Georgia H. Luis

Georgia was born in Glasco, Kansas on October 15, 1926 to Charles and Genevieve Hillhouse. She and her parents moved to Downey, CA when she was a young girl. She attended Jordon High School in Long Beach, CA and worked at Sears Roebuck Co after school. Upon graduating she worked at the Long Beach Airport as a secretary for the Army’s Air Transport Command’s Ferrying Division until the end of WWII.

In 1949 she met the love of her life, Charlie Luis, in Bisbee, AZ where he was playing semi pro baseball. They were married April 15, 1950 and moved to Honolulu, HI so Charlie could pursue his baseball career which took them to Japan from 1953-1955. In 1955, they left Japan and settled in Garden Grove, CA.

Upon becoming members of St. Columban Catholic Church, Georgia found her second passion; volunteering as coach of after school sports for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade girls attending St. Columban Catholic School. Georgia developed the girls’ sports program at the school in 1959. She coached volleyball, basketball, softball, track, and swimming. The schools parents club commissioned the Georgia Luis MVP Trophy in 1969 to be awarded each year to an 8th grade girl who excelled in sports. In 1970, Georgia changed her volunteer focus from coaching to the schools health room. She brought both hearing and vision testing to all students which eventually included the new addition of Kindergarten aged students in 1976. She took care of testing, tummy aches, cuts, scrapes, lice checks, and provided emotional support to the students. The school’s health room was re-named ‘Luis Health Room’ after her. Georgia volunteered at the school for 48 years until her stroke in 2007. Every student who attended St. Columban from 1959 to 2007 knew Mrs. Luis. Besides offering her time to 3 generations of students she served as Parents Club president, headed up the white elephant booth at the annual church festivals, coached Chi-Rho teen girls’ sports, and participated in the church bunco group. Georgia’s dedication to God, Church, and school was truly admirable.

Georgia had several hobbies but the one she liked most was playing golf at least once a week with the Mile Square Swingers at Mile Square Golf Course in Fountain Valley, CA. She was a Girl Scout Leader, enjoyed camping, cooking, bowling, and entertaining. She loved spending time with family and friends.

Georgia is preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Charlie. She is survived by 3 children, Mary Lambert (Richard), Michelle Arrieta (Steve, deceased), and Geoff Luis (Tina) and 3 grandchildren CJ, Jimmy, and Tom.

Rosary and visitation will be at Dimond & Shannon Mortuary, 10630 Chapman Avenue, Garden Grove, CA on Wednesday, December 6th, 2023 from 6pm to 8pm with the rosary starting at 6:30pm. Funeral Mass will be at St. Columban Catholic Church, 10801 Stanford Avenue, Garden Grove, CA on Thursday, December 7th, 2023 at 10am. Private interment will be on Friday, December 8th.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the St. Columban Catholic School “In Honor of Georgia Luis” fund at https://stcolumbanschool.factsmgtadmin.com/give/.