Obituary: Oliver, George S. Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired)
George will be buried next to Joyce, his bride of 66 years, in Spokane, WA following a military service at the Heritage Funeral Home on Saturday, January 12, 2013 at 11 am.
Born in 1922, 15 minutes ahead of twin brother Frank, George was raised in central Idaho during the Great Depression.
He went on to have a successful 32-year military career, which crossed three wars and saw combat service with the 45th Infantry Division in the Korean War.
He was a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington D.C. and served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, U.S. Army, Alaska.
Among his many awards and decorations are the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and the Combat Infantryman, Joint Chiefs, and Army General Staff badges.
George and Joyce raised two beautiful daughters before settling in Anchorage, Alaska after retirement in 1974.
Their two sons graduated from high school there and George had a second career in real estate, serving as president of the Anchorage Board of Realtors in 1979.
He enjoyed being a placer mining claim owner, which he called his “beautiful hobby.”
With help and encouragement from daughter Marilyn, he gained a local reputation as self-published author of his 600-plus page autobiography, “The Tents.”
Marilyn and her husband Wendell edited and published it.
(www.facebook.com/TheTents.byGeorgeOliver) Highly respected, George’s integrity and dedication defined his character.
At 43 years old, he was a full Colonel in the U.S. Army.
The devotion he and Joyce shared was inspiring.
His hospitality at their Kenai fish camp, where summers were spent, was legendary.
George loved entertaining and was known for his smoked salmon.
George lost his twin, Frank, in 1989, Frank’s wife, Jean, who was Joyce’s twin, in 1998 and his beloved Joyce in January, 2011.
Jean and Joyce were the Sindelar twins from Dover, Idaho.
He leaves behind daughter Carolyn Uecker, Lt. Col., USAF (Ret.)
(Mike) of Fairborn, Ohio, daughter Marilyn Smith (Wendell) of Spokane, Washington; son Jim Oliver (Leann), son Skip Oliver (Lori); granddaughter Abby; nieces Kathy Powell and Mindy Mellor (Mike); nephews Bill Oliver and Bud Irwin, all of Anchorage; and numerous friends and extended family members who will greatly miss him.