George William Hover-August 28, 2011

George William Hover, age 91, died August 28, 2011 at BSA Hospice in Amarillo, Texas.
Memorial services will be at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, September 1, 2011 at Washington Avenue Christian Church with Pastor Jim Shelburne officiating.  Burial and Masonic Rites will be in Memory Gardens in Amarillo.  Military Rites are by DAV Chapter 26.  Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.
Mr. Hover was born August 23, l920 in South St. Paul, Minnesota to George M. Hover and Agnes Hover.
George graduated Onarga Military School in Onarga, Illinois in 1939.  He graduated Kemper Military School Jr. College in Booneville, Missouri in 1941, where he received his private pilot license.  He went to King City, California to the Army Air Corp. where he was an aviation cadet when the attack on Pearl Harbor happened.  He received his basic training at Moffett Field, advance training at Luke Field and Armament school at Lowery Field in Denver, Colorado.
George later joined the enlisted reserve in September l942.  He was awarded his civilian military instructor wings at Randolph Field before becoming an instructor at Ryan Field in Tucson AZ.
In 1944 George received his multi engine rating and graduated as a flight officer receiving his service pilot wings.  This lead to an assignment at Sheppard Field as a liaison pilot instructor.  He was honorably discharged after D-Day.
He received his instrument rating in l945 where he achieved the rank of Captain as engineering officer.  In 1960 when his last cadets graduated, he then went to Indio, California where he obtained his FAA and Weather Bureau training.  He then went to LasVegas, New Mexico Flight Service Station, later to Amarillo and Dalhart.  He served as Chief of Flight Service in Dalhart and Palacios, Texas.
He was active in the Masonic Lodge A.M. and F.M. for 65 years, since 1942, He was member of York rite and Khiva Shrine Temple.  He was active in Lions for many years. He is a member of NARFE.  He served on the Board of Directors for the Friends of Elder Citizens in Palacios.  He was a member of Bonita Chapter and Amarillo Chapter of the Order of the Eastern, where he served as Worthy Patron.  He also served on the Masonic Eye Foundation and assisted in obtaining eyeglasses and eye surgeries for those who needed some assistance.
Surviving are his wife of 47 years, 4 sons, his stepsons Steve Land and wife Dianna of Amarillo.  Brad Land, wife Angela of Canyon, five grandchildren, Amanda Land Fazzino and Husband Philip of Plano, J.T. Land of Ogden, Utah, Brett, Casey, and Ryan Land of Canyon.  One sister, Olive Lawton of Afton, Minn.
Memorials may be made to Washington Avenue Christian Church, Family Service Center 4002 S. Washington, Amarillo, TX 79110 or Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch, P.O. Box 1890, Amarillo, TX, 79174-0001

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *