Jeff George

Jeff George was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia, to Ralph and Laura Belle George. He passed away on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at home in California, surrounded by his loving family.

Jeff lived his life with a deep sense of duty, faith, and compassion that guided him every day. He was known as a man of integrity and quiet wisdom, with a dry sense of humor and a quick wit. His 30-year battle with prostate cancer afforded him opportunities to encourage other men, many of whom he’d never met. He was also an inspiration to many when he donated a kidney to his son, Kevin, who was just 2 ½ years old at the time.

Jeff grew up playing football and baseball. While attending Washington Irving High School, he was chosen to be captain of his football team, which won the State Championship during his senior year.

Jeff attended West Virginia University from 1961 to 1965 and was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa. He fell in love with the Florida Keys while working on a fishing charter to support himself through college. The charter was owned by his college sweetheart, Diane George’s father. Jeff and Diane married, but later divorced.

During his junior and senior years at WVU, Jeff enrolled in ROTC, which became the stepping stone to his love of flying. After completing college, he answered the call to serve his country during the Vietnam War by joining the United States Air Force. Jeff proudly served as a captain and flew C-141 transport jets.

His dedication to aviation continued long after his military service. In 1976, Jeff was hired as a Flight Engineer for Western Airlines, where he worked until the company was acquired by Delta Air Lines in 1986. He then worked his way up through the ranks, becoming a captain in 1991. His airline career concluded in 2005, flying 757s and 767s to Hawaii, his favorite destination.

Jeff’s greatest pride, however, was his family. He is survived by his beloved wife of 47 years, Carrie; his two sons, Kevin and Jason; and his brother, Jack George, and wife Joyce, who reside in Arkansas. Jeff was a proud uncle and will be deeply missed by his nephews Jeffrey, John, and Chris George; his niece Monica Soper; and his nephews James and Anthony Mazzetti. He will also be missed by his friends, with whom he maintained long-lasting relationships until his passing.

A celebration of Jeff’s life will be held in California. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a veterans' organization, the National Kidney Foundation, or prostate cancer research of your choice in Jeff’s memory.