Obituary of George PAULING

Life Legacy George Pauling, beloved husband of Jo Anne Pauling (née Russell), passed away at Agapé Hospice on Friday, October 17, 2014, after a long and full life. George was born in Medicine Hat in 1927 to George Frederick and Esther Elizabeth Pauling, and had an adventurous boyhood, raising magpies and pigeons, collecting snakes, and generally doing all the things that he would later counsel his grandchildren not to do. George had many memorable times in his working life. In his school years, he had a summer job at the Chemical Warfare Experimental Station at Suffield, worked on survey parties in Alberta and Montana, and toiled in the Butte, Montana mines and smelter. After graduation from what is now the University of Montana in Missoula, he went on to forge a successful career as a petroleum geologist and oilpatch executive. George was based in Calgary for most of his career, though he spent considerable periods overseas supervising operations in England in the 1970’s, and later moved to Midland, Texas to manage operations there for five enjoyable years. After his retirement, he continued to explore interesting geological features with his geologist buddies. George was always active in his community, serving as a founding member of the Cambrian Heights Community Association, a leader in the Classical Guitar Society, a member of the Board for the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, a volunteer peace officer monitoring boat safety on Flathead Lake (where he spent many happy days in Bigfork), and a Meals on Wheels volunteer. George was enthusiastic about many things, from rocks to classical guitar to cameras to aircraft to boats to cats to cars to the Stampeders to bad puns, but above all was a collector of friends wherever he went. Studying petroleum engineering and geology at university in Montana gave George the chance for what he often called “the best thing I ever did”, meeting and marrying his beloved Jo Anne. George will be sorely missed by Jo Anne, daughter Vicki and her husband Jim Skopyk, and son Greg and his wife Linda. He was proud grandfather/G’pa to Jay (Kirsten), Shila (Tom), Bess and Maddie, and great -grandfather to Katrianne, Xavier and Nikolas. He was predeceased by daughter Cheryl and sisters Olive, Lenore and Lois. A Memorial Service will be held at St. Barnabas Anglican Church, 1407-7th Avenue NW, on Thursday, October 23, 2014 at 1:30 p.m. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Agapé Hospice, 1302 - 8 Avenue N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1B8 Telephone: (403) 282-6588.