Obituary: George, Donald W.
Age 93
He was born May 1, 1921 in Topeka, Kansas to Hazel Cargile George and Lynden Lester George.
Donald graduated from Seaman High School and served in the Army with an honorable discharge and the rank of Staff Sergeant.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in 1948 and a Master of Science in Agronomy in 1949 from the Kansas State College of Agriculture and Applied Science in Manhattan, Kansas, graduating with high honors and membership in Phi Kappa Phi and Gamma Sigma Delta.
Donald and Janis Moore Lancaster were married in Topeka.
His career as an Agronomist took them to Chillicothe, Texas and Tucson, Arizona.
The family moved to Pendleton, Oregon to join the USDA wheat breeding program led by Orville Vogel with a final move to Pullman in 1965.
Donald was a devoted conservationist and naturalist.
Trained as a botanist, he identified and photographed wildflowers throughout Eastern Oregon, with a number of his photos appearing in the definitive “Wildflowers of the United States”.
Donald served as a Hunter Education instructor for over 30 years, emphasizing both ethical harvest and safety.
He was a natural teacher who employed dry wit and gentle irony in his wildflower slide shows, as a 4-H leader and Junior Rifle Club coach.
Donald was an avid hunter, accomplished smallbore rifle competitor and fervent supporter of the right to keep and bear arms.
He was preceded in death by Janis, his beloved wife of 63 years; his sisters, Joy George and Grace George Linville.
Donald is survived by his son, Stephen George and wife, Jo Ann Dalton and two grandchildren, Melissa and Caitlin George of Spokane, Washington; his son, Mark and wife Cathy George of Pullman; brothers, Lester George of Spikard, Missouri, Jonny George of Trenton, Missouri; and sisters, K George French of Topeka and Vada George McRoberts of Silver Lake, Kansas.
A private family service is planned for later this year.