George Posey

George was born in Alameda, CA to George and Ethel Kesselring Posey. His father George A. Posey Sr. was engineering the innovative Posey Tube (auto tunnel) that passes between Alameda and Oakland. When his father died in 1931, his mother brought him and his sisters Barbara and Dorothy to her family home in Chico. All three children attended Chico schools. George graduated from Chico High in 1941. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1942 during World War II and was assigned to the 9th Airborne Division. During his life of 86 years he developed 4 careers. His first was as a Mustang Pilot flying reconnaissance over Germany. His story is legendary: Shot down by a Nazi flying a captured American aircraft he was wounded and taken as a P.O.W. to a German Hospital in Strasbourg. Nearing the end of the war the medical staff opted to return to Germany for self protection and surrendered the hospital to the "highest ranking U. S. Officer", Lt. George Posey! He was recalled from the reserves during the Korean War as a jet flight instructor and served a total of 35 years in the Reserves. Back in post war U. S. George studied at the John Martin School of Radio Engineering and moved on to open the first radio station at Banning, CA. From there he opened station KCRB in Modesto and later KSOA in Sacramento. While there he created his own program (Cloud Nine) and subsequently moved to Chico and station KXOC (now KPAY) where he became known as "The Navigator". He married Jeanne Compton in Chico on July 16, 1949. Jeanne passed away in 2004. As TV increased in scope, George turned to a new interest in speech therapy and earned a B.A. at CSUC in 1962 and took advanced courses in San Francisco, taught at Butte College for 2 years and was an Audiologist for Drs. Leivers, Scharff and Heithecker. In 1972 he and wife Jeanne purchased a women's clothing store "The Fair" and changed the name to The Posey Fair. They sold the store in 1990 to retire and travel in their RV. Their greatest love was Branson, Missouri where they worked and lived for 2 seasons at Silver Dollar City. He married Valene Smith McIntyre in 2005 and they traveled extensively including Antarctica and Africa. George leaves behind wife Valene, sons Dyrk (Laurel) and Damon (Sandy) and daughter Danette along with 5 grandchildren and 2 great-grandsons. George is remembered as an avid sportsman including sailing, hunting, tennis and dancing. He loved photography and was a "computer and gadget guy". He served the community in the Chico Y-Men's Club, Chico Noon Exchange Club, STARS, DCBA, Sirs #63, and life member of Chico Elks Lodge #423. Memorial donations may be made to: The Museum of Anthropology, CSUC , 95929-0400. Memorial Service: Friday, May 29, 2009 at Manzanita Place, Chico Elk's Lodge 3:00 P.M., 1705 Manzanita Avenue.