George W. Bacon

1932 - 2012

GALESBURG - George W. Bacon, 80, Galesburg, died at 9:45 a.m. Saturday, June 30, 2012 at home.
He was born Feb. 22, 1932, in Galesburg, the son of Harry C. and Florence E. Parish Bacon. He first married Loy Lea Barlow. He later married Sheryl Conard Cooper on Aug. 8, 1969, in Galesburg.
He is survived by his wife, Sheryl; four sons, Greg W. (and Julie) Bacon, Gary C. Bacon, Jay P. Cooper and Todd W. Cooper, all of Galesburg; five grandchildren; a great-grandchild; a brother, Bob (and Bev) Bacon of Fort Collins, Colo.; and a sister, Pat (and Jim) Stone of Galesburg. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Byron.
George was a millwright/welder for Maytag for 30 years, retiring in 1981. He then worked for General Motors in Ft. Wayne, Ind., for 13 years, retiring in 1997. He has been working part time for Sears for the past 13 years.
George graduated from Galesburg High School in 1950. In 2010, he earned his associate's degree from Carl Sandburg College, making him the oldest graduate in the school's history. He had just completed his first year at Knox College, maintaining a 3.0 GPA.
He was of Protestant faith. George was a member of AARP, Gold Wing Road Riders and Central Illinois A.B.A.T.E. He was a retired UAW member.
George served in the United States Marine Corps from January 1952 to January 1955 in Korea.
Cremation will be accorded. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 5, 2012, in Hinchliff-Pearson-West Galesburg Chapel, where military rites will be presented by Ralph M. Noble, American Legion Post 285 at 8 p.m. Memorial service will be 10 a.m. Friday, July 6, in the First United Methodist Church, with Mary Runge officiating. Memorials may be made to Rebels for a Cure-American Cancer Society or Guardian Angels Humane Society. Online condolences may be made atwww.h-p-w.com.