Kenneth Allen George

Kenneth A. George, 71, passed away peacefully in his sleep following a battle with cancer on Thursday, August 2, 2012, at Franciscan Hospice in University Place, Washington. Ken (Buck) was born on January 11, 1941, to Adeline Grovenor and Raymond George in Portland, Oregon. Ken spent most of his early years in Hardin and Billings, Montana, and in California. He served in the Navy for 26 years as a photojournalist and aerial reconnaissance photographer. He trudged the jungles and flew many missions during the Vietnam War. During his military service he also became a fitness expert and champion bodybuilder, winning the Mr. Hawaii title one year. After his retirement from the Navy, Ken worked many years for Pacific Stars and Stripes and European Stars and Stripes as a photojournalist in Tokyo and Germany. Ken captured on film many of the most significant events of the latter half of the 20th century. Ken’s passports bear the stamps of more than 100 countries on six continents (only the icy darkness of Antarctica eluded his explorations). Ken’s Nikon served as his shield, the only tangible thing between him and the greatest in human achievement, and human tragedy on the most horrific scale. He left footprints in the sands of the Kuwaiti desert. He witnessed ethnic cleansing in Bosnia, as well as civil wars in Rwanda and Somalia. Ken’s finger was on the shutter button when American David Jacobsen’s Iranian captors set him free. That photo appeared on the cover of Life magazine. A Ken George photo of President George H.W. Bush, a smile frozen on his face as he tossed a pair of cufflinks to an American soldier in Saudi Arabia, landed inside Time magazine. In the Israeli-Palestine conflict in 1988, Ken was caught in a crossfire between opposing forces and photographed the action while lying on his belly in the middle of the road. Ken is survived by his loving wife, Laurie George, of 32 years, and daughters Renee George Thompson of Ft. Collins, Colorado and Jamie George of University Place, a wonderful grandson, Shane Thompson, and son-in-law Corby Thompson. Other surviving family members include sisters, Fern Johnson of Buffalo, Wyoming, and Joyce Light of Hardin, Montana, Fern’s husband, Dale, Ken’s brother, Glenn Torske, from Billings, Montana, and Glenn’s wife, Sharon. Ken had many wonderful friends and family from around the world. He affected everyone he met in a very positive way, especially through his photography and fishing. Ken is remembered for the many lives he touched. He was wonderful, awesome, loving, kind, generous, and gentle. He loved the outdoors, was a sports fanatic, and never missed an opportunity to help others. Donations may be sent to Franciscan Hospice and Palliative Care at 2901 Bridgeport Way W, University Place, WA 98466.