George Ellis Short

1934 - 2025

George Ellis Short

February 5, 1934 - May 3, 2025

Platte City, Missouri - George Ellis Short, 91, of Platte City, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, May 3, 2025. He was surrounded and comforted during his final days by his three sons and their families as he peacefully and gracefully went to be with his Lord.

George was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Sharon; his father, Donald; mother, Gail; and brother, Jack Short. He is survived by his children: Trevor (Marcie) Short of Platte City, MO; Ross (Lauren) Short of Prairie Village, KS; and Patrick (Mindy) Short of Wichita, KS; grandchildren: Mallory (William) Arens, Drake Short, Morgan Short, Wyatt Short, and Margaret Short; great-grandchildren: Thayne and Tatum Arens; brother, Lyndon (Mary) Short; sister, Donna Gardner; sister-in-law, Eunice Hagaman of Lincoln, NE; and numerous nieces, nephews, friends, and extended family.

Born on February 5, 1934, in Bellflower, Illinois, George grew up in Farmer City and graduated from Moore Township High School. He served as an Air Traffic Controller in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, stationed in Okinawa. After his military service, he continued his career with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), where he met and married Sharon while stationed in Lincoln, NE. The couple lived in several cities, including Las Vegas, Honolulu, Minneapolis, and Oklahoma City, before settling in Platte City in 1974 to raise their family. George retired after 37 years of service with the FAA, spending most of his career at Kansas City International Airport. He also served at the Kansas City Downtown Airport (Wheeler Field), where he oversaw the completion of a new control tower.

Known affectionately as "Papa" to his five grandchildren and "Papa Papa" to his two great-grandchildren, George was beloved for his steady presence, quick wit, and well-timed humor. He had a mind for numbers, a knack for riddles, and was never without a pocket pad for jotting down notes. A model of practical wisdom, George embodied quiet strength and grounded perspective and led not through title but through example. His lasting legacy will be his calm demeanor-never too high, never too low-that offered reassurance, stability, and steady leadership to everyone around him. To know him was to witness the kind of steady presence that makes others better simply by being near. George's legacy is one of integrity, humility, and steadfast love.

George will be laid to rest beside his wife Sharon at Leavenworth National Cemetery in Leavenworth, Kansas, in a private family service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hillcrest Platte County Thrift Shop in Platte City, Missouri, where George and Sharon dedicated many hours volunteering, at the following link: https://hillcrestplatte.org/.