George Orrin Likins, a lifelong resident of Springfield, passed away Sunday, May 3, 2009, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Mt. Vernon, following a lingering illness.
George was born on October 23, 1927, the fourth and final child to George "Ross" and Adah (Rominger) Likins. He attended Oak Grove Elementary School and Jarrett Junior High, graduating from Springfield High School (now Central) in 1945. Shortly before the end of World War II, he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving at Newport Beach, NJ. After his discharge in 1946, he attended Drury College and then began a career in the paper industry that would span more than 40 years.
His first job was as a salesperson for Springfield Paper Company, started by his father shortly after World War II. In the mid-sixties he moved to Carpenter Paper Company, and a few years later, became manager of the Industrial Paper Division. In time, Carpenter became Nationwide Papers and George's career took a quantum leap. During the next twenty years, he would receive countless honors and mentor many young adults who would later become managers themselves. His efforts culminated in making the Nationwide office in Springfield one of the most profitable in the company.
George married Sharon Shanks in June 4, 1949. After almost 36 years of marriage, Sharon died in 1985. On April 7, 1989, he married Linda (Wiggins) Johnson and having already raised four of his own children, lovingly helped parent her three sons. He grew up in First and Calvary Presbyterian Church, and was also a charter member of Covenant Presbyterian Church, where he was elected and ordained an elder. Eventually, he again became actively involved at First and Calvary, where he served as a greeter and usher, and in his latter years, felt the calling to become a Stephen Minister.
Despite George's unequaled work ethic, he always found time for recreation, with none more valuable than times with his family. There were family trips to destinations such as California, Colorado, Florida and the 1967 World's Fair in Montreal. In the early seventies, his fun really began when he purchased a cabin on Table Rock Lake. That venue continues to provide enjoyment such as skiing, tubing, wake-boarding and four-wheeling for four generations of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
George's other passions included sports and airplanes. As a teen he played baseball and football, instilling his love of sports in many of his children and grandchildren. Nothing gave him more satisfaction than to watch one of his children or grandchildren "play ball." His interest in airplanes led to many pleasurable hours piloting small aircraft and visiting air shows and museums.
George was preceded in death by his father, Ross, his Mother Adah, his first wife Sharon, his brother William, and sisters Mary Ellen (Hammon) and Genevieve (Hunt).
He is survived by his wife Linda Likins of Springfield; daughter Deborah Likins-Fowler and her husband Robert of Cleveland, OH; daughter Leslie (Likins) Crozier and son-in-law Jerry of Fairfax, IA; son and daughter-in-law Curt and Mary Likins of Kansas City; son and daughter-in-law Woody and Barbara Likins of Tulsa, OK; stepsons Pete Johnson and Andrew Johnson of Springfield, and stepson Tyler Johnson and his wife Beth of Nixa. He also leaves 10 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Stephen Ministry program at First and Calvary and/or the O'Reilly Family Event Center Building Fund at Drury University.
George was born on October 23, 1927, the fourth and final child to George "Ross" and Adah (Rominger) Likins. He attended Oak Grove Elementary School and Jarrett Junior High, graduating from Springfield High School (now Central) in 1945. Shortly before the end of World War II, he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving at Newport Beach, NJ. After his discharge in 1946, he attended Drury College and then began a career in the paper industry that would span more than 40 years.
His first job was as a salesperson for Springfield Paper Company, started by his father shortly after World War II. In the mid-sixties he moved to Carpenter Paper Company, and a few years later, became manager of the Industrial Paper Division. In time, Carpenter became Nationwide Papers and George's career took a quantum leap. During the next twenty years, he would receive countless honors and mentor many young adults who would later become managers themselves. His efforts culminated in making the Nationwide office in Springfield one of the most profitable in the company.
George married Sharon Shanks in June 4, 1949. After almost 36 years of marriage, Sharon died in 1985. On April 7, 1989, he married Linda (Wiggins) Johnson and having already raised four of his own children, lovingly helped parent her three sons. He grew up in First and Calvary Presbyterian Church, and was also a charter member of Covenant Presbyterian Church, where he was elected and ordained an elder. Eventually, he again became actively involved at First and Calvary, where he served as a greeter and usher, and in his latter years, felt the calling to become a Stephen Minister.
Despite George's unequaled work ethic, he always found time for recreation, with none more valuable than times with his family. There were family trips to destinations such as California, Colorado, Florida and the 1967 World's Fair in Montreal. In the early seventies, his fun really began when he purchased a cabin on Table Rock Lake. That venue continues to provide enjoyment such as skiing, tubing, wake-boarding and four-wheeling for four generations of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
George's other passions included sports and airplanes. As a teen he played baseball and football, instilling his love of sports in many of his children and grandchildren. Nothing gave him more satisfaction than to watch one of his children or grandchildren "play ball." His interest in airplanes led to many pleasurable hours piloting small aircraft and visiting air shows and museums.
George was preceded in death by his father, Ross, his Mother Adah, his first wife Sharon, his brother William, and sisters Mary Ellen (Hammon) and Genevieve (Hunt).
He is survived by his wife Linda Likins of Springfield; daughter Deborah Likins-Fowler and her husband Robert of Cleveland, OH; daughter Leslie (Likins) Crozier and son-in-law Jerry of Fairfax, IA; son and daughter-in-law Curt and Mary Likins of Kansas City; son and daughter-in-law Woody and Barbara Likins of Tulsa, OK; stepsons Pete Johnson and Andrew Johnson of Springfield, and stepson Tyler Johnson and his wife Beth of Nixa. He also leaves 10 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Stephen Ministry program at First and Calvary and/or the O'Reilly Family Event Center Building Fund at Drury University.
