George Hands

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of George Hands, Lt. Col US Army Reserves, Retired, at the age of 92, on Tuesday, April 2, 2012. Devoted husband, amazing father, dedicated patriot, faithful friend and hard working provider, he will be deeply missed. He is survived by his two daughters, Susan and Christine; his brother and sister-in-law by marriage, Eddie and Loretta Blanchard of Port Allen Louisiana; and eight nieces and nephews and their families. Born in Warrington England on October 8, 1919, his parents immigrated to the United States in 1922. He attended Cass Tech High School and worked as a lineman for Detroit Edison after graduating. He enlisted in the US Army when WWII started and ran communication lines in Europe, South Africa and South America. He met the love of his life, Elsie May Blanchard, in 1940 and they married after he returned from WWII in March 1946. Their first daughter, Susan, was born in 1948 followed by their second child, Christine, in 1952. George worked for National Electrical Contractors Association for twenty-eight years, building Chapters in Ohio, Michigan and Arizona. He and Elsie sponsored a family of five from Dutch Indonesia in 1957 and supported them for 8 months until they could take care of themselves in their new country. As a HAM Radio Operator, he ran phone patches during the 70’s from Barry Goldwater’s “HAM Shack” enabling the troops on the front lines to speak to their families in the USA. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, a Foster Parent for Arizona Schnauzer Rescue, loved to golf and could fix or build anything. George was a wonderful father and the “Dad” every child dreams of. He taught his children the Word of God and to say their evening prayers. He set a high example of what a husband is by truly loving their mother. Ice skating, swimming, riding two-wheelers, developing the courage to jump off the “high drive”, thinking before speaking and volunteering for causes were other activities he taught to his children. He listened and offered sage advice. He also passed on his love of dogs, as it was the only thing he insisted on when he married their mother – “we will have a dog and it will be a member of our family”. A Military Service will be held at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 9:30 am. George had specifically requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in his name to AZ Schnauzer Rescue, 2173 W Enfield Way, Chandler AZ 85286.