George Hardin Yenowine

22 December 1936 – 24 October 2019

Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, George Yenowine, a resident of Springfield, Virginia since 1969, passed away on 24 October 2019 at Inova Fairfax Hospital. He is preceded in death by his mother, Marcelyn McFadden Grimm; step-father William (Bill) Grimm; father, George Hardin Yenowine; step-mother Jessica Creek Yenowine; and his wife, Johanna Schrambling. George is survived by sons, Mark Yenowine, Louisville, Kentucky, and David Yenowine (Lisa Miale), Powder Springs, Georgia; and his daughter Christine Yenowine, Kyoto Japan; grandchildren Kristy Radon, Kevin Yenowine (Cassi), Emily Yenowine, and Blair Yenowine; brother John Grimm (Susan); and sisters Joan Gillham, Elisabeth Busse (Walter), and Susan Smith (David).

While still a child, George moved to the Louisville, Kentucky area and became a lifelong Wildcats fan after graduating from the University of Kentucky. He was employed by Bollinger-Martin and involved in the construction of homes and commercial buildings in the Lexington and Louisville areas. He then moved to Staples Advertising where he became the firm’s Vice President and General Manager. In 1969, he relocated his wife, Donna Bunton Yenowine and sons to the Washington, D.C. area purchasing a home in Springfield, Virginia. On Capitol Hill, George represented Kentucky as a key staff member and executive assistant for Congressman Cowger, Congressman Snyder and Senator Cook. He was deeply involved in obtaining assistance for Louisville after the 1974 tornado breakout, was a key organizer of the 1972 presidential inauguration, and a primary organizer for several election campaigns. His career then moved to the Tobacco Institute where he was the Director of Legislative Affairs among many roles. Later in life, after taking an extended sabbatical to be the primary care giver for his second wife, Johanna, George took positions with United Airlines and the Transportation Security Administration.

George loved the outdoors and was an avid fan of UK and the D.C. metro area sports teams. He would carve out time to be involved in Boy Scout camping trips, and to regularly make trips to the Blue Ridge mountains and Chesapeake Bay to hike and fish. Excursions to Burke Lake for fishing, hiking or just relaxing was another favorite pastime. He also had a keen interest in motor sports with the Indy 500 being one of his must watch events (“Gentlemen start your engines” was a high-point). If you knew George, it was common for a letter or email from him to end with “Hail to the Redskins” or “Go Cats!”

George had a thirst for information on almost any topic and was a student of life. He was active in keeping up with the activities of his children, grandchildren, and long-time friends by plotting their movements on his calendar, whether it be business trips, vacations, military deployments (son Mark, US Army; grandson Kevin, USMC), graduations, orchestra recitals or birthdays. He was also determined to make sure that no matter where you may be in the world, you would know the weather both at your location and his. Typhoons in Japan being of special interest. He was also dutiful about remembering occasions with greeting cards. You may have received your birthday, anniversary, Father’s Day and Christmas cards all at one time, but he wouldn’t forget.

George had an appreciation for many things. He knew quality, a sense of duty, and effort mattered; he knew that country ham, biscuits and grits, covered in red eye gravy was not something to be taken lightly; and, he knew that living in this country with the freedoms and opportunities it provided, should not be taken for granted. George also knew that his daughter with Johanna, Chrissy, brought him a kind of joy at a time in life that most people have long passed. While he could be a quiet man, he could also be a prankster, and if you were in George’s life, and in need, you were never alone.

George/Dad - may the sun always “shine bright in your old Kentucky home” and on all the people and places that shared your life.

Visitation with a service to follow will be held Saturday, November 2 at Silverbrook United Methodist Church, Lorton, Virginia at 2:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers the family request that any kind donations be made to the United States Marine Corps Museum (marineheritage.com), Quantico, Virginia, or to Silverbrook Methodist Church, Lorton, Virginia.