George A. Bedard

George A. Bedard, World War II veteran and retired Fall River insurance agent, passed away on Monday, August 29, 2022, at age 96. He was the loving husband of Mariette (Perron) Bedard, with whom he shared 66 years of marriage.

Born in Superior, Wisconsin, the son of the late Grover D. and Evangeline (Paul) Bedard, George was a longtime resident of Fall River and the Touisset area of Swansea. After graduating from BMC Durfee High School in 1942, he enlisted in the US Army Air Forces and flew 25 missions in the European theater as a ball turret gunner. Following the war, he majored in textile chemistry at North Carolina State College and worked as a research chemist for textile manufacturers in Fall River. In the 1950s, he joined Frank X. Perron Insurance, becoming president in 1968, a position he held until retirement in 2013.

George was an active member of business and civic organizations for more than 50 years, serving on various boards, including the Boys and Girls Club of Fall River, the United Way, and the Fall River 5 Cents Savings Bank. He was also a past president and a long-standing member of the Quequechan Club and the Rotary Club of Fall River.

In his spare time, George could often be found with a squash or a tennis racket in hand. He was an avid player well into his 80s. Always interested in modern art and furniture design, George turned to woodworking and sculpting in retirement. He worked in exotic wood, creating beautiful, one-of-a-kind lamps, chairs, and abstract sculptures, some of which were exhibited at the Greater Fall River Art Association.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by daughter, Nancy A. Stigers, of Columbus, OH; sons David G. Bedard (Michelle) of Warren, RI, and Peter A. Bedard (Julia) of Fall River; grandchildren Cameron (Chandler), Dru, Tate, Tess, Mallory (Kyle), and Abby (Devon); and five great-grandchildren.

Visitation hours will be held Wednesday, September 14, 2022, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Waring-Sullivan Home at Birchcrest in Swansea. For directions and tributes, please visit www.waring-sullivan.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Fall River (fallriverbgc.org) and the Fall River YMCA (ymcasouthcoast.org/locations/fall-river).