George Howard Williamson

George Howard Williamson was born June 28, 1925 in Hopewell, Virginia. He was the oldest of 6 children. He joined the Army Air Corps in 1943, listing his prior occupation as “child,” since he was under the legal age to join the military. He was trained in aircraft maintenance and repair and was sent to England in 1944 as part of the D-Day preparations. George was introduced to playing bridge by another service man, which lead to a life-long love of the game. After World War II ended in Europe, he was posted in Berlin, where he took up stamp collecting, another life-long interest. Upon returning to the United States, George married June Irene Green on September 26, 1954, less than a week before leaving for his next posting in France. George and June travelled extensively throughout Europe while stationed near Orleans and later Paris. They moved to Great Falls, Montana, in 1958 after being stationed at Malmstrom Air Base. George and June bravely drove across the county to Montana, with 2 children - Melissa and Melanie -- under the age of 3, to start their Montana adventure that would last nearly 60 years and would include the birth of their son, Bruce, in 1959. After retiring from the Air Force in 1963, George worked as a mail carrier with routes throughout Great Falls, until he received one of the first 40-year federal employee pins ever presented by the Great Falls Post Mistress. George was active in the Big Sky Bridge Club for decades and earned Diamond Life Master status in 2013. He was also one of the early members of the Great Falls Stamp Club and collected stamps from around the world. George and June continued their travels after retirement, visiting the Hawaiian Islands, England, Scotland, the east coast of the U.S. and making many trips into Canada. A life-long Washington Redskins fan, George loved sports of all kinds, with the exception of golf which he would only watch if nothing else was available. He is survived by a sister, Alice Roles, a niece, Lisa Butler, daughters, Melissa Williamson (Charles Wingate) and Melanie Pierce (Gordon) and a son, Bruce Williamson (Kim) as well as 10 grandchildren. He will be truly missed.