George Gilbreath

George was born May 16, 1921, in Birmingham, AL, to Cora Lee and Oliver Scott Gilbreath. He was the 2nd oldest of their 10 children. At the age of 21 he was inducted into the U.S. Army Air Corps. After OCS training in Military Communications at Yale University, he received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. Upon retiring from the U.S. Air Force in 1965 after over 22 years of service, he had achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel. During those years he participated in the Berlin Airlift and traveled with wife, Mary, and their children to Panama, Mississippi, Germany, Texas, Taiwan, and South Carolina. After retirement, George continued to serve his country by working with the U.S. Civil Service in the Washington D.C. area.

George was very active in Masonic organizations in northern Virginia and very fond of his fellow masons. He served as Master of the Blue Lodge in Arlington, Treasurer of Old Dominion Commandery No. 11 Knights Templer, a member of the Sojourners, and a Greeter with the Shriners. He also enjoyed investing in real estate through the years and had owned apartment complexes in Alexandria, VA, and Camp Springs, MD, at one time.

George was preceded in death by his parents, by brothers - Lloyd, “Buck”, Gordon, and William “WN” - and by sisters – Grace, Roselyn, and Kathy. He is survived by his devoted wife of 72 years, Mary Elizabeth; by his sister, Aileen Rice; by two sons, George Daniel, Jr. “Danny” (wife Julia) and Hugh William (wife Vanessa); by his daughter, Theresa June “Terry” (husband Roger Schmidt); by grandchildren, April T Washburn, Kristopher C. Schmidt, Patrick O. Schmidt, William Daniel Gilbreath, and Alex N. Gilbreath; and by his 9 great-grandchildren.

Visitation and service will be held Monday, September 22, 1 – 3pm at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Rd, Williamsburg, VA. George will be laid to rest with full military honors at Arlington Cemetery at a date to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in George’s name to the Shriners Hospital for Children at P.O. Box 1510, Ranson, WV 25438-4510 (shrinershospitals.org) or to the Alzheimer’s Association at P.O. Box 96011, Washington D.C., 20090-6011 (alz.org).

Online condolences may be offered at www.nelsencares.com.