George Alex Price, 83

George Alex Price, 83

George A. Price, a simple man of strong character, left his body to spend eternity with his best Friend and Creator on Monday evening, Feb. 26, 2018. His death was the result of complications from Myasthenia Gravis, a disease he had been battling for 27 months.

George was a generous man who loved life and enjoyed spending time with people. His passion was to serve his church family at the Worship Center in Smelterville. He found joy in building, creating, repairing and even cleaning. George could fix or repair almost any mechanical or building issue and often gave selflessly of his time and talents to help out a needy individual, even those he barely knew.

“Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?” (Proverbs 20:6) George was a faithful man. When asked if he had a final word of wisdom, he said how important it was to have a good wife, giving honor to his wife of 63 years, Marilyn.

George and Marilyn married in 1954, while both were still in their teens, without the advantages of strong family support and financial stability. Just like most, they dreamed of a “happy ever after” life together. So, how did they make it for 63 years of marriage? Above all, George valued relationships. He loved to visit and talk with people! Yet, he wisely recognized that without first establishing a right relationship with God, through His Son, Jesus, there was no way to have meaningful relationships in life. That is why, at the age of 43, George admitted to the Almighty God that he was not basically good, as so many try to hold on to, in fact he realized he was a sinner. George received forgiveness through Jesus Christ and from that moment on he found satisfying relationships with his family and friends.

George was born to Vane Ira and Zula Snyder Price on Sept. 3, 1934, in San Bernardino, Calif. His mom died of tuberculosis when George was only 7 years old and George spent his childhood being tossed from foster home to foster home, living in more than 30 homes before the age of 16.

Unknown to many was the fact that George was a United States War Veteran! He joined the U.S. Navy on Jan. 14, 1952, and was honorably discharged on July 23, 1954, after serving in the Korean War.

George and Marilyn moved to Kingston in the summer of 1969, together with their three children, David, Randy and Jill. George was ready to leave the city life and try his hand at country living. In fact the name George means “farmer” and he liked to call himself “Farmer-George.” They purchased a home with 20 acres of land. Throughout the years, George raised cows, chickens, turkeys, rabbits and horses. He grew abundant gardens, full of fresh vegetables, berries and fruit. He loved hunting and fishing, more for the beauty of spending time with good people in the great outdoors than for any other reason. One time he even fashioned an outdoor shower with hot water for the hunting camp!

George was also a world traveler, making two trips to see his daughter and son-in-law in Russia and Latvia. He loved history and longed to see Israel.

George worked as a pipe fitter at the Bunker Hill Mining Company until their closure in 1982. Faced with no job prospects, he hit the books, studied hard, and became a Union Plumber and Pipe Fitter. While working with the Local No. 44, George made many valuable relationships and worked at some interesting locations, such as the Hanford Nuclear Power Plant and the Alaska Oil Pipeline.

In retirement, George worked harder than ever, and was largely instrumental in building of the Worship Center in Smelterville. He served on the church board of elders and worked tirelessly at their food bank, loading boxes of food, building wheel chair ramps, repairing coolers and generally finding solutions for the curveballs life so frequently throws into people’s lives.

George was always ready to help in any way he could. He was reliable, authentic, humble and tenacious. George was a man of character and he loved to have fun. He enjoyed reading the comics in the newspaper! He also loved drag racing and even did a bit of it in his younger years. George certainly loved good food and his wife, Marilyn took joy in preparing his favorites, like steak and apple pie. When helping out at the food bank, George would keep his eye out to try and snag a piece of carrot cake whenever he got the chance. Yes, he did love food and life!

George is survived by his wife, Marilyn; and his children, David and Amy Price of Puyallup, Wash., Randy and Carol Price of Pinehurst, Idaho, and Terence and Jill Hall of Walla Walla, Wash. He had seven grandchildren: Christopher Price, Michael Price (deceased), Jennifer Price, Kristen Jacobsen, Alan Price, Valerie Amsing and Alex Hall. George is survived by nine beautiful great-grandchildren.

A funeral service for George will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 8, 2018, at the Worship Center in Smelterville. A reception will follow. All are invited to come and celebrate the life of a man who lived life well, giving glory to God! Interment will be held at the Greenwood Cemetery in Kellogg, Idaho.

Shoshone Funeral Services, Kellogg, is entrusted with funeral services. One may sign George’s online guest book at www.shoshonefuneralservice.com.