Class of 1959
1959 Maroon Spotlight
George Whitchurch
Wrestling 56-59; Senior Class Treasurer 58-59; Lettermen’s Club Secretary-Treasurer 58-59; Home Room President 58- 59; Home Room President 57-58; Home Room President 56-57; Lettermen’s Club 56-59, Boy’s State 1958.
1959 Graduation EditionPerry Daily Journal
George Leon Whitchurch, 17, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Whitchurch, 715 Ivanhoe street. He was born Oct. 1, 1941, in Marland, Oklahoma and also has attended grade school at Billings. He was a member of the Letterman’s club, 1956-59; secretary-treasurer of the club in 1958-59; and senior class treasurer, 1958-59. He also was active in wrestling and baseball the past four years. His plans for the future are indefinite. English literature is his favorite subject and fishing is his hobby.
George Leon Whitchurch
October 1, 1941 – February 14, 2017
George Leon Whitchurch, passed away Tuesday, February 14, 2017, at the age of 75 surrounded by his family.
Born in Marland, Oklahoma on October 1, 1941, he was the son of Charles Leon and Virgie (Grim) Whitchurch. He grew up in Perry, Oklahoma and worked as a stock boy at the J. C. Penney company store while attending Perry high school. Following his graduation from PHS in 1959, he continued his education at Draughon’s School of Business in Oklahoma City.
On April 15, 1961, George and fellow PHS alumna, Doris Christin “Christy” VanBebber, were married in Perry. The couple were blessed with two children.
In 1962 the family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where George worked as office manager for the Lovelady Dodge dealership. He continued his career in auto sales at the Rich Ford Company in Albuquerque for two years, before purchasing a dealership of his own in Belen, New Mexico at the end of 1973. Before opening the business, named Valley Ford Sales, he constructed a 16,000 square foot building to house the dealership. While living in Belen the family developed an interest in training and showing paint and pinto horses.
On February 1, 1978, George married Karen N. Kincaid. By 1979 George branched out as the new car & truck manager for H. Caldwell Motor Company in Belen, followed by Casey Luna Ford Mercury.
They settled in San Antonio in 1989. He had a long career in the automobile industry, finishing his career as the General Manager and partner at Fiesta Auto Center, San Antonio, where he retired in 2009.
George had a great passion for life, and enjoyed the car business, golf, and fishing.
Preceding him in death were his parents and his brother Charles “Junior” Whitchurch.
Survivors include: his brother, Bill Whitchurch; sisters, Patsy Hasenfratz and Joann Nemmecheck; daughter, Sherry Corley and husband Kenneth; son, Kevin Whitchurch and his wife Denise; and stepson, John Kincaid; five grandchildren, Stephanie Robles and husband Adam, Ryon Corley and wife Laura, Ruben Rivera and wife Sonia, Kyle Whitchurch, Nicholas Hinojosa, Cory Whitchurch and Alex Whitchurch; and five great grandchildren, Mason, Cattaleya, Rhett, Maizy, and Declan.
Memorial Services will be held Monday February 20th, 2017, at Noon at Mission Park Funeral Chapel North, San Antonio, Texas.