Obituary: Pederson, George John

Sun., May 1, 2016

PEDERSON, George John
(Age 82)

Died Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane following a prolonged illness.
He leaves his sister, Inga Griffiths; his brother, Carl Pederson; his son, Paul Pederson; his daughters, Laurel Pederson and Holly Collins; four grandchildren and many close friends.
Born and raised in Spokane, the son of George and Lillian (Mathews) Pederson, he was a lifelong resident of Spokane.
In his early years, George would spend his time racing wooden boats on Lake Coeur d’Alene in the summer and racing cars from stoplight to stoplight on Riverside Avenue the balance of the time.

After graduating from North Central High School in 1952, he attended Washington State University, graduating in 1958 with a Masters Degree in Industrial Arts.

After completing college, George taught Industrial Arts and Drivers Education at West Valley High School from 1959 until 1992.

He not only enjoyed teaching his students, but truly appreciated both the skills and craftsmanship that they would show in completing projects for class and the rapid improvements in driving skills that every student would display as they progressed towards earning their first drivers license.

An avid fisherman throughout his life, George would spend many days on the lakes of Eastern Washington with his son or his friends.

George truly enjoyed when the fish were biting and would apply new and unusual invectives against them when they were not.
George had a passion for travel, classic automobiles and being with people.

Sharon Crowe, his companion for almost fifteen years, would travel with him from coast-to-coast across the United States.

He would also spend many wonderful winters with her in California during the holidays, and spend summers picnicking in the Napa Valley, touring the Blackhawk Automotive Museum in Danville, enjoying fine wines, delicious foods and meeting new friends.

Funeral services for George will be announced at a later date.

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