CHAMPION - George A. Shay, 71, died at 9:05 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012, at Autumn Hills of congestive heart failure.
He was born Nov. 27, 1941, in Warren, the son of Arthur and Helen Shay.
George was a 1959 graduate of Warren G. Harding High School and moved to Champion in 2002. He retired in 1982 from the U.S. Air Force as an instructor of mechanics after 24 years and also retired from Lockheed in Warner Robbins, Ga., in 2002. He was a member of Champion Christian Church and enjoyed fishing, NASCAR and spending time with his children and grandchildren.
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Survivors include his children, Joseph Shay of Sidney, Brandy (Michael) Leatherman of Catawba, N.C., Stephani (Jeremy) Rife of Kettering and Kari (John) Trentham of Bonarre, Ga.; nine grandchildren, Taylor, Austin, Jakob T., Dalton, Madison, Leona, Jacob L., Caleb and Shyla; two sisters, Sandy Martin of Hubbard and Marylou Griffith of Florida; and a companion for the last year, Shirley Fennell of Grove City, Pa.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a wife, Michelle K. Sullivan Shay, whom he married Dec. 17, 1980, and who passed away June 3, 2007.
Friends and family may call from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday and 10 to 10:30 a.m. Monday at Peter Rossi & Son Memorial Chapel in Warren, where a funeral service will follow at 10:30 a.m. Monday with the Rev. Kenneth E. Hopkins Jr. officiating. Burial will be in Champion Township Cemetery with full military honors.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Champion Christian Church, 151 Center St., Warren, OH 44481.
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