Obituary of Col. George Edward Stover

Col George E ?Smokey? Stover USAF retired age 87 passed away Feb 15 at the home of his son, James, in Ruidoso NM. Formerly of both Martinsburg WVA. and the Winchester Va. Proceeded in death by his wife of 58 yrs Mabel. Survived by three children, George of Houston Texas, Peggy of Baltimore Md, and Jim of Ruidoso NM.; 3 grandchildren, Jimmy, Heather and Craig; and one brother Harold ?Jim? Stover of Fremont Nebraska. Born Nov 15, 1918 in Winner South Dakota. Raised in Wyoming and Nebraska. Lived and attended Midland College in Fremont Nebraska and graduated from Shepherd College in Shepherdstown, WV. Highly decorated veteran of WWII Pacific and Europe Theaters and Korea. Enlisted in Army Air Corp in 1940. Served in the Philippines and Australia with General MacArthur?s forces, then in Europe on the Allied Expeditionary Air Force Headquarters and later the staff of the Supreme Allied commander Gen Eisenhower, where he met his wife Mabel who was an Army WAC. Served in Korea and later on the Joint Chiefs staff at the Pentagon planning the post war development of both military and civil air transportation. Retired from the Air Force in 1961 and established a youth summer camp and operated a large farm in Capon Bridge West Virginia. Later served as a Regional Director in the US Office of Economic Opportunity, and later lived and taught school in Martinsburg W.Va. Relocated to NM with his son?s family in 1983. Always active in scouting, civic, and church activities. Awarded the Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service to scouting. Created a scout camp in Hawaii which was named in his honor. Championed restoration of the historic Apollo Theater in Martinsburg. Always very active in gardening, one of the founders of the Wall of Liberty Foundation dedicated to creating a memorial for the Normandy invasion in France. He will be remembered as an outstanding citizen, husband, father, grandfather, and friend; and one of the reasons they call it the ?Greatest Generation?. A viewing will be held Tuesday 10 AM in the First Presbyterian Church of Woodbury Heights, 335 Elm Ave, Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097. Tribute Service 11 AM in the church. Interment Harleigh Cemetery Tributes and memories may be shared by Clicking sign & view guestbook icon.