George Grant Fruit, age 77, died Saturday morning, January 5, 2013, at the Lone Tree Retirement Center, Meade, Kansas.
He was born February 19, 1935, at Haviland, Kansas, the son of George M. and Helen Marie (Richard) Fruit. As a young boy he attended the Haviland school system, graduating from Haviland High School in 1954. After his graduation he began his career as a clerk for several railroads, retiring after twenty-five years of service. He then began working for USD 483 as the maintenance director retiring after ten years.
He was a member of the Plains United Methodist Church and served as a councilman for the City of Plains for sixteen years. He enjoyed gardening, photography, motorcycles, traveling with his wife, and had a fond love for animals.
In October, 1958, he married Victoria Lester Mena. The couple later divorced. On June 29, 1973, he married Joan Brown Chancey at Plains, Kansas. She survives.
Other survivors include:
His children, Veronica Lynn Fruit Stephenson and husband Tim of Newton, Kansas
Lisa Renee Fruit Bortz of Wichita, Kansas
George G. Fruit, Jr. of Wichita, Kansas
Debra Jo Steadman and husband Terry of Pampa, Texas
Robert Loyd Chancey and wife Sarah of Satanta, Kansas
Tim Lynn Chancey of Ferguson, Missouri
Four sisters, Martha Gamble of Pahrump ,Nevada
Georgia Beatty of Apple Springs, Texas
Francis Beat of Kingman, Kansas
Elizabeth Adams of Hemet, California
Thirteen grandchildren Sixteen great-grandchildren
He is preceded in death by a daughter, Sheila Lorraine Fruit Aumiller on November 11, 1993; his parents; and a sister, Glenna McDaniel.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 8, 2013, at the Plains United Methodist Church with the Reverend Keith Schadel presiding. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Monday at Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary, Meade. Interment will be at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Laverne Cemetery, Laverne, Oklahoma.
The family would welcome memorials to the Plains United Methodist Church in care of the funeral home.
Personal condolences may be given to the family at www.fidlerormebachmanmortuary.com
