George Franklin Church, 80, died Friday, June 17, 2022, at Carlinville Rehab and Health Care. He was born March 8, 1942, in Fairmont, W.V., to Beryl and Emma Josephine (Lough) Church. He married Laureen Heenan in 1973. They had two daughters and later divorced. After moving to Illinois in 2002, he married Rita Barber. She survives.

He attended Fairmont State College and graduated from Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. George served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War with the Army Security Agency, in-country during the Tet Offensive on Tan Son Nhut Airbase. After his service he started a career in retail management, working for 32 years in the Greater Baltimore Metro area. He was an Illinois Master Gardener, an active member of the Carlinville Lions Club and worked at County Market/Girard. He especially enjoyed gardening and served as a docent at the Dean Garden at the Lincoln Home National Park as well as many projects in Macoupin County.

He is survived by his wife, Rita Barber Church; daughters, Jennifer Marie Church, Sharon Church Schmitz (Blu); grandchildren, Eva Walters, Skylar Schmitz, River Schmitz; and sister, Sally Browning (Ellsworth).

Cremation was provided by Kravanya Funeral Homes. Burial will be at the West Virginia National Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held later in the summer.