Aubrey Devine George, the son of Terry (Ted) and Grace (Dailey) George, was born in Sioux Rapids on December 6, 1921 and passed from this life on April 29, 2015 at Pocahontas Community Hospital, Pocahontas, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Church of Sioux Rapids in Sioux Rapids. Burial will be at a later date in the Lone Tree Cemetery in Sioux Rapids. Visitation will take place Friday, May 1, 2015 from 5-7:00 p.m. at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids is in charge of the arrangements.

Aubrey attended the Sioux Rapids Consolidated School and graduated in 1939. After two years at Buena Vista College majoring in music, he joined the Army Air Force and served from 1943-1946, spending most of that time in the Pentagon. While he was in Washington, D.C., he sang in the Air Force Choir, which presented musical shows. Following the war, Aubrey attended the University of Iowa for six years, where he received a BA in chemistry and a BS in pharmacy.

He married Ruthe Buchanan on August 1, 1948, in the Methodist Church in Laurens. They celebrated 65 years of marriage in 2013 and were the parents of two children, Ted and Jane.

Aubrey and Ruthe returned from Iowa City to Sioux Rapids in 1952 when he and his brother, Homer, purchased their father’s drugstore, and where Aubrey continued with Ruthe as his general store and gift manager until his retirement in 1993.

He was baptized in the First Congregational Church and was an active member of the First United Church in Sioux Rapids. He served his church and community in many capacities, including the town council, Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, church treasurer and choir director. In later years he continued to be active with the American Legion, Masonic Lodge, the Sioux Rapids School Reunion committee, Sioux Rapids 2000, the area Historical Association and Meals on Wheels.

Singing played a very important part in Aubrey’s life. He sang his first solo at the age of five in the Methodist Church and became a member of the church choir in the eighth grade. He sang for hundreds of weddings and funerals and other special occasions throughout the state and especially enjoyed participating in community choirs, the Buena Vista Barbershoppers and as an originator of the Choraliers.

Aubrey also enjoyed watching sports – especially the Hawkeyes. After retirement, Grandpa and Grandma George traveled Northwest Iowa to watch the next generation of George boys play ball or perform in concerts. Aubrey was an avid reader of Civil War history and Western novels. He enjoyed a good game of horseshoes and tending their lawn and flower beds spring to fall. Always the conversationalist, Aubrey never met a stranger and made many friends wherever he went.

He is survived by his children, Ted (Jan) of Twin Lakes, Iowa and Jane (Peter) Mellers of Eaton, Colorado; five grandchildren: Andrew (Alexandra), Brendan (Alee), and Niles George; Megan (Devon) Hanbey and Daniel Mellers; and his only brother Homer (Sandy) George of Laurens.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruthe, on December 25, 2013; his parents; sisters, Norma and Janice; and stillborn twin granddaughters, Alayne Lanette and Brianna Paige George.

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