Published: May 04, 2008 12:29 am            

George William Arthur Mahoney

George William Arthur Mahoney, 83, of Stillwater died Monday, April 21, 2008 in Stillwater. His life will be celebrated with a memorial mass at 10 a.m. on May 17 at St. John’s Catholic Church (one block south of Gallagher-Iba Arena) with Father Kenneth J. Harder officiating. After the mass, a graveside service will be held for George and Jean Mahoney at Sunset Memorial Gardens, with a military burial for George.

He was born Jan. 23, 1925 at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Ill., the son of Edward J. Mahoney and Mercedes (Connor) Mahoney. He attended Cathedral Boys High School and received his diploma in 1944, the same year he passed his test for the Army Air Cadet Program. From 1944-5, he completed 30 bomb missions as bombardier-navigator with Squadron 766 of the 461st Bomb Group. He retired from the Air Force Reserves as a Lieutenant Colonel.

He attended Springfield Junior College, earning his AA in 1947 and his BS in agriculture engineering from the University of Illinois in 1949. He earned his master’s degree from Oklahoma A&M College in 1953. He earned his Ph.D. in 1972 while teaching agriculture engineering at Oklahoma State University. He continued teaching there until his retirement in 1986.

He married Nettie Jean Hagers on Jan. 23, 1954 and they raised their two children, Kevin and Siobhan.

He received the Campaign and Service Medal, American Theatre Campaign Medal, Campaign Service Victory WWII Medal, Campaign and Service Armed Forces Medal and Air Medal from WWII. He was active in Boy Scouts as a child and he became an Eagle Scout Master earning the District Award of Merit, Kiwanis Service Award, Extra Miler, Silver Beaver, Historic Trails Award, Bronze Pelican and St. George Medals.

As a professor at OSU, he received ASAE Outstanding Paper Award, ASAE Extension Blue Ribbon Award, and the OSPE Award for New Design Criteria. He was one of three professors to publish “An Introduction to Agriculture” and gave numerous speeches across the country concerning engineering.

He was very active in Toastmasters and Town and Gown Community Theatre, serving as president in both organizations. He belonged to the Knights of Columbus, NSF Fellowship, ROA, American Legion, MOAA, and received the Honor Society Award from Phi Theta Kappa. In his spare time he loved to fish and hunt and he spent endless hours volunteering for numerous organizations.

He was preceded in death by his parents; beloved wife Nettie Jean Mahoney on Jan. 17, 2007; older brother, Edward J. Mahoney, Jr. on March 24, 2007; and younger sister, Rose Mary Etta Cernich on Dec. 11, 2004.

He is survived by one son, Kevin H. Mahoney and his wife Mickie of Swansea, Ill.; one daughter, Siobhan A. “Sam” Foreman and her husband Randy of Stillwater; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one younger sister, Rita M. Knox of Keokuk, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Boy Scouts of America, 317 N. Grand Ave., Enid, 73701 or the Defenders of Wildlife, P.O. Box 1553, Merrifield, Va., 22116.

Condolences may be e-mailed to the family and an online obituary may be viewed by visiting www.strodefh.com.

        

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