George Verne Colburn

George Verne Colburn
Former longtime resident of Tewksbury; 89

TEWKSBURY -- George Verne Colburn, age 89, former resident of Tewksbury for over 56 years, passed away peacefully with family at his side at the Atrium of Drum Hill in North Chelmsford on January 29, 2016.

He was the beloved husband of Jeannette (Boisjoly) Colburn. Together they recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on September 30, 2015.

George was born in Lowell on November 27, 1926, son of the late Percy and Agnes (Elger) Colburn. He grew up in the Highlands section of Lowell and graduated in 1944 from Lowell High School. After graduation, George enlisted into the Army Air Corps in WWII and attended pilot training for the 112th AAF Base Unit and was honorably discharged on January 7, 1946. After leaving the service in 1946, George joined Massachusetts Electric Company in Lowell as a Lineman. He became Lineman Foreman and later was promoted to management. He worked for Mass. Electric for over 42 years until he retired, as Transmission Distribution Supervisor, in 1988. He was also a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW Local 326).

In addition to spending time with his family, George enjoyed traveling, figure skating, and skiing. He enjoyed the outdoors and loved driving his 1974 MGB, and sailing his Turnabout sailboat with the red sail on the Merrimack River in Lowell, and on Silver Lake in Madison, New Hampshire. After his retirement, he also became a technician licensed ham radio operator with the call sign, KB1DKG.

George is survived by his beloved wife, Jeannette; daughter, Susan (Colburn) Raisbeck of Chelmsford; and daughter, Karen (Colburn) Potvin and her husband, Gil of Merrimack, NH. He was a beloved Grampy to his four grandchildren of whom he was so very proud, Dr. Andrew Raisbeck of Hartford, CT, Daniel Raisbeck of Burlington, VT, Erika Potvin of Nashua, NH, and Nicholas Potvin of Merrimack, NH. He is also survived by his brother, Kenneth Colburn of Tyngsboro; many nieces and nephews; and was predeceased by his sister, Gladys (Colburn) Tufts.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation and gratitude to his caregivers and staff at the Atrium of Drum Hill for their compassionate care and support. They also would like to thank the nurses and staff of Beacon Hospice.

It being his request, there are no calling hours and services will be held privately. The Morse-Bayliss Funeral Home, 122 Princeton Boulevard, Lowell is assisting the family with arrangements. For those who wish, the family would ask that donations in his memory be made to the charity of one's choice. To leave an online condolence or message, please visit http://www.morsebaylissfuneralhome.com.