George Donald Church, Sr.

George Donald Church, Sr. passed away at home on Friday, April 13, 2007 in the presence of Peggy and Cindy. George, one of several children born to Arthur Brown and Ella Mae Trivitte Church, was born on June 16, 1925 in Caldwell County in Patterson, North Carolina. George comes from a very talented music playing family and learned to play the guitar at the age of thirteen. He also played the mandolin, auto harp and mouth organ. He loved gospel, blue grass and old time country music. During the time he lived in North Carolina as well as on the Eastern Shore, George has formed and played in several country music groups. Everyone that has ever known George knows that his favorite music is “anything played bluegrass style.” George also enjoyed singing and playing music in church. An avid sportsman, George enjoyed pitching horseshoes, bowling and playing golf as well as riding his Gold Wing motorcycle for many years. George owned and operated Church Upholstery for many years and sponsored several bowling teams in both Pocomoke City and Salisbury, Maryland. After serving in the U.S. Army, George returned home and tried several jobs before finding the job that he truly loved, upholstery! George’s first upholstery job was at Broyhill Furniture where he worked for ten years. He also worked at several other businesses in the Hickory, North Carolina area as an upholsterer before relocating to the eastern shore of Virginia. Several years after moving to the Eastern Shore he started his “own” business under the name of Church Upholstery and Sons in the Pocomoke City area, later changing the business name to Church Upholstery. In 1980 he moved the upholstery shop to Delmar, Delaware where he remained in business until his retirement in 2005. George was a member of the St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Laurel, the American Legion Post #19 in Laurel the Peninsula BlueGrass Inc. and the AARP. In the past, George has been Commander of the American Legion, Glen Rayne Post Number 15 in Delmar, Delaware; a member of the Moose Lodge in Salisbury, Maryland, the Elks Lodge in Salisbury, where he loved playing golf, the Delmarva Wing of the Maryland Gold Wing Motorcycle Club, the Retread Motorcycle Club and the Delmar Chamber of Commerce. Surviving George is his wife Peggy (Parsons-Moore) Church. Also surviving him are five children. His three sons; George D. Church, Jr. (Donnie) and his wife Linda of Patterson, NC, Gary Church and his wife Debbie of Athens, Tennessee , and Michael Church and his wife, Debbie of Pittsville, MD; two daughters, Charlotte Buff of Hickory, NC and Brenda Starnes of Gaffney, SC; four step daughters, Mildred (Mickie) Bare and her husband, Jay of Snow Hill, MD, Nancy Mullen of Colonial Beach, VA, Cindy Moore of Laurel, DE and Donna Moore of Upper Fairmont, MD/Delmar, Delaware; a brother, Ivy E. Church (Edd) and his wife Joan of Fostoria, Ohio; two sisters, Della Mae Clonch of Patterson, NC and Iona Spears of West Jefferson, NC and a sister-in-law, Gladys (Church) Holden. George also has a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. As well as, several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Blaine Church and a sister, Faye Quinn of Hickory, NC. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at 11:00 am at Short Funeral Home , 13 E. Grove Street, Delmar, where family and friends may call on Monday evening from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. The Reverend Donald Murray will officiate. Interment will follow the services at Melson’s Cemetery in Delmar. In lieu of flowers, you may honor George by contributing to St. Paul’s Methodist Church, 32827 Old Stage Road, Laurel, Delaware 19956 or to Delaware Hospice, 20167 Office Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947 Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.shortfh.com .

George Donald Church, Sr.

June 16, 1925 - April 13, 2007