George Eade

1921 - 2018

George J. Eade

1921 – 2018

Retired United States Four-star General George James Eade, 96, passed away peacefully on August 26 in his Healdsburg residence with his family at his bedside.

Born in Lockney Texas on October 27, 1921, Eade entered military service as an aviation cadet in 1942 after hearing of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Thus began an amazing saga of discipline, hard work, adventure, and accomplishment.

His WWII assignments took him to North Africa and the European Theater. Even after suffering serious injuries sustained in combat, Eade rejoined the effort, eventually completing 37 combat missions. In Paris at the end of the war, he met a young Swiss woman, Colette, whom he courted and married. The young couple left Europe for the United States, where they pursued the life of a career Air Force family.

While raising five children, Eade rose to the top of his profession. His dedication to professional excellence earned him the admiration of his colleagues as they faced the ominous perils of the "Cold War". At the end of his 33-year career, he served in the position of Deputy Commander In Chief of the U.S. Forces in Europe with the rank of General of the USAF.

But Jim Eade was also a family man. He taught his children to ride horses, water ski, sail and windsurf. He loved walks in nature observing the birds and plants on his way. He also saw to it that the house was filled with music, which ranged from Bach to Burl Ives.

After retirement, Jim and Colette settled in Healdsburg California. Jim remained interested and involved in military affairs. He worked diligently to obtain awards for fellow WWII pilots who had gone unrecognized. He was a generous donor to charitable causes.

His beloved Colette passed away in 1994 after 48 years of marriage.
George J. Eade is survived by his five loving children, George, Helen, Anne, Christine and Dominique, his sister Helen, and his wife Jackie.