George Franklin Sowby

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of George Franklin Sowby. He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family and friends on April 24, 2026, at the age of 83 as a result of congestive heart failure. He was born on March 7, 1943, in Phoenix to Shirley Franklin Sowby and Gertrude May Crouse.

George was a proud native Arizonan whose life began near 18th Avenue and Camelback Road, when Camelback was still a dirt road and Phoenix was a much smaller city. He loved to slalom ski on the canal with a car on the bank pulling him along. He had many grand adventures as a youth, including owning a pet alligator.

He attended Encanto Grade School, Clarendon Middle School, and graduated from West High School with the class of 1961 and remained a life-long proud Thunderbird. He continued his education at Phoenix College, Brigham Young University, the University of Arizona in Mexico, and Arizona State University, where he earned his master’s degree in education while teaching Spanish in the foreign language department.

On September 5, 1969, George married the love of his life, Christene Smith, in the Mesa Arizona Temple. Together they built a loving home centered on faith, family, and service. Their marriage was blessed with six children and a growing posterity that brought George great joy.

As a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints George served faithfully throughout his life. From 1962-1964 he served a mission in Northern Mexico, where he developed a lifelong love for the people and language of Mexico. Later, after retirement, he and his beloved wife Christene served a senior mission in the Colorado Colorado Springs Mission from 2013-2015, working with military members at Peterson Air Force Base and teaching resilience to those preparing for deployment.

Throughout his life George served in numerous church callings including bishoprics, high councils, bishop of the Osborn Ward, stake executive secretary, Sunday School teacher, Scoutmaster, and temple and family history consultant. He and Christene also served for many years as ordinance workers in the Mesa Temple. He spent countless hours doing genealogy work and preparing names for the temple. He was assigned to be Clergy to St. Joseph’s Hospital and administered to many people in their medical time of need.

George also answered the call to serve his country. He joined the Army, completed training at Fort Dix, and rose to the rank of Sergeant First Class. He later continued his military career in the Naval Reserve, where he served for many years as an intelligence and translation officer, retiring as a Lieutenant Commander after 28 years.

George spent his professional life as an educator. After receiving his teaching certificate, he began teaching in the Paradise Valley School District at Liberty Elementary, where he served students for 30 years. His was an engaging classroom, with pet snakes, rocket launching and regular science experiments. He touched countless lives through patience, discipline, and encouragement. Being a teacher meant that he had summers free, and he filled those summers with trips to California to visit his sister, camping, fishing and annual trips to the cabins at Greer and the Homestead.

Gardening and fixing things was another way he spent his time. He grew tomatoes and broccoli every year, and always had seasonal flowers in his front and back flower beds. He took great pride in his lawn. He always had a project going on around the house and was a very capable handyman.

George will be remembered for his steady faith, dedication to family, positive attitude, patriotism, love of learning, and willingness to serve wherever he was needed. His example of hard work, loyalty, and quiet devotion leaves a lasting legacy.

He is survived by his wife, Christene Sowby; his sister, Carol Ann Baker (Bernard); his six children: Jennifer Flaherty (Damon), Amber Larson (Mons), Darin Franklin Sowby (Mandy), Dawn Sowby, Shannon Sowby, and Nicole Tirrell (Ryan); and 12 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 11 a.m. with a viewing at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel at 3102 N. 18 Avenue in Phoenix. An additional viewing will be held on Friday May 1 from 6-8 p.m. at the A.L. Moore Grimshaw Mortuary 710 W. Bethany Home Road in Phoenix. Interment will take place on Monday, May 4 at 9:30 a.m. at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 2929 W. Pinnacle Peak Road.

The family appreciates everyone’s kind words, prayers said on our behalf, stories shared, and meals that have been sent.