George Allen Uehle, a native of Sioux City, Iowa who would later make Southern California his home after serving 20 years in the Army Air Force, has died. He was 94.
George was the son of Vivian Rose Abney, born in Judith Gap, Montana, and George M. Uehle, who was from Sioux City. Tragically, George Allen was in his early teens when his father died suddenly, struck by lightning, leaving his mother a widow with two children to raise -- George and his younger sister Georgene.
Life would quickly change again, when George's mother later emarried. Her new husband, Jack August, was an officer in the Army Air Force, and the family would move to his posting at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. George would attend grammar school and finish high school in Asbury Park in 1948. That same year, he also signed up for a two-year hitch in the Army, which would become his life for nearly the next 20 years. After leaving the service, he continued his government service, this time as a popular mail carrier and a front desk clerk at the central post office in Glendale, California.
Throughout his entire life George suffered from deafness, a disability that would plague him much of his life. He frequently dealt with the issues that accompany severe hearing loss, often misunderstanding what was said to him or about him. However, George was able to overcome all the negative perceptions that can come with deafness by his candor and a palpable concern for other people. If you needed help, George was your go-to guy.
George served overseas in Japan, Korea, Germany and France, but one Christmas while stationed stateside he surprised his new sister and brother -- Jackie and John -- by coming home for the holiday. He would refer to both over the years as his half brother and half sister until Jackie finally asked him, "which half?"
George would talk about this Christmas as one of his favorites, recalling cruising in the family's Dynaflow Buick through Asbury Park, looking out fogged-up windows at the Christmas lights on the big Victorian homes that ran along the coastline.
Years later he would tell family he was often lonely at Christmas when he served at posts overseas. The most painful holiday, he said, was when he was in Korea during the "conflict." The death of a close friend during that holiday only added to his unhappiness.
George, in his many detailed ruminations that he would regularly email to his family, wrote that he never understood why such a bloody conflict was never called a war. American Legion statistics show 54,000 Americans died in hostilities during the conflict, 18,000 for each year of the three-year war. The more familiar Vietnam War, says the Legion, lost 3,866 men and women a year over that 15-year conflict. George said of Korea, "But this war was never over."
Korea was the only posting he ever spoke of, but his military record shows he retired honorably as Spec 5, with jobs ranging from clerical and administrative work, as well as a lineman and a fireman.
The army experience also would include a bullet-proof ping pong game and the ability to shoot a very good game of pool. Texas hold 'em poker would become one of his later obsessions in life, as would bridge. He created flashcards to remember the odds of various combinations in poker and studied "the masters" of the game closely on television.
George's first love was baseball. He played second baseman growing up and also in the Army. Later he played in a softball league with his brother, recalling all those times with affection.
The California Angels were his favorite team after he moved to California for good. Years earlier living on the East coast he was a Yankees fan and sometime Giants fan, which explains his dislike of the Dodgers on both coasts. In his 80s, George could name the Yankee starting lineup and most of the pitchers from the glory years in the 1950s and 1960s. And he was a big fan of Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Frank Thomas of the White Sox. Some of his favorite things to read were baseball books from the 1930s era forward and history books about the machines of the wars America has been in.
He never married but it never stopped him from caring for a number of ladies throughout his life, cementing deep friendships with several of them.
George's dances of choice were a reckless polka and a refined square dance.
George retired to Apple Valley, joining his good friends from Glendale who were moving to the high desert as well. And he quickly made new friends as well, which always seemed to be an easy task for George. He passed away peacefully on Oct. 24 at the Apple Valley Care Center in San Bernardino County. He was cremated, and his ashes will be interred at Sunset Hills Mortuary and Memorial Park in Apple Valley on Dec. 18 at 10 a.m. when a memorial service will be held in his honor.
He is survived by his sister Georgene Wright who is 92 and lives in Orlando, Florida; sister Jackie Martin who lives in Asheville, North Carolina; and brother John who lives in San Diego.
George was the son of Vivian Rose Abney, born in Judith Gap, Montana, and George M. Uehle, who was from Sioux City. Tragically, George Allen was in his early teens when his father died suddenly, struck by lightning, leaving his mother a widow with two children to raise -- George and his younger sister Georgene.
Life would quickly change again, when George's mother later emarried. Her new husband, Jack August, was an officer in the Army Air Force, and the family would move to his posting at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. George would attend grammar school and finish high school in Asbury Park in 1948. That same year, he also signed up for a two-year hitch in the Army, which would become his life for nearly the next 20 years. After leaving the service, he continued his government service, this time as a popular mail carrier and a front desk clerk at the central post office in Glendale, California.
Throughout his entire life George suffered from deafness, a disability that would plague him much of his life. He frequently dealt with the issues that accompany severe hearing loss, often misunderstanding what was said to him or about him. However, George was able to overcome all the negative perceptions that can come with deafness by his candor and a palpable concern for other people. If you needed help, George was your go-to guy.
George served overseas in Japan, Korea, Germany and France, but one Christmas while stationed stateside he surprised his new sister and brother -- Jackie and John -- by coming home for the holiday. He would refer to both over the years as his half brother and half sister until Jackie finally asked him, "which half?"
George would talk about this Christmas as one of his favorites, recalling cruising in the family's Dynaflow Buick through Asbury Park, looking out fogged-up windows at the Christmas lights on the big Victorian homes that ran along the coastline.
Years later he would tell family he was often lonely at Christmas when he served at posts overseas. The most painful holiday, he said, was when he was in Korea during the "conflict." The death of a close friend during that holiday only added to his unhappiness.
George, in his many detailed ruminations that he would regularly email to his family, wrote that he never understood why such a bloody conflict was never called a war. American Legion statistics show 54,000 Americans died in hostilities during the conflict, 18,000 for each year of the three-year war. The more familiar Vietnam War, says the Legion, lost 3,866 men and women a year over that 15-year conflict. George said of Korea, "But this war was never over."
Korea was the only posting he ever spoke of, but his military record shows he retired honorably as Spec 5, with jobs ranging from clerical and administrative work, as well as a lineman and a fireman.
The army experience also would include a bullet-proof ping pong game and the ability to shoot a very good game of pool. Texas hold 'em poker would become one of his later obsessions in life, as would bridge. He created flashcards to remember the odds of various combinations in poker and studied "the masters" of the game closely on television.
George's first love was baseball. He played second baseman growing up and also in the Army. Later he played in a softball league with his brother, recalling all those times with affection.
The California Angels were his favorite team after he moved to California for good. Years earlier living on the East coast he was a Yankees fan and sometime Giants fan, which explains his dislike of the Dodgers on both coasts. In his 80s, George could name the Yankee starting lineup and most of the pitchers from the glory years in the 1950s and 1960s. And he was a big fan of Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Frank Thomas of the White Sox. Some of his favorite things to read were baseball books from the 1930s era forward and history books about the machines of the wars America has been in.
He never married but it never stopped him from caring for a number of ladies throughout his life, cementing deep friendships with several of them.
George's dances of choice were a reckless polka and a refined square dance.
George retired to Apple Valley, joining his good friends from Glendale who were moving to the high desert as well. And he quickly made new friends as well, which always seemed to be an easy task for George. He passed away peacefully on Oct. 24 at the Apple Valley Care Center in San Bernardino County. He was cremated, and his ashes will be interred at Sunset Hills Mortuary and Memorial Park in Apple Valley on Dec. 18 at 10 a.m. when a memorial service will be held in his honor.
He is survived by his sister Georgene Wright who is 92 and lives in Orlando, Florida; sister Jackie Martin who lives in Asheville, North Carolina; and brother John who lives in San Diego.
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