George Shelton Kingsley

George Shelton Kingsley, 89, of Ventura, passed peacefully into the presence of the Lord he loved and trusted on 19th September, 2012. George was born and raised in Hearne, Texas. His mother died just months after he was born so he was raised by his maternal grandparents Beulah and Benjamin. After graduating from Hearne High School as valedictorian he joined the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific during WWII. (Interestingly, before deploying to the Philippines his battalion helped lay out the streets and set up “quonset hut” barracks for what is now Point Magu.)

Following the war George returned to Texas and attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. While in college he met and married Frances, his wife for 63 years. They welcomed their only child, George Philip, into their lives in 1951.

George worked for forty-five years in the oil production equipment industry with Merla Tool Company (later Teledyne-Merla); starting out as a draftsman, then later working as a designer and chief engineer. He moved his family from Dallas to Ventura in the early 60’s to open the first west-coast sales district for Merla. In the late 70's George was promoted to Vice President and he and Frances returned to Texas again to live and work in Dallas. (George was a life-long Dallas Cowboys and South-West Conference football fan!) Several years after retiring George and Frances returned to live in Ventura (’04) once again.

George’s life was shaped by a deep love for Jesus and an abiding faith in the promises of God in the Bible. He served sacrificially in a variety of roles (as youth leader, Sunday school teacher, deacon, elder, small group leader) in various churches in Dallas and in Bible Fellowship Church, and Community Bible Church in Ventura.

George would often share a passage from the Gospel of John; chapter 3 and verses 16 –17 with anyone who would listen. He genuinely wanted everyone to know and experience the love of God. That passage says...

John 3:16 -17

16) "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 17) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him."

George is deeply loved and missed by his wife, Frances, his son Phil and his wife Cheryl, grandson Matt and his wife Hailey, great grand-children, Eoin and Moia; his grandson Michael and his wife Sarah; and all extended family and friends.