George Eastes

George D. Eastes PORTSMOUTH - George Delman Eastes, 91, died peacefully in his home on Sept. 23, 2010. General Eastes was born in Raleigh, N.C., the son of the late Rev. George D. Eastes and Susie Morgan Eastes. George was a graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (1941) and continued his education during his military career, graduating from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He retired from civil service at the Naval Supply Center, Norfolk, as director of planning. George began his military career as a private in 1941 and was promoted to major while serving his country in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. Following World War II, he continued to serve his country by reactivating an anti-aircraft battalion of the Virginia Army National Guard and rose through the ranks from battalion commander in 1947 to brigadier general and ultimately retiring as major general in 1972. George Eastes was dedicated to the City of Portsmouth and the Tidewater area. He took an active leadership role in numerous civic and humanitarian organizations and causes over the years. He was a former vice-mayor of Portsmouth and was honored as its First Citizen in 1978. He was a member of Monumental United Methodist Church. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Anne Boyce Eastes; five children, Susan E. Goode and husband Jim Rinehart, Kathlyn E. Gladfelter and husband Philip, Amy E. Dodd and husband Greg, Sally E. James and husband Scott, Jane L. Eastes and husband Jim Bergquist; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and a longtime friend, Bryant G. Nix. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, in Monumental United Methodist Church. Burial, with military honors, will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery, Portsmouth. Friends may join the family Monday, Sept. 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Foster Funeral Home, Portsmouth, and other times at the family home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of one's choice.