George Charles DeSalvo “Pal”
George Charles DeSalvo, lovingly known as “Pal”, age 89, passed away peacefully, with loved ones holding him in their thoughts and prayers, on Wednesday, April 4, 2018, at the Community Hospice Earl B. Hadlow Center for Caring.
George was born on Friday, March 22, 1929 in Millsboro, Pennsylvania the son of George and Pauline (Fantone) DeSalvo.
He had fond memories of his childhood along the Monongahela River in West Brownsville, Pennsylvania, during the hard times of the Great Depression where he went to work at the age of 16 for the Pennsylvania Railroad.
He met the love of his life, Dolores “Dokey” Beal, across the candy counter at G. C. Murphy 5 & 10 in Brownsville, Pennsylvania and went on to cherish her through 60 years of marriage.
George bravely served his country during the Korean War and unsuspectingly became a victim of the United States Nuclear Testing Program. He and his fellow soldiers were taken to the Nevada Test Site where they were used as experimental test subjects in the Army’s Top Secret Atomic Bomb testing on April 25, 1953. The impact and radiation effects of experiencing an atomic bomb from two miles away began to destroy his health immediately, leaving him to suffer greatly over his lifetime.
Though this event changed his life profoundly, his perseverance and dedication to hard work would ultimately lead him to Lima, Ohio where he became known for his incredible management skills and innovative ideas at the Ford Motor Company Lima Engine Plant.
George retired from Ford as a respected Superintendent after 32 years and moved to Bayonet Point, Florida where he and Dokey spent many years enjoying family and friends, dining out, and planning casino visits. They eventually moved to Loganville, Georgia.
Pal loved to entertain others by singing and telling his incredible life stories.
He especially loved playing with his grand children and watching them grow up.
Some of his hobbies were bowling, gardening, and working side by side with Dokey on home remodeling projects.
He was a member of Saint Michael Catholic Church in Bayonet Point, Florida and together with his wife enjoyed many years as a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Elks, American Legion, the Eagles, and the Moose Lodge.
He was a proud member of the National Association of Atomic Veterans (NAAV) and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
Pal lost his beloved wife, Dokey, to cancer in 2015.
He was also preceded in death by his loving parents; and siblings, Roger, Joseph, Ronald, Dolores and Larry.
Left to cherish his memory are his children: Diane E. Wise and her husband Keith of Grayson, Georgia, David G. DeSalvo of New Richmond, Ohio, Carol D. Smith and her husband Kevin of Fleming Island, Florida. Also fondly remembering their “Pappy” are his grandchildren: Jessica Kennedy and husband Clayton, Brittany and Shelbi DeSalvo, Sydney, Courtney and McKenzey Smith; great-grandson, William Asher Kennedy. He is also survived by his dear sisters-in-law: Connie DeSalvo, Nancy DeSalvo, Nancy DeSalvo Roberts; and was loved by all of his family and friends.
An intimate Memorial Service will be held today, Sunday, April 29, 2018 at 2 o’clock in the Chapel of the Community Hospice Earl B. Hadlow Center for Caring in Jacksonville, Florida.
A Memorial Service with Military Honors will also be held this summer in his hometown of Brownsville, Pennsylvania where he will be laid to rest with the love of his life, Dokey, at Lafayette Memorial Park, Brier Hill, Pennsylvania.