George Wilson Todd

1943 - 2020

George Wilson Todd passed away peacefully early Sunday morning at his home in Arizona on January 26, 2020 at age 76 after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer.

He was born on March 3, 1943 to Hobart Vernon Todd and Bernice Lucille Lyons Todd in Belmont County, Barnesville, Ohio.

His parents preceded him in death, Hobart on October 2, 1997 and mother, Bernice on May 3, 1990. He is survived by wife Gene (Teddy) Van Winkle Todd; son Tori Todd and wife Jennifer Todd: daughter, Tomi Todd and grandchildren Nick Liening and Alex Liening; and daughter Christi McCarthy and husband JJ McCarthy and granddaughter Bebe.

He was the youngest of five boys who lived and worked on their dairy farm near Quaker City, Ohio in coal country before moving to the Mt Gilead Dairy Farm when he was six. He is also survived by brother Earl Todd's widow Kay Todd and their children Julia Todd and Rene Todd; Charles Todd; and Larry Todd and wife Carol Todd and daughters Tara Lienweaver and Trista Todt. Brother Vernon Todd preceded George in death in February, 2017. Vernon's children are Tammy Jo Love and Dale V Todd. George's oldest brother, Earl Todd, passed away five months later on June 1, 2020.

George graduated as the valedictorian and 1961class president from Mt. Gilead High School, Mt Gilead, Ohio. He played sports all four high school years and was awarded honors in baseball, basketball, and football. He continued his education with honors scholarships and Stadium Dorm Scholarship at the Ohio State University graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry/Physics Education in 1965. He completed graduate work via the National Science Foundation and earned a Masters in Chemistry Education from Duke University, Raleigh, NC in September, 1970.

He began his teaching career in the fall of 1965 at Granville High School, Granville, Ohio teaching Chemistry and Physics and coaching 7th and 8th grade basketball at Union Station School. George continued coaching Junior High and Reserve Boy's Basketball, Freshmen and Reserve Girl's Basketball, and Reserve and Varsity Girl's Softball. He also coached community t-ball and little league and basketball skills workshops.

George was also the science club advisor, senior class advisor and commencement/baccalaureate organizer. He was a member and an officer in the Granville Teacher's Association. George retired from Granville High School in 1995.

George also loved farming and purchased the Brown/Lindsey farm in 1973. He continued farming from 1973 until 2018. We raised beef cattle and hay with a little corn, beans, oats, and wheat. He farmed with our son Tori Todd until this last year.

George was an avid doubles tennis player. He competed in league tournaments receiving awards and played for both the Trilogy Tennis Club, Peoria, Arizona and the Granville Tennis Club in Granville, Ohio.

He was also a member of the United Methodist Church in Mt. Gilead, Ohio. The Arizona Celebration of life was held in our AZ home February 23, 2020.

The Ohio Celebration of life will be held on Sunday, July 4, 2021 in Granville, Ohio. Celebration will be held in the tent at Opera House Park at the SE corner of West Broadway and South Main St. (118 S Main St) from noon to 3 p.m. with a short sharing stories service at noon with pulled pork barbecue Lunch. We will celebrate George's life within the Granville Kiwanis 4th of July 2021 Independence Festival weekend.