60 years. After several years in North Hollywood, the family moved to Orange County, first to Tustin and then to Newport Beach so George could manage a new Union Bank branch in a modest new development called Newport Center.

It was then that George and Ginner started attending Mariner’s Church in a former real estate office on PCH in Corona del Mar, and met most of the couples that would become their Grace Fellowship Bible Study partners and friends for life.

Throughout it all, he remained steadfastly committed to his wife, kids, dogs and church family – always wanting to hear pastor Dave and see his Grace people every Sunday until the very end.

George, you’ve finally moved into the mansion with many rooms that God always promised you. And we know you are right at home.

A Celebration of Life for George will be held Friday, January 12, 2024 at 1:00 PM at Grace Fellowship Church, 3170 Red Hill Avenue, Costa Mesa, California 92626.