George Philip Overton OBITUARY

GEORGE PHILIP OVERTON George Overton passed away peacefully in his home in Orland, California on the eve of his 91st birthday, February 19, 2024, surrounded by his loving family after three years of battling leukemia. George was born February 20, 1933, in St. Louis, Missouri, the fourth of eight children to Theodore and Elizabeth (Piezuch) Overton. In December 1940, the family moved cross-country to Upper Lake, California, in Ford Model A’s with two sacks of potatoes. In 1942, the family moved to the Plaza District in Orland, where the Plaza School had to hire another teacher to accommodate the increase in students caused by the Overtons’ enrollment. The family purchased a farm north of Orland in 1946, and George graduated from eighth grade at Orland Elementary School in 1947. George entered Orland High School with the Class of 1951. As a freshman, he was the starting quarterback on the B Team (junior varsity) until he sustained a concussion in a car accident with his three brothers, ending his football career. He was able to play baseball, where he started for the varsity team for his three remaining baseball seasons at Orland High School. On January 5, 1951, George left Orland High School during his senior year to enlist in the United States Navy during the Korean War where he served on USS Seminole (AKA 104), an amphibious cargo attack ship home ported in San Diego, CA, with his brother Ted. After visiting ports in South Korea, Japan, Hawaii, and Alaska, Seminole returned to San Diego in October 1953 following cessation of hostilities. George was honorably discharged from active duty in December 1953, and honorably discharged from reserve duty in December 1958. George married his high school sweetheart, Joanne Levet, on October 23, 1955, at St Dominic Catholic Church in Orland. They moved out to the Plaza District in 1957 where they operated a dairy until 1989 when they planted almond trees. They finished building a beautiful home in 1970 where they enjoyed many happy family and friend celebrations over the past 54 years. George retired after 32 years of working as a heavy equipment operator for the Orland Water Users’ Association in 1986. He served on the Glenn Milk Producers Association Board 1975 – 1980 and California Manufacturing Milk Producers Advisory Board 1978 – 1989. He was a longtime member of St Dominic Parish, Knights of Columbus, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, and as long as he could hear the fire whistle, was a member of the Orland Fire Department. No one was a stranger to George. He always struck up a conversation with a funny comment that put you at ease and endeared you to him forever. George is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Joanne, their four children: Nancy, Suzanne, Tim, and Chris, their grandchildren: Scott, Katrina, Stefan, Laura, Michaela, Natalie, Megan, Sarah, and Hannah, and five great-grandchildren. George is also survived by his brothers: Pete, Pat, and Mike. Visitation will be on Friday March 1, 2024 from 4 – 7pm with a rosary at 6pm at Sweet-Olsen Family Mortuary 825 A Street, Orland. Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, March 2 at 10am at St. Dominic Catholic Church, 830 A Street, Orland, followed by Christian burial at Catholic Cemetery and reception at St Dominic Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Orland High Alumni Association or to the Enloe Foundation for the benefit of the new Enloe Cancer Center. Funeral arrangements are being managed by Sweet-Olsen Family Mortuary.