GEORGE R. WHARTON, Jr.
Funeral services for George R. Wharton, 83,
of Aurelia will be held Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 10:30 A.M. at the First
Congregational Church in Aurelia, with Pastor Bruce Rapp officiating.
Burial will be in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Aurelia. Visitation will
be Monday from 2:00 to 8:00 P.M., with the family present from 6:00 to
8:00, at the Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia. In lieu of flowers memorial
donations may be made in memory of George to the Aurelia Community
Center foundation.
George Richard Wharton, Jr. was
born September 10, 1923 in Aurelia, Iowa, the son of George R. and Julia
I. (Wightman) Wharton. He graduated from the Aurelia High School in
1941. In March of 1943 George entered the US Army. He attended Mortuary
College in St. Louis in 1947 and returned to Aurelia where he joined his
father in the business. In 1948 George and his brother Charles began
Maple Valley Hatchery. On May 13, 1949 he was united in marriage to
Florence Ann Campbell in Sioux Rapids, IA. In 1960 George and Charles
got out of the hatchery business and started Maple Valley Feed &
Fertilizer, which they operated until the mid 1980’s. He continued to
operate the Wharton Funeral Home until he retired and sold the business
on January 1, 1991.
George was a lifelong member of the First
Congregational Church in Aurelia, a charter member of the Aurelia
Kiwanis Club, was an American Legion member and a past Commander, served
on the Aurelia Fire Department from November of 1951 to November of
1961, and was a founding member of the Aurelia Golf Club. He enjoyed
golfing, hunting and fishing, woodworking, gardening, and spending time
with his grandchildren.
George died Saturday, May 19,
2007, at the Sunset Knoll Care & Rehab Center in Aurelia.
Preceding George in death were
his parents, and his wife Florence on January 8, 1994.
Survivors include his daughter
Julie Wharton of Hastings, NE, two grandchildren, Megan Warren of
Clever, MO, and Ryan Langerman of Sioux City, one brother, Charles and
his wife Opal Wharton of Aurelia, one niece, Ann Holton, two nephews,
Mark and his wife Karen Wharton, and Paul Wharton, and other relatives
and friends.
