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George Dean - Year Entered 1966

George Dean

Deceased Classmate: (1966) George E. Dean III

Attended: 1966-68, Pasadena; 1968-69, Big Sandy

Date Of Birth: December 16, 1944
Date Deceased: July 5, 2019
Age at Death: 74
Cause of Death: Complications of Parkinson's Disease
Classmate City: Simi Valley
Classmate State: CA
Classmate Country: USA
Was a Veteran: Yes - U.S. Army, 1963-66
Survived By: wife, Carol (Daniels) Dean (P - 1965); daughter Sara C. Dean (AU Big Sandy 1992-95, B.A.; 1996-97); four sisters-in-law; two brothers-in-law and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

 

Obituary - George E. Dean III

George Emory Dean III was born Dec. 16, 1944 in Ocean Grove, New Jersey, and passed away July 5, 2019 in Simi Valley, California. He was the son of the late Edna G. (Mecusker) Dean Parnell and the late George E. Dean, Jr. who died in World War II, six months before the birth of his son.  

When George was four years old, his mother married Thomas F. Parnell and the family settled in Detroit, Michigan. Four years later they welcomed a second son, Thomas F. Parnell, Jr.

During his junior high and high school years, George participated in R.O.T.C. and played clarinet and saxophone in band.  After his graduation from Southeastern High School, he enlisted in the U. S. Army. He attended Army Signal School at Ft. Monmouth, N.J. and participated in the Army Honor Guard Drill Team. He was then stationed at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia where he worked in cryptography. George was honorably discharged in 1966 and moved to California to enroll at Ambassador College in Pasadena, CA. It was there that he met his future wife, Carol Daniels. He spent two years in Pasadena and then one year at the college’s second campus in Texas. He returned to California in 1969 and enrolled in Grossmont College in La Mesa, CA. He and Carol were married May 17, 1970.

After receiving his Associates Degree in 1972, George continued his education at San Diego State University.  On September 30, 1972 the couple welcomed a daughter, Sara Carol-Ann. She was the joy of their lives and filled their home with love and laughter, turning George into a doting Daddy.

George graduated with a B.S. in Accounting in 1975, and was hired by Cubic Corporation in San Diego, where he worked as a Contracts Administrator and Cost Analyst. In 1980, Carol gave birth to their son, George E. Dean IV, bringing a new level of joy to the whole family.

In 1985, the family moved to Simi Valley, CA, where they remain to this day. George worked for several aerospace companies until 1994, when an industry-wide slump led to a lay-off. He decided to fulfill a life-long dream of becoming a teacher. He signed on as a substitute with L.A.U.S.D., and worked in a variety of schools and classes. He chose Special Education as his focus, and enrolled at California State University Northridge in their Teacher Credentialing Internship Program. It was a long road, with over 65 units of post-graduate study, while teaching full-time, but he loved his work and considered it well worth the effort.

In fall 2002, George was diagnosed with a giant aneurysm on the brainstem. He underwent a very complicated surgery at UCLA Medical Center, which he miraculously survived. He spent two years in recovery, and was able to return to teaching. He continued in his beloved profession until another health crisis in 2011 forced him to retire.

Throughout his adult life, George served in his Church, participating in Spokesman’s Club, Security, Set-up/Clean-up Teams, Children’s Bible Classes, Family Day Organizing and Worship Teams. Since 2013, his health issues prevented him from attending church, which brought him great sadness. But his faith never wavered.

In 2015, tragedy struck once again. George was now dealing with Parkinson’s disease, and his health was declining further. On April 13, 2015, their son George IV was hospitalized and within hours he was in the ICU on life support. For a few days, he seemed to rally, but on April 26, 2015, he lost his battle. The family was devastated.

In July 2018, George was hospitalized once again and then transferred to local nursing home where he remained for 11 months, declining even further, and eventually being confined to a wheelchair. On June 30, 2019 George was rushed to the emergency room. After intensive examination and testing, he was placed in hospice care and finally lost his brave battle on July 5, 2019.

George will be remembered for his warmth, humor, kindness and friendly nature. It has often been said that he never met a stranger. He loved his God, his family, his students and his friends. He will be missed.

 



 
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07/15/19 11:41 AM #1    

Dean Smith (1964)

My memories of George began when we played in the AC Band, and later attending church in the San Diego area. He always seemed to wear a warm smile, had a positive attidue, and his eyes expressed life and sincere interest whenever we talked. I recall our last time visiting together was at a Holy Day in Palm Springs, and little Sara with her blond curls and reflection of mom, Carol, filled George with much pride and love. 


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