George Arthur Oswald

George Arthur Oswald died on Feb. 3, 2007 in Twin Falls, due to complications from pancreatic cancer. Oswald was born on Oct. 30, 1922 in Creston, Iowa, the son of Arthur and Enid Oswald. ÒBudÓ, as he was known to his family and friends in Iowa, attended schools in Creston and competed on the wrestling mat and the football field (where he earned the nickname ÒMooseÓ) in high school. He left school early to work to help support his family and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1940. He later received his high school diploma for coursework done in the Navy. During his 20 year career in the Navy, he served in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters during World War II and in Korea. He began his naval career on the battleship USS Arkansas, but he spent most of the rest of his duty at sea on heavy cruisers. He was a plank owner of USS Baltimore, having the honor of serving on the crew who put her in commission in 1943, and later served on the USS Helena, including duty as Chief Signalman of ComCruDiv 3. He also did stints as an instructor at the Naval ROTC facility at Marquette University and at the Fleet Sonar School in San Diego. He married Louvisa Blunck in 1942. They were divorced in 1980. He married Elaine Hancock-Short in 1982. After retiring from the Navy, he moved his family to southern Idaho, where he started a second career in banking, working for First Security Bank in Boise, Emmett, and Twin Falls. While working in Twin Falls, he managed one of the largest commercial loan departments in southern Idaho. He retired from banking in 1985. Shortly after his retirement, George, Elaine and Duran, the family dog, took off to see America in their fifth wheel RV, and this 15 month trip was one of the highlights of his life. Shooting, hunting and fishing were lifelong hobbies, and he passed the love of these activities on to his children. He was active with the Twin Falls Gun Club for many years and was an accomplished trapshooter. We were all proud of him when he came to terms with his addiction to alcohol, and he had achieved over 22 years of sobriety at the time of his death. He is survived by two sisters, Catherine Fluckey of Creston, Iowa and Peggy Sherer of Scottsdale, Ariz., and three brothers, Dick Oswald of Creston, Iowa, Larry Oswald of Afton, Iowa, and Danny Oswald of Des Moines, Iowa. He is also survived by his children, Diana Oswald of San Leandro, Calif., John Oswald of Butte, Mont., Kate Humphries of Twin Falls, Brant Oswald of Livingston, Mont., Tim Short of Long Beach, Calif., and Donell Short of Boise, Idaho, and 4 grandchildren, Travis Oswald and Koree Oswald of Butte, Mont., Grant Humphries of Bullhead City, Ariz., and Heather Humphries Osterhoudt of Henderson, Nev. The family wishes to extend their thanks to the many friends who took such great care of Dad over the years, including Ken and Bonnie Newman, Riley and Annie Laurie Burton, Jerry and Willie Roby, Dave Gyorfy and Pam Kubik, Sam Yost, Gayle DeBoard, and Ron Buster. A private memorial service for family and friends is planned for this May in Twin Falls. Farmer Funeral Chapel, PO Box 349, Buhl, Idaho 83316, (208) 543-4333.