George Orrin Likins, a lifelong resident of Springfield, passed away Sunday, May 3, 2009, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Mt. Vernon, following a lingering illness.
George was born on October 23, 1927, the fourth and final child to George "Ross" and Adah (Rominger) Likins. He attended Oak Grove Elementary School and Jarrett Junior High, graduating from Springfield High School (now Central) in 1945. Shortly before the end of World War II, he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving at Newport Beach, NJ. After his discharge in 1946, he attended Drury College and then began a career in the paper industry that would span more than 40 years.
His first job was as a salesperson for Springfield Paper Company, started by his father shortly after World War II. In the mid-sixties he moved to Carpenter Paper Company, and a few years later, became manager of the Industrial Paper Division. In time, Carpenter became Nationwide Papers and George's career took a quantum leap. During the next twenty years, he would receive countless honors and mentor many young adults who would later become managers themselves. His efforts culminated in making the Nationwide office in Springfield one of the most profitable in the company.
George married Sharon Shanks in June 4, 1949. After almost 36 years of marriage, Sharon died in 1985. On April 7, 1989, he married Linda (Wiggins) Johnson and having already raised four of his own children, lovingly helped parent her three sons. He grew up in First and Calvary Presbyterian Church, and was also a charter member of Covenant Presbyterian Church, where he was elected and ordained an elder. Eventually, he again became actively involved at First and Calvary, where he served as a greeter and usher, and in his latter years, felt the calling to become a Stephen Minister.
Despite George's unequaled work ethic, he always found time for recreation, with none more valuable than times with his family. There were family trips to destinations such as California, Colorado, Florida and the 1967 World's Fair in Montreal. In the early seventies, his fun really began when he purchased a cabin on Table Rock Lake. That venue continues to provide enjoyment such as skiing, tubing, wake-boarding and four-wheeling for four generations of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
George's other passions included sports and airplanes. As a teen he played baseball and football, instilling his love of sports in many of his children and grandchildren. Nothing gave him more satisfaction than to watch one of his children or grandchildren "play ball." His interest in airplanes led to many pleasurable hours piloting small aircraft and visiting air shows and museums.
George was preceded in death by his father, Ross, his Mother Adah, his first wife Sharon, his brother William, and sisters Mary Ellen (Hammon) and Genevieve (Hunt).
He is survived by his wife Linda Likins of Springfield; daughter Deborah Likins-Fowler and her husband Robert of Cleveland, OH; daughter Leslie (Likins) Crozier and son-in-law Jerry of Fairfax, IA; son and daughter-in-law Curt and Mary Likins of Kansas City; son and daughter-in-law Woody and Barbara Likins of Tulsa, OK; stepsons Pete Johnson and Andrew Johnson of Springfield, and stepson Tyler Johnson and his wife Beth of Nixa. He also leaves 10 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Stephen Ministry program at First and Calvary and/or the O'Reilly Family Event Center Building Fund at Drury University.
George was born on October 23, 1927, the fourth and final child to George "Ross" and Adah (Rominger) Likins. He attended Oak Grove Elementary School and Jarrett Junior High, graduating from Springfield High School (now Central) in 1945. Shortly before the end of World War II, he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving at Newport Beach, NJ. After his discharge in 1946, he attended Drury College and then began a career in the paper industry that would span more than 40 years.
His first job was as a salesperson for Springfield Paper Company, started by his father shortly after World War II. In the mid-sixties he moved to Carpenter Paper Company, and a few years later, became manager of the Industrial Paper Division. In time, Carpenter became Nationwide Papers and George's career took a quantum leap. During the next twenty years, he would receive countless honors and mentor many young adults who would later become managers themselves. His efforts culminated in making the Nationwide office in Springfield one of the most profitable in the company.
George married Sharon Shanks in June 4, 1949. After almost 36 years of marriage, Sharon died in 1985. On April 7, 1989, he married Linda (Wiggins) Johnson and having already raised four of his own children, lovingly helped parent her three sons. He grew up in First and Calvary Presbyterian Church, and was also a charter member of Covenant Presbyterian Church, where he was elected and ordained an elder. Eventually, he again became actively involved at First and Calvary, where he served as a greeter and usher, and in his latter years, felt the calling to become a Stephen Minister.
Despite George's unequaled work ethic, he always found time for recreation, with none more valuable than times with his family. There were family trips to destinations such as California, Colorado, Florida and the 1967 World's Fair in Montreal. In the early seventies, his fun really began when he purchased a cabin on Table Rock Lake. That venue continues to provide enjoyment such as skiing, tubing, wake-boarding and four-wheeling for four generations of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
George's other passions included sports and airplanes. As a teen he played baseball and football, instilling his love of sports in many of his children and grandchildren. Nothing gave him more satisfaction than to watch one of his children or grandchildren "play ball." His interest in airplanes led to many pleasurable hours piloting small aircraft and visiting air shows and museums.
George was preceded in death by his father, Ross, his Mother Adah, his first wife Sharon, his brother William, and sisters Mary Ellen (Hammon) and Genevieve (Hunt).
He is survived by his wife Linda Likins of Springfield; daughter Deborah Likins-Fowler and her husband Robert of Cleveland, OH; daughter Leslie (Likins) Crozier and son-in-law Jerry of Fairfax, IA; son and daughter-in-law Curt and Mary Likins of Kansas City; son and daughter-in-law Woody and Barbara Likins of Tulsa, OK; stepsons Pete Johnson and Andrew Johnson of Springfield, and stepson Tyler Johnson and his wife Beth of Nixa. He also leaves 10 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Stephen Ministry program at First and Calvary and/or the O'Reilly Family Event Center Building Fund at Drury University.
