George Edward VanValen, Jr.
May 2, 1920 ~ December 11, 2013
Resided in:
Fairview, NC
Asheville Butterfly Trail
George Edward VanValen, Jr., 93, of Garren Creek Rd., Fairview, died Wednesday, December 11, 2013, at the Western Carolina Baptist Home.
A native of Queens, NY, he was a son of the late George E. VanValen, Sr., and Catherine VanValen. He was also preceded in death wives Bernice VanValen and Elizabeth Baker VanValen.
Mr. VanValen was a Veteran of the U.S. Merchant Marines. He worked as a ship engineer. He bred and showed long-hair dachshunds, and was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church.
He is survived by daughters Kathleen Merker and husband Larry of Arlington, VA, Pat Sweeney of Long Island, NY, Ginger Jentzen of San Francisco, CA, and Linda Barton and husband George of Birmingham, AL; step-daughter Patricia Reece and husband C.J. of Candler; son Robert VanValen of Ocala, FL; 8 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 17, 2013, at Groce Funeral Home on Tunnel Rd., with the Rev. Michael McFarland officiating. His family will receive friends thirty minutes prior to the service.
Interment will be at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the Western Carolina State Veteran's Cemetery.
The family expresses deep gratitude and appreciation to the staff of the WNC Baptist Home for their superb care of Mr. VanValen.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 51 Wilburn Place, Asheville, NC 28806.
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Dear Patty, I am so sorry to hear of George’s passing. He was always so nice to me when I was a child. I bet I still have some foreign currency he gave me all those years ago. Peace and love to you and your family. Catherine Bostic Southern