George E. Chisholm

George E. Chisholm, 93, of Greeley died September 18, 2014 at North Colorado Medical Center. He was born April 2, 1921 in Shoshoni, Wyoming to James and Amelia (Barborka) Chisholm. He attended schools in Shoshoni, Riverton and Lander, Wyoming. He graduated from Lander Vocational High School in 1939.

After graduating from high school, George traded his motorcycle for an Eaglerock biplane and learned to fly while working at the Chevrolet garage in Lander for a year or two and then attended Custis Wright Technical Institute at Glendale, California and acquired his airplane and engine mechanics license. During WWII he was in the naval reserve as a flight school mechanic and was discharged on August 4, 1944. After discharge he went to work for Mac’s airplane and engine service at the Greeley airport. In 1946 George bought the business and operated Chisholm Aircraft Co.

Crop dusting by aircraft had just begun in the Greeley area and George began converting surplus training aircraft for crop dusting and spraying.

In June 1949, George and Ethel Mabel Brown were married in Loveland, from this union a son, Jay and two daughters Joyce and Janice were born. Mrs. Chisholm died in January 1968.

In 1956, George moved his business to 317 13th Street in Greeley where he continued to manufacture dusting and spraying equipment for aircraft, also changing the name of his business to Chisholm Manufacturing Development Company where he designed and built machinery for steel fabricators and did development work on equipment to help the disabled. George closed his business in 1975 and went to work for The Brewer Steel Company as estimator and engineer in steel fabrication where he retired from in 1986.

George enjoyed flying his airplane to antique airplane fly-ins and air shows.

George and Claudine Pendergraft were married in July 1989 at the First Presbyterian Church in Greeley. They enjoyed traveling and showing off the calliope that George built for parades and special events.

George was a member of the Airplane Owners and Pilots Association for more than 50 years, Antique Airplane Association for 40 years, the First Presbyterian Church of Greeley for more than 50 years and the Greeley B.P.O Elks 809.

George is survived by his wife Claudine; daughters Joyce Chisholm and fiancée Larry Dunlavey of Scottsdale, Arizona and Janice and James Dill of Greeley; son Jay and Linda Chisholm of Lakewood; two granddaughters Rebecca Linville of Lakewood and Lily Chisholm of Colorado Springs. He was preceded in death by his wife Ethel and two sisters Josephine Milburn and Mabel Blakely.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 24, at Stoddard Funeral Home. Graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, September 25, at Linn Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Multiple Sclerosis Society in care of Stoddard Funeral Home, 3205 W 28th Street, Greeley, Colorado 80634.

Please visit www.stoddardsunset.com to sign the online guestbook.