Roll Call Tribute
George Berner Jr. '53 April 15, 2014 9:29 AM
River View Cemetery Funeral Home obituary
George Watson Berner Jr.
June 9, 1931 - April 5, 2014
Resided in Wilsonville, OR
George passed away peacefully on April 5th, 2014 after a brave battle with heart disease. He was surrounded by his loving family and was 82 years old.
George was born on June 9th, 1931 in El Paso, Texas, the only son of George Sr. and Agnes Berner. He grew up in El Paso, where he was raised by his grandparents, Joseph and Lula Mae Jolly. George graduated from Ysleta High School as Valedictorian, where he was also President of the National Honor Society and Drum Major in the band.
After high school, George attended college at Texas A & M University, where he continued his role as a drum major in the band, and received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering . He was a member of the ROTC. After graduating from A& M, he went to work for Esso Research and Engineering for two years in New Jersey, where he worked as a chemical engineer. He entered the Army and was stationed in Pine Bluff, Arkansas for two years, where he met and married his wife of 57 years, Gale Young. After being discharged from the army, George and Gale moved to Baytown, Texas, where he went to work for Humble/Exxon Oil.
In 1967, George was transferred to Tokyo, Japan, where they lived five memorable years in an international community in Yokohama. While living there, George was President of the Columbia Society and the School Board where his children attended. They made many friends, some of which they still keep in touch with today. They also enjoyed dancing and social events, often entertaining U.S. Ambassadors and Dignitaries that came into the area. George's work with Exxon in Japan afforded him the opportunity to travel with his family to various countries in the Orient.
In 1972, George was transferred to Houston, Texas, and then back to Baytown in 1976 until retirement. George and Gale then chose to move to Fayetteville in Northwest Arkansas where they shared wonderful retirement years together. They were big Razorback fans and enjoyed many social activities with great friends. George was very involved with the Lion's Club, winning many awards for his service and leadership contributions.
In 2001, George and Gale moved to West Linn, OR to be near their daughter and son- in- law, Susan and Monte Higbee, and the grandkids. In 2009, Susan and Monte designed and built a new home with George and Gale, where they lived together for 4 memorable years. George and Gale had been living recently at SpringRidge Independant Living Community at Charbonneau in Wilsonville, where George was well liked by all.
Throughout George's life, he gave his time to community service in many different organizations. George and Gale were members of the First Christian Church and had been leaders of the Christian Youth Fellowship early in their marriage. George was a voracious reader, and really loved golf, classical music and the computer. He also was a great cook, and loved to barbeque meals for his family. His main passion was fine woodworking. At one time, he had built all of the furniture in their home. He built fine model ships and cars, making every last detail by hand.
George was a very dedicated and loving family man. He had a unique, kind and loving soul that touched everyone around him. He was thoughtful and caring to all who knew him. One of George's greatest contributions to his family in recent years was him officiating the wedding ceremony of his granddaughter Erika. This was a wonderful gift to the family that will be cherished forever. George was just a wonderful, great man, and was a great leader. In his last months and weeks, George was a fighter. He maintained a positive, humorous spirit, never complaining or thriving on his illness. He will be incredibly missed by his family and friends.
George is survived by his wife, Gale; daughter, Susan Higbee and son-in-law Monte Higbee; granddaughters, Stephanie Ammerman, Ashley Hopson and Erika Trachsel; and three great grandchildren, Justin, Ashlynn and Anthony Ammerman. George was preceded in death by his son Gregory M. Berner in 1980.
A funeral service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, 2014, at Adams Chapel in River View Cemetery , 0300 SW Taylors Ferry Rd., Portland, OR, 97219. A reception and burial will follow.
George Watson Berner Jr.
June 9, 1931 - April 5, 2014
Resided in Wilsonville, OR
George passed away peacefully on April 5th, 2014 after a brave battle with heart disease. He was surrounded by his loving family and was 82 years old.
George was born on June 9th, 1931 in El Paso, Texas, the only son of George Sr. and Agnes Berner. He grew up in El Paso, where he was raised by his grandparents, Joseph and Lula Mae Jolly. George graduated from Ysleta High School as Valedictorian, where he was also President of the National Honor Society and Drum Major in the band.
After high school, George attended college at Texas A & M University, where he continued his role as a drum major in the band, and received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering . He was a member of the ROTC. After graduating from A& M, he went to work for Esso Research and Engineering for two years in New Jersey, where he worked as a chemical engineer. He entered the Army and was stationed in Pine Bluff, Arkansas for two years, where he met and married his wife of 57 years, Gale Young. After being discharged from the army, George and Gale moved to Baytown, Texas, where he went to work for Humble/Exxon Oil.
In 1967, George was transferred to Tokyo, Japan, where they lived five memorable years in an international community in Yokohama. While living there, George was President of the Columbia Society and the School Board where his children attended. They made many friends, some of which they still keep in touch with today. They also enjoyed dancing and social events, often entertaining U.S. Ambassadors and Dignitaries that came into the area. George's work with Exxon in Japan afforded him the opportunity to travel with his family to various countries in the Orient.
In 1972, George was transferred to Houston, Texas, and then back to Baytown in 1976 until retirement. George and Gale then chose to move to Fayetteville in Northwest Arkansas where they shared wonderful retirement years together. They were big Razorback fans and enjoyed many social activities with great friends. George was very involved with the Lion's Club, winning many awards for his service and leadership contributions.
In 2001, George and Gale moved to West Linn, OR to be near their daughter and son- in- law, Susan and Monte Higbee, and the grandkids. In 2009, Susan and Monte designed and built a new home with George and Gale, where they lived together for 4 memorable years. George and Gale had been living recently at SpringRidge Independant Living Community at Charbonneau in Wilsonville, where George was well liked by all.
Throughout George's life, he gave his time to community service in many different organizations. George and Gale were members of the First Christian Church and had been leaders of the Christian Youth Fellowship early in their marriage. George was a voracious reader, and really loved golf, classical music and the computer. He also was a great cook, and loved to barbeque meals for his family. His main passion was fine woodworking. At one time, he had built all of the furniture in their home. He built fine model ships and cars, making every last detail by hand.
George was a very dedicated and loving family man. He had a unique, kind and loving soul that touched everyone around him. He was thoughtful and caring to all who knew him. One of George's greatest contributions to his family in recent years was him officiating the wedding ceremony of his granddaughter Erika. This was a wonderful gift to the family that will be cherished forever. George was just a wonderful, great man, and was a great leader. In his last months and weeks, George was a fighter. He maintained a positive, humorous spirit, never complaining or thriving on his illness. He will be incredibly missed by his family and friends.
George is survived by his wife, Gale; daughter, Susan Higbee and son-in-law Monte Higbee; granddaughters, Stephanie Ammerman, Ashley Hopson and Erika Trachsel; and three great grandchildren, Justin, Ashlynn and Anthony Ammerman. George was preceded in death by his son Gregory M. Berner in 1980.
A funeral service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, 2014, at Adams Chapel in River View Cemetery , 0300 SW Taylors Ferry Rd., Portland, OR, 97219. A reception and burial will follow.
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