George passed away peacefully on March 12th surrounded by the love of his family at the Advent Health Hospice Unit in Orlando, Florida.
He is survived by his devoted and loving wife of over 57 years, Linda, who never left his side throughout the last part of his life journey, his children Adam (Hayley) and Mandy(Jeremy), his beloved grandchildren Jake and Gray, and his brother Roland (Susan). Also grieving his loss are his sister in law Sheila, nephews Barry (Kate), Michael (Julie), and nieces Alison (Jefferson), Christine (Ted), Cathy and Karen. George was predeceased by his parents Harry and Edna Billings, his brother Bob and sister Ellen Ryan.
An avid sportsman throughout his life, George excelled at baseball as a hard hitting outfielder at Kingston’s Cricket Field, on the football field as a two way player at LCVI and a Touch Football Champion in 1976 with Pools by Carsten. George played basketball, and rugby as well as field events at LCVI, and took up golf as a long off the tee player in Kingston and Florida. His love of sports carried over to the sidelines where he coached his son Adam in his minor basketball career in Kingston.
George was a proud member of IATSE since 1971. In Kingston, he worked as a Projectionist at the Odeon and Capital Theatres. He enjoyed stagehand events at the Grand Theatre and Memorial Centre. After moving to Orlando in 1991 he became a member of IATSE Local 631 working numerous events before taking a position at Vanco/PRG, a theatrical lighting company, where he worked from 1992 until his retirement in 2018.
George loved being Pop to his grandchildren Jake and Gray, who he taught to play chess and question authority. He was generous and kind and will be missed by all who knew him.
A Celebration of Life will take place at the family home on April 5th, 2025.