George H. Maley

George Hubert Maley, age 94, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 31st, with his family by his side. A man of deep faith, entrepreneurial drive, and profound devotion, George was the patriarch of a large loving family and a pillar of the Indianapolis community. George imparted his faith and service mentality in all his endeavors. A loving husband, proud father, grandfather, great grandfather, loving brother, world traveler, entrepreneur, history buff and author. While George was a man of many accomplishments, what was most important to him was his faith, family and friends. Together with Bette-Jane (B.J.), his beloved wife of 73 years, they were at the heart of the Indianapolis community, a deeply loved couple renowned for an unmatchable social calendar, a boundless capacity for hospitality, and a lifelong gift for making friends wherever life took them.

Born in Indianapolis on November 11, 1931, to Charles and Marguerite Maley. George’s early life was shaped by resilience, having lost his father in a hunting accident when he was just four years old. He cultivated a lifelong moral compass and a deep appreciation for mentors who guided him. A proud graduate of Cathedral High School (1949), he went on to earn his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University, where he famously helped bring Neil Armstrong into his fraternity, Phi Delta Theta. He then earned an MBA from the Wharton School of Finance, University of Pennsylvania. Shortly after graduating from Purdue, he married Bette-Jane Hendershot of Patterson, New Jersey. Through the course of their marriage, they shared a lifelong passion for travel visiting all corners of the globe and wherever they went, they forged deep, lasting friendships often entertaining these friends both in Indianapolis and abroad.

On the day of his graduation in May 1953, George was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. He proudly served as a Chief of the Management Analysis Section at the USAF Institute of Technology in Dayton, Ohio.

Following his military service, George embarked on a successful business career. He first joined the family automotive business, Jones & Maley, Inc. continuing a rich family legacy connected to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. His father had sponsored Indy 500 entries in the 1930s (the Jones & Maley Special), and the tradition continued into the 1950s, when Sam Hanks finished second in 1956. A lifelong racing aficionado and classic car enthusiast, George was a member of the Classic Car Club of America for over 50 years. As the story goes, his first car at age 17 was a 1931 Cord which he meticulously restored, later selling it to buy B.J.’s engagement ring.

In 1960, George carved his own path by founding National Underwriters, Inc., growing the firm to 265 employees before selling it to St. Regis Paper Co. in the 1980s. Never one to

slow down, his later years included ventures in commercial real estate and time spent at his “farm” in Spencer, Indiana.

George’s civic and religious leadership spanned decades. A near lifelong parishioner of St. Joan of Arc, he later belonged to St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Luke Catholic churches. Driven by a heart for service, he co-founded the St. Vincent de Paul conference at St. Joan of Arc, later founding another at St. Thomas Aquinas and serving as the city’s Particular Council President. He also served as president of Interfaith Housing Alliance/Building Homes to Build Community, he was Serra International President (1990–1991), and was a founding member of the Indianapolis Chapter of Legatus. His deep dedication to his faith was further recognized through his memberships in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, as well as his work advising on the building of Ave Maria University, Naples, Florida.

Later George found great friendships as an active member of The Service Club of Indianapolis. During his civic sojourn, Mayor Bill Hudnut asked George to serve on the Capital Improvements Board which oversaw the building of the first dome football stadium in Indiana, named the “Hoosier Dome.” George was a key member in calling the new structure this name, although he was a Purdue graduate.

George was known at the Food Emporium in Meridian Kessler with his Tuesday group, the ROMEOs, “really old men eating out” for their regular breakfast meet ups over the last 50 years.

Above all George’s love showed up in the ways he and B.J. brought people together, family cruises with his sister’s family, poolside parties at his home, and countless gatherings hosted for the people they loved.

The Maleys would like to express their unbounded gratitude for the tender care George received at Marquette in his final days.

George is survived by his loving wife Bette-Jane (B.J.), their five children: Debra (William Hittner) Maley, Kate (Michael) MacGill, Susan (Hector Gonzalez) Maley, Rachael (Dante) Ventresca, Michael (Tisha) Maley, ten grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, his sister Marilyn (Bob deceased) Goeke, 2 nieces, 1 nephew, and, many cherished friends.

Visitation will be held at St. Luke Catholic Church, 7575 E Holliday Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46260, US, on August 7, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:30 am, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at St. Luke Catholic Church at 11:30 am.

Final resting place will be at Calvary Cemetery, 435 W. Troy Avenue, Indianapolis.

Please consider donations to St. Vincent de Paul, Serra International Foundation, Little Sisters of the Poor or Providence Initiative Nigeria Inc.