George Robert Mach

1928 - 2024

George Robert Mach

July 23, 1928 - March 13, 2024

Santa Maria, California - George R. Mach, 95, passed away on March 13, 2024. He was born July 23, 1928, in Cedar Falls, Iowa to George Robert and Elsie Mach. He is preceded in death by his parents and one sister. George is survived by his wife Mary Ruth, three children Diane (Bruce) Christenson, Robert (Margie) Mach, Roger (Bridget) Mach, five grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.

George graduated from Iowa State Teacher's College in May 1950 with a BA in Mathematics and received a MS in Mathematics from the State University of Iowa in 1951. He promptly enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve and was enrolled in the first class at the Naval Officer's Candidate School where he graduated as an Ensign. George served on the USS Saint Paul (CA-73) in the Korean War, was active in the Naval Reserves for 37 years, and retired from the Navy as a Captain in 1988.

George met his wife, Mary Ruth Harder, in college and they were married July 6, 1952, when he was home on leave. They moved to San Luis Obispo, California in the fall of 1954 when George joined the faculty at Cal Poly in the Mathematics Department. He earned his PHd from Purdue University while teaching, and retired from Cal Poly in 1991. After retirement George and Mary Ruth traveled worldwide (over 26 countries) and enjoyed spending time with their extended family.

George was a long time member of the First Presbyterian Church, founded the Cal Poly chapter of KME, was a founding member of the SLO YMCA, and was instrumental in the creation of SESLOC Credit Union. He was also active in the SLO Historical Society and Retired Active Men (RAM). George will be interned with military honors in the family plot at Fairview Cemetery, Cedar Falls, Iowa. Donations in his honor may be made to First Presbyterian Church San Luis Obispo or to the Cal Poly student ministry, Frontporchslo.org.