George Matthew Orth

George Orth died peacefully at home on Friday, October 3, 2025.

George Matthew Orth was born in San Francisco, California at Mary's Help Hospital, on July 9, 1932 to Mary and Joseph Orth. He spent his childhood and early adulthood in the San Francisco Bay area.

George was a star athlete. He participated in both track and football in high school and played semi-pro for the Oakland Gale post high school. He worked for American National Can Corp. for 39 years, ending his career there as lead maintenance mechanic, and union steward. During that time, he also worked in the cement, drywall and carpentry trades.

George had two children of his own, Lou Anne and Tim. He helped to raise a number of step-children, including Edward (Skip) and Julie Nunes, Donny and Denise Madrid, and Charles and Russell Maddox. The Charles and Layla (Samira) Maddox children are Mo (Mohammad), Zakaria, and Rae Ann; the Russell and Alicia Maddox children are Aaliya, Dayton and Kai. Aaliya's child is A'Merie.

George and his loving wife of 37 years Linda, moved from California to East Tennessee in 1991. They spent the following nineteen years in Hawkins County before relocating to Klamath Falls, Oregon, and spending winters in Pahoa, Hawaii. They moved back to Tennessee, and bought a home in Grainger County in 2017, where they have resided since.

George was preceded in death by his son Tim (George Timothy) Orth; by his second wife, Zoe (Zelda) Nunes; his third wife Paulette Madrid; his siblings Arthur, Auggie (August), Ritchey (Richard), Joe (Joseph), and Mary Louise.

He is survived by his wife Linda Orth; his daughter Lou Anne and husband George; step-children Julie; Donny and Denise; Charles and Russell and their wives, children and grandchild; his grandchildren Joseph and wife Janet; Jake (Jacob); Gena (Genavieve) and husband Rodney; Jordan; and Jessica and husband Eric; great- grandchildren Noah and Isaiah; Natalee, Nehoa, and River; Heidi, Jordan jr., Eva, Liam, Maximus and Elena; Nadia and Elsie; great-great grandchild Aria; and many other extended family and friends near and far.

George will be buried at the natural burial preserve at the Natural Burial Ground upper cemetery, Narrow Ridge Earth Literacy Center, with service beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 7.

For those who wish to attend the service, you are invited to bring a cookie plate or other snack and asked to bring your own lawn chair.

Native wildflowers welcome. Donations can be made to the Narrow Ridge Earth Literacy Center, 1936 Liberty Hill Road, Washburn, TN 37888. Arrangements by Cooke-Campbell Mortuary, Maynardville.