Gene George

Gene Cooke George PORTSMOUTH - Gene Cooke George, 90, a lifelong resident of Portsmouth, died Sept. 22, 2010. Mrs. George was born May 29, 1920 the daughter of the late Rudolph Reynolds Cooke and Lydia Dowdy Cooke. She was a longtime active member of Park View Christian Disciples Church and had served as deaconess. She was an honorary member of the Ambassador Club. Gene was also an active member and treasurer of Xi Beta Beta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi. She was an active member of Miriam Chapter No. 94, Order of the Eastern Star, since 1944. Before retiring from banking, she was an active member of the National Association of Bank Women. Gene was an active member of the Friends of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum and had served as docent and director for several years. Mrs. George was predeceased by her husband, Robert Wythe George and her sister, Catherine Covington. She is survived by a son, Gregory Wythe George of Portsmouth; a granddaughter, Elizabeth Dirting and husband Kevin of Woodstock, Va.; grandsons, David A. George and wife Trina of Woodstock and Christopher Wythe George of New York City. Great-grandchildren are Kristoffer, Ethan and Hayley George, and Adam and Jacob Dirting. A funeral will be conducted by Gina and Chip Artz at Park View Christian Disciples Church at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 27. Burial will be private in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens. Friends may pay their respects at Foster Funeral Home, Portsmouth, today, Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, any memorial donations be made to Living Endowment Fund of Park View Christian Church, 3201 Western Branch Blvd., Chesapeake, VA 23321.