George Piper

FLINTSTONE - George Willard Piper, passed away on Saturday, April 10, 2021, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on December 12, 1927, in Hackensack, NJ, to Kenneth and Alice Piper. He moved with his family to Chattanooga as a young boy, graduated from City High School, and was a proud member of the Class of 1949 at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH.

After graduating from Dartmouth, George returned to Chattanooga, where he lived for most of his life, and where he met his future wife, Mary E. Past, when they were both volunteers at the Chattanooga Little Theater. They were married on November 21, 1951, and enjoyed a long and happy life together until her death in 2017. Along with his wife, George was a long-time, faithful member of Northside Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga, serving on the church's governing board, greeting arriving worshipers, and singing in the choir for many years. He took care of numerous projects around the campus, and was well known for getting to the church earlier than anyone else on Sunday mornings so he could open up the building for services.

George was employed for over thirty years by Mueller Company, retiring as Manager of Inside Sales in 1994.

George enjoyed music, both instrumental and vocal, and was a great fan of opera. His children may not have echoed that sentiment, but, on Saturday mornings for many years, he could be found listening to the Texaco Metropolitan Opera radio broadcast, often humming along to the arias and melodies. George studied piano as a young person, and played with skill and verve. Besides his appreciation of music, he loved spending time with his children, introducing them to the game of badminton, and roping them in for backyard games during long summer evenings. George also got a kick out of regaling his offspring with tales of his boyhood, relating funny stories of his and his brother's antics.

Though his world shrank following a serious illness he contracted seven years ago, George rarely complained, and always sought to enjoy life's simple pleasures, regardless of his condition. He was loving and generous, always smiling, and seemingly never met a stranger. He enjoyed a joke, but never at the expense of anyone else; he didn't have a mean bone in his body. George was a kind, caring, and sincere person, always ready to lend an ear to anyone who wanted someone to listen, or a shoulder to cry on, if that were needed. He was genuinely interested in those he met, and will be greatly missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

George is survived by his five children, Mary Anne Piper, Susan (Shawn) Halversen, Virginia Piper, Betsey (Jeff) Sanna, and Robert Piper (Robin Leventhal); seven grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, his brother, Richard K. Piper, several nieces, nephews, and cousins, and a host of friends of all ages.

We would like to thank the warm, caring staff of Hospice of Chattanooga who helped care for George at the end of his life. If you would like to make a gift in George's memory, we suggest either Hospice of Chattanooga, or Northside Presbyterian Church, which he attended so faithfully for so many years. A memorial service will be held at a later date.