George Rea

1937 - 2022

George Rea, 85, of Clintonville passed peacefully at home on Feb. 27, 2022.
George was born Feb. 9, 1937, in Argentine, Butler County. He was the son of the late Herman and Florence Rea.
George proudly served his country during the Korean conflict as a U.S. Marine.
George was married to Bonny "Kay" Rea. After Kay's passing, he married Evelyn Rea. She also preceded him in death.
George was a very hard worker. He started out in 1960 building the car wash and laundromat in Clintonville, and he also built a warehouse behind it for Lance Candy Company. He built cabinets out of his workshop for the local area for many years. He built the trailer park in Clintonville as well. He owned and operated Rea Excavating for numerous years. He opened graves in the Clintonville Methodist Cemetery and nine other surrounding cemeteries in the area. George retired from Hickman Lumber, where he installed the log landings for the trucks.
He was a member of Union Presbyterian Church in Clintonville. Other memberships George enjoyed were the VFW in Cherry Valley, American Legion, and the 521 Parker Allegheny Canby Lodge.
George was surrounded by numerous great friends who filled his days. Bill McKinley would come to George's and always share a bowl of ice cream and some Bible Scripture. George always looked forward to Dick Burk coming to take him to haircuts and some back road rides. Every Saturday, Bob Hovis brought George a fresh fry pie for them to enjoy while telling lies. Earle McKinley kept George in good spirits with storytelling and cold Busch beers. George's family treasured each of these relationships and were very thankful for them. George's quick wit and one-liners - like "How are you today George?" his response always being "meaner than hell" - will be dearly missed. George loved to be hunting with his family when his health permitted, and never passed up a chance to go out for supper.
George is survived by his son, Gerry Rea, and his wife, Lynn, of Harrisville; his stepchildren, Jim Stolter and Jennifer Keyser, both of North Carolina; his son-in-law, Romeo Chiu, and his wife, Desiree, of Clintonville; and his grandchildren, Grant Rea and his wife, Lacie, Brayden Rea and his wife, Kaitlyn, Noelle Malliard and her husband, Eric, Abbi Rodriguez and her husband, Kyle, Christopher Chiu, Ryan Chiu, Lorraine Chiu and John Keyser. George's great-grandchildren, Gavin and Ryleigh Rea, Kaiden Rea and one on the way in Realynn Malliard, were cherished by George.
George was welcomed into Heaven by his parents, Kay and Evelyn; his daughters, Gayle Rea and Gina Chiu; his twin sister, Gloria Daugherty, and her husband, Bill; his sister, Louise Wassum, and her husband, Lloyd; and a stepson-in-law, Don Keyser.
REA - The family of George Rea, who died Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, will welcome friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at LARRY E. MCKINLEY FUNERAL HOME, 109 Emlenton St., Clintonville.
Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home with the Rev. Mark Frailey of Union Presbyterian Church. George's friend, Bill McKinley, will be assisting with reading some Scripture that he and George shared together.
Burial will take place at Clintonville Methodist Cemetery.
Friends can email condolences by visiting www.mckinleyfuneralhome.net.