George Albert Tyler

George Albert Tyler
Former Lowell businessman, WWll Vet; 93

ORANGE PARK, Florida -- George Albert Tyler, co-founder and co-owner of a successful Lowell business for many years, veteran of World War II, and former commander of the Lowell Post of the American Legion, died of natural causes, after a long and happy life, with his wife and daughter near his side, on February 18, 2014 in Orange Park, Florida. He was 93.

George had suffered a broken hip in 2012 and required extensive nursing care, for which he entered a rehabilitative center near his daughter's home in Orange Park, where his wife, daughter, and other family members could monitor his care and attend his needs.

Born in Lowell in 1920 to Catherine and George Tyler (senior), George grew up in the Centralville neighborhood. He attended Lowell High School and upon graduation became an apprentice pressman for The Currier Citizen, a daily newspaper in Lowell at that time. At the outbreak of World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was placed in the map service because of his printing experience. Wanting to do more to serve his country, George requested a front line unit and eventually qualified for transfer to the 17th Airborne Division. He saw combat action in the Battle of the Bulge and the invasion of Germany.

After being honorably discharged in 1946, George returned to the states where he soon met and married his wife of 67 years, Lorraine Ruth Donnelly, also of Lowell. He and Lorraine had three children: Donna, George Arthur (Ty), and Alan. In 1949 he entered a partnership with another printer and a publisher to establish a small printing company, Offset Printing, Inc. located in a former mill building on Lawrence Street in Lowell. During the 1950s and 1960s, the company grew to employ more than 20 full-time workers, and printed weekly newspapers for several towns in suburban Boston, college newspapers, programs, trade journals, and other printed products for companies throughout New England, New York, and New Jersey.

In addition to his career and family life, George thrived on being engaged with his friends and community. Having been raised an only child, he relished being part of his wife Lorraine's large family, the Donnellys, and spent many happy hours socializing with them. He belonged to the Lowell Post of the American Legion and served several leadership roles, including Commander. During his term he helped many fellow veterans obtain benefits and organized fund raising efforts to renovate the club. He was also a member of the Lowell Junior Chamber of Commerce. George was an avid golfer, playing mostly at Longmeadow Golf Course and Vesper Country Club, where he was a member. He also opened and operated two other small businesses in his career, Antilles Printing, Inc. in St. Thomas, the Virgin Islands, and Tyler's Old Fashioned Ice Cream on Rogers Street in Lowell.

In 1978 the partnership sold Offset Printing and George retired briefly, but decided to return to work and became a salesman for 1400 Motors of Lowell. In 1994 he permanently retired and later he and Lorraine moved to Orange Park, Florida, where he enjoyed many years of good health, happy retirement, and frequent visits with his friends and relatives.

George is survived by his wife, Lorraine Tyler of Orange Park, FL, three children, Donna Williams of Orange Park, FL, George Tyler of Essex Junction, VT, and Alan Tyler of Portsmouth, RI, five grandchildren, Amanda, Patrick, Arthur, Gregory, and Nicholas, great grandson, Max, and many in-law relatives of the Donnelly family of greater Lowell, all of whom will greatly miss his sense of humor, loving disposition, and warm, easygoing personality.

TYLER -- There will be a private service for family and friends in Lowell. The family encourages those wishing to commemorate George to make a donation to one of the following organizations: The Wounded Warrior Project at: woundedwarriorproject.org/; or Northeast Florida Community Hospice at: communityhospice.com/