George Martin Gaskill Sr.

George Martin Gaskill Sr.

92, passed away at Greentown Century Villa on Saturday, September 12, 2015. He was born on February 15, 1923, Ventnor NJ, to George Thompson Gaskill and Katherine Christine Casey. Both Parents have passed away as well as his brother, Emanuel Gaskill, Step grandson Rex Agness Jr. a step son, Ray Agness. On September 28, 1945, he married Elaine Ruth Williams in Egg Harbor City, NJ, and she passed away December 11, 1969 at the age of 45 and is buried in Egg Harbor City, NJ. Their children are George Jr, (Carol), Daniel, Patrick (Debra), John (Becky), Mary (George) Snyder, Christopher (Linda), Timothy (Lori), Gerard (Deb) Gaskill, he is survived by several grandchildren. Grandchildren that were especially close to their grandfather are Elaine Mae Snyder, Chapel Hill, NC, Derrick William Snyder, Kansas City, MO, and Lori Bennett (Doug), McCordsville, IN, and their children A.J. and Ruby. In addition, he is survived by several cousins in NJ, Ireland and England, as well as nieces and nephews.

George started his lifelong education at St. James in Ventnor, NJ. And then went on to Atlantic City High School. At age 6, his mother allowed him to ride the trolley to first grade and later he walked the famous Boardwalk to high school. He attended Rutgers University in Atlantic City, NJ and then received his Bachelor's degree in physics from Franklin Marshall College in Lancaster, PA in 1951, and his MBA from Purdue University. He was a member of Sigma Pi Sigma, the national physics honor society, and was also a registered professional engineer. He was an amateur radio hobbyist and a member of the Kokomo Radio Club and the General Motors Firebird Club and the Amateur Radio Relay League. 

He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, he was an Air Cadet where he learned to fly and land with skis. Later, he transferred to PT boat 216 in the European Theatre in Africa, Italy and Southern France. While serving in the European Eastern Campaign and later in the South-West Pacific Campaign on boat 132, he was awarded many medals and ribbons for his service, including a citation from the French Government. After graduating from Franklin Marshall he worked for Hamilton Watch and then came to Delco Radio in Kokomo. He was employed by General Motors as a Physicist until retirement. George retired from Delco Electronics Division of General Motors as an Engineer Supervisor after nearly 30 years of employment. He was a supervisor of new product designs, then spent two years on special assignment as a product quality and reliability engineer and ended his career as chairman over divisional metric conversion and electronic interference to computer products on automobiles where he received several patents during this time. On March 24, 1990, he married Laura Finster Agness and her sons are Roger Agness of Orlando FL, Ray Agness, dec. and Rex Sr. (Rosa) Agness of Lebanon, IN.  He was a member of the VFW in NJ and the Elk Lodge and Kiwanis in Kokomo. He was for several years a HAM radio operator, KD9EN, a member of the St. Joan of Arc Church and a special friend at Faith Presbyterian Church. He loved to sail and had sailed for many years in Lakes Bay, NJ, near where he lived.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 17, 2015, at Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory, 1315 West Lincoln Road, Kokomo, with Rev. Fr. David Hellmann officiating. Burial will follow in Bunker Hill Cemetery with military honors provided by the U.S. Navy and the Kokomo VFW Military Rites Team. Friends are invited to visit with the family from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made in George's memory to St's. Joan of Arc & Patrick Schools, 3155 S. 200 W., Kokomo. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com.