Obituary of Ronald D. George

Dr. Ronald D. George, age 83 of Fuquay-Varina, NC, peacefully passed away under hospice care on June 8 with his family by his side at the NC Veteran’s Administration hospital. The Buckhannon native was born in July of 1933 to Dorsey and Cecilia (Rollins) George, who preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife Joan (Dawson) George whom he married on March 8, 1953 and two daughters, Ronda George and Diana Cabaniss, as well as son-in-law Chris and grandchildren Lauren (15) and Jacob (14) Cabaniss, all of Cary, NC. Ron and Joan just celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary this spring. Dr. George is also survived by one sister, Lorene Kerans Bailey of Buckhannon, as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by three sisters: Dorothy Gulley, Ileana (‘Pete’) Mazzei and Nita Jarvis. Dr. George graduated from Buckhannon-Upshur HS in 1951 and attended Potomac State College (now part of WVU) in Keyser for one year. He was drafted into the US Army during the Korean Conflict and served as a 40mm light artillery gun instructor at the Aberdeen (MD) Proving Grounds where he was Soldier of the Week twice and Instructor of the Week three times. After two years of military service, he was honorably discharged to return home to attend West Virginia Wesleyan College for one year. He graduated from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN, with BS and OD degrees in 1959. Dr. George opened his optometric practice in downtown Buckhannon in 1960 and retired in 1999 after 40 years. He was instrumental in the passage of the WV State law in 1975 to allow optometrists to acquire a pharmacology license for prescriptions for the eye, making many trips to the state legislature in Charleston, WV for lobbying and to the Philadelphia College of Optometry for continuing education. WV was the first US State to pass this law with others to follow suit shortly thereafter, allowing further diagnostic abilities by optometrists to treat eye diseases and infections. He was the chairman of the Legislative Committee of the WV Optometric Association, served as Secretary-Treasurer of the same board for nine years, and was President of the WV Optometric Board in 1979. In addition to his optometric work, Dr. George was an avid Buckhannon volunteer and was president of many local associations including the Jaycees and he was named an outstanding local President in the state of WV; the Elks Club where he was a 50-year member; the Lions Club; the Buckhannon Country Club; the Buckhannon Chamber of Commerce and the PIC (President Investments Club). Dr. George was named an Outstanding Young Man in America in 1970. He was a campaign chairman for the American Red Cross and an active volunteer and participant with the WV Strawberry Festival Association, including carrying the queen’s train as a youth and then emceeing the lighting of the flame on the Upshur County Courthouse plaza many years later. Ronald George was one of the founding members and on the Board of Directors of the Upshur National Bank that formed in 1980 that was later absorbed by First Community Bank. In addition to being an avid fan of B-U Buccaneer and WVU Mountaineer sports, Dr. George was a proud B-U Band and Pride of West Virginia Band Booster. During his retirement years, he enjoyed playing golf, cards & bocce ball. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dr. George’s memory to any of the following charities (please note his name on your check or included note): Dementia Society of America, P.O. Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901 WVU Foundation, WVU-RTP Alumni Scholarship fund, One Waterfront Place - 7th Floor, P.O. Box 1650, Morgantown, WV 26507-1650; West Virginia Wesleyan College, Advancement Office, 59 College Avenue, Buckhannon, WV 26201; The Georges will receive family and friends at Poling St. Clair Funeral Home in Buckhannon from 4-7pm on Friday evening, September 22, 2017. There will be no funeral service or interment. Cards of condolence may be mailed to Mrs. Joan George, 1421 E. Broad Street, Suite 190, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526.