George Dwight Phelps, Jr.

George Dwight Phelps Jr. was born March 3rd, 1941 in Hartford Connecticut. Son to George Sr. and Helen Phelps. They stayed in Connecticut until George was 10 years old then moved to Santa Ana, California where George grew up and graduated from Santa Ana high school. He was a good student and always excelled in school. In his early twenties he moved to Wyoming, where he met his first wife Darlene, and had his eldest son, Blair Phelps.

After getting into some trouble he ended up moving back to Orange County, California, it was here that Darlene was killed in a car accident when Blair was about 7 years old. George continued abusing drugs and alcohol while still providing a stable home for his family. He then met his second wife, Lisa, and had a daughter named Amber. It was at this time that George found the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous. He became very involved in the AA community and made it a priority in his life. He went on to speak all over the state and helped many people along the way. Lisa and George ultimately did not stay together, but he continued on his path to sobriety and helping people.

At that time, George was a carpenter and he helped build many buildings all over Los Angeles and Orange County, it has always been something he was proud of. In the late eighties, his parents bought a mobile home park and George took over maintaining it. It was about this time that he met his third wife, Karen, whom he was with for many years, and had a son named Miles. Miles was about 8 years old when Karen moved back to her hometown Jackson Mississippi. George stayed in Orange county, with his 3 children Blair, Amber and Miles. He always said, “The wives always leave, but the children stay!”

Some years down the line he met his last wife, Lorena. She had two children of her own and George ended up adopting Steven and Christian and raising them as his own.

George was a pillar in AA for many years and did a lot of great things for people, helping so many people when they had nowhere to go or live. He took in people off the streets and gave them a home. He gave people chances when others wouldn't. He was always a good friend and never turned anyone away. George traveled all over; he enjoyed boating and water skiing in the summer and skiing in the winter. He worked very hard to provide for his family and children; everything he did was for their greater good.

As he got older and more forgetful, one of the hardest things for George to do was accept help from anyone, he was always so independent and strong willed. He didn't like to depend on anyone for anything. So naturally it was not easy for him to accept help from his children with daily activities. George loved being outdoors and would spend most of his time in the backyard napping in the sunshine, cleaning the pool, raking the leaves, pulling weeds or walking his dog around the block.

George was a man of very few words but when you got him talking about the good ol’ days he could go on for hours. George was the kind of man that when he got an idea he took action! For example, the time he wanted to become a Harley rider. He was so determined to learn so he bought himself a Harley, signed up for a class, and instead of waiting for his class the following weekend, he decided to teach himself. He didn't get far and ended up in the hospital with broken ribs, punctured lungs, broken ankle, you name it! The doctors predicted he'd be in there recovering for at least 8 weeks. Well, they didn't know George, he hated sitting around and he was up and almost back to normal in about a week. George was a fighter for sure! He lived a very blessed life, and always went above and beyond for his children.

George is survived by his 3 children Blair Phelps, Amber Herttua, and Miles Phelps, and his brother Don Phelps. He was taken way too soon and so many people will miss him and his smile.