George Finley

NORFOLK - George Francis Finley, 91, of Norfolk, formerly of Clarks, died Monday, Aug. 16, 2010, at Norfolk Veteran's Home.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the chapel of Solt Funeral Home in Central City, with Rev. Jim Parker officiating. Burial is in the Clarks Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Mr. Finley was born on July 18, 1919, in Richland to George W. and Rose T. (Wlaschin) Finley.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty, in 2001; and a son, Jim Finley, in 2005.

Those left to cherish his memory are his children, Bill and Dee Finley of Columbus, Jane Finley and Virginia Finley, both of Dacona, Colo., John and Karen Finley of Spring Hill, Fla., Steven Finley of Boston, Tom and Val Finley of Denison, Iowa, and Chuck and Wanda Finley of Norfolk; 16 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Cathryn Anderson of Denver, Alyce Anderson of Burnsville, Minn.; and sister-in-law, Elva Shonka of Schuyler.

He graduated from St. Edward High School and then entered the U.S. Army and served with the 9th Armored Division and was in the Battle of the Bulge. George served from 1941 to 1945 and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. After being honorably discharged from the military, George worked as a depot agent with the Union Pacific Railroad for 47 years. On Jan. 13, 1943, George F. Finley and Betty J. Verhaege were united in marriage in the St. Edward Catholic Church. They lived in Gothenburg, Brady, Willow Island, Richland, Rogers, Genoa, Albion, and his final depot was in Clarks. He retired in 1982 and moved to the Norfolk Veteran's Home in October of 2007.

George was a member of the VFW, the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, and the Disabled Veteran's. He enjoyed gardening.

He was also preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, James and Bud Finley; and two sisters, Charlotte Herman and Marge Wells.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.soltfh.com.

Please sign the guestbook at www.theindependent.com/obits.