George H. Sells Sr.

George H. Sells Sr., 86, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, at the Elkhart Greenleaf Health Campus. His wife of 63 years, Helen L. Sells, a Monteagle, Tennessee, native, preceded him in death in 2018.

Known as "Hoyett" to his southern family, George was born on April 19, 1935, in Sherwood, Tennessee; shortly thereafter, his family settled in Sewanee, a nearby town. He was the ninth of 10 children born to his parents, the late Johnnie and Angeline (Smith) Sells, as well as being the first child in the family to graduate from high school. Also preceding him in death were brothers John, Buddy, Elbert, James and Ernest Sells; and sisters Ruth Wallace, Annie Sells and Beulah Short.

Shortly after their marriage on Dec. 22, 1954, with barely more than their car and the clothes on their backs, the couple relocated from their home state of Tennessee to Elkhart, Indiana, where George took a job in the RV industry at Buddy Mobile Homes. Over the following decade, he also worked for other RV manufacturers, including Elcona, Hillcrest and Skyline.

In 1968, Mr. Sells ventured into starting his own RV business, eponymously named, Sells Industries Inc., manufacturing travel trailers, truck caps and campers for over 10 years. When the entire RV industry hit a slump in the 1970s due to hikes in gasoline prices and rising interest rates, George decided the time was right for a change. In 1978, he went back to work for Art Decio and the Skyline Corporation in their Research and Development department where he stayed until retiring in 2007.

An avid golfer, George played often, and participated in several local golf tournaments as well. He was a master woodcrafter, and was often found tinkering in his workshop. He was a cancer survivor, and took it in stride, not letting it slow him down for long.

George is survived by his children, George Sells Jr. (Karen) of Clover, South Carolina, Kim Sells of South Bend, Dina Sells of Elkhart, and Marty Sells of White Pigeon, Michigan; grandchildren, Jamie Porter of South Bend, Ryann Waite (Andy) of Bristol, Haley Wiesinger (Eric) of South Bend, Daniel Sells (Nancy) of Denver, Colorado, and Denver Sells (Nicole) of Charlotte, North Carolina; great-grandchildren, Scout Porter, Elijah Waite, Indiana Wiesinger, Hannah Waite, Olivia Kraus, and Ace John Wiesinger; a sister, Polly Strope of Huntland, Tennessee; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Being a gifted storyteller, George crafted endless tales of his childhood days growing up in Franklin County Tennessee – stories of the Lost Cove, the family mules (Bill and Rowdy), and a LOT of snake stories: rattlesnakes, copperheads and cottonmouths!

People were drawn to his positivity and good-natured personality, but were impacted by his humor, generosity and how he made them feel. George touched the lives of so many people and in so many ways that will continue to enrich his family and all who knew him.

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."

Respecting their wishes, George and Helen's ashes will be returned to their beloved state of Tennessee.