George Charles Marker

George Charles Marker

George Charles Marker, 88, of Nellysford, passed away on Monday, November 14, 2011, at Hospice House in Charlottesville, Virginia, from complications of congestive heart failure. He was born in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1923, to the late Marker and Lucy Maksoodian, and immigrated to the United States at nine months of age. He grew up in Attleboro, Massachusetts. In 1955, he married Betty Ann Schulze, his beloved wife of fifty-six years. The couple lived in Clark, New Jersey, for thirty years, where they raised their son and daughter. In 1990, he and his wife retired to Wintergreen, Virginia. George served as an officer in the United States Navy during World War II in the Pacific. He received a degree in chemistry from Brown University. Most of his working life was spent as a chemist at Merck and Company in Rahway and later General Aniline and Film Corporation in Linden, New Jersey. George enjoyed travel with family on multiple memorable family camping trips and later many tours with his wife all over the world. He excelled in and enjoyed sports and competitive games of many kinds, both as a participant and a fan. He was a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan. He played in horseshoe tournaments, bowling leagues, backgammon games with his grandson and ping-pong games galore with his daughter and instilled in them the same competitive spirit. Once retired he took up golf in a big way and excelled in it as well. He was well known in Wintergreen for the three poker groups he established and ran. George attended Rockfish Presbyterian Church at Nellysford and the family is grateful for all the love and support the church has shared with them at this difficult time. George is survived by his wife, Betty Ann Marker; a daughter, Nancy Marker Compton and husband, Reid; son, Robert Charles Marker; two grandchildren, Bryan and Erin Compton; as well as many other loving relatives and friends. A private graveside funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, November 19, 2011, at the Rockfish Valley Presbyterian Church Cemetery followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. at the church. A reception will follow at the church social hall. The family extends it gratitude to Stoney Creek Family Practice, the University of Virginia Medical Center, Martha Jefferson House and Hospice House.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Wintergreen Rescue Squad, Rockfish Presbyterian Church or the Hospice of the Piedmont. Funeral arrangements are by Wells/Sheffield Funeral Chapel of Lovingston 434-263-4097.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.