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George Charles Kidwell

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George Charles Kidwell

Birth
Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, USA
Death
25 Apr 2017 (aged 90)
Vancouver, Clark County, Washington, USA
Burial
Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, USA Add to Map
Plot
Odd Fellows Cemetery, Veterans Addition II, Urn Plot 4A, Lot 333
Memorial ID
View Source
George Charles Kidwell was the son of Amelia Louella Hillard (1894-1957) and Charles Washington Kidwell (1892-1937). He was born March 4, 1927, in Santa Rosa, California.

George attended schools in Sebastopol, Guerneville, and Santa Rosa, California. He graduated from Analy Union High School, Sebastopol, California in 1945.

On June 16, 1945, he was drafted and served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. He was stationed in Adak, Alaska during his enlistment and received an honorable discharge on November 25, 1946.

After his service in WW II, George returned to school and graduated from Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, California, in June 1951.

On October 6, 1950, George Charles Kidwell and Rebecca Elizabeth Banks were married in Sebastopol, California by George's cousin, the Rev. Donald Ralph Fellers, a Methodist Minister. Becky was born on April 5, 1926, at Sebastopol, California. She was the daughter of Edward M. Banks of Palouse, Washington and Nellie (Zerba) Banks of Athena, Oregon, who were married in Athena, Oregon. Becky graduated from Analy Union High School, Sebastopol, California, in 1944.

Their son, Gary Edward, by Becky's former marriage, was adopted by George on December 6, 1957.

The four children of George Charles and Rebecca Elizabeth (Banks) Kidwell are:

• Gary Edward (1946-2015)
• Charles James (1956-1994)
• Linda Sue Bisch (1958-__)
• Mary Louise (1965-__)

George worked for Pacific Gas and Electric from June 1951 till July 1955. From July 1955 till 1965 he was in the wholesale automotive accessory business. He then accepted a position with the California State Board of Equalization where he remained until he retired in 1988.

Obituary published in the Press Democrat May 1, 2017.

Kidwell George Charles March 4, 1927 - April 25, 2017 George Kidwell died peacefully on April 25, 2017 at the age of 90, due to complications related to dementia, at the Ray Hickey Hospice House in Vancouver, Washington. George was born in Santa Rosa, California to Charles and Amelia Kidwell, joining sisters Kathryn and Norma at their home in Guerneville. In 1934, the family moved to an eight-acre property on Armstrong Woods Road, where they lived in an upstairs room above the garage while the home was being built.
After the sudden death of George's father in 1937, the family moved to Sebastopol, CA. George graduated from Analy High School in 1945 and was drafted immediately into the army. He spent his enlisted time on the Alaskan island of Adak and was honorably discharged on November 23, 1946. On October 6, 1950 George married his 'Honey' and best friend, Rebecca Banks, and became a father to her son from an earlier marriage. Over the next few years, the family grew to include another son and a daughter.
They lived in Santa Rosa, Cloverdale, Ukiah and Petaluma before moving back to Santa Rosa in 1964, where another daughter was born the following year. George and Rebecca resided in their Rincon Valley home for over 42 years.
In 2007 they moved to the Lodge at Paulin Creek due to concerns about George's loss of sight from Macular Degeneration. In June of 2016 they moved to Vancouver, Washington where George lived with Rebecca in an Adult Family Home close to a daughter and her family.
After retiring in May of 1987 from a 20+ year career as a Sales Tax Collector for the California State Board of Equalization, George and Rebecca turned their travel trailer hobby into a full-time endeavor. They ventured east to New York, south to Florida, and north to Alaska, along with frequent trips to Santa Cruz to stay at one of their favorite spots, Seacliff State Park. They also enjoyed attending local and regional theater productions, jazz festivals, and taking frequent trips to Reno and Tahoe for shows and Black Jack; a game at which George excelled and thoroughly enjoyed.
George was a great storyteller, making friends wherever he went. He was always industrious, hardworking, and honest, and he loved a good (clean) joke. He was especially fond of Big Band music and The Lawrence Welk Show, and enjoyed researching his ancestry. He never ceased to be amazed at the advances made in technology and medical care within his lifetime.
George leaves behind his wife Rebecca of 66 years, daughter Linda Bisch (Scott) of Vancouver, WA, daughter Mary Kidwell of Orinda, CA and daughter-in-law Karen Kidwell of Oakley, CA. He is also survived by grandchildren Matthew Bisch of Seattle, WA, Kyle Bisch (Stephanie) of Vancouver, WA and great-grandchildren Leah and Viktor of Vancouver, WA. George was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, and by sons Gary Kidwell and Charles Kidwell.
The family wishes to thank the caregivers of Victoria's AFH, Peace Health Hospice Southwest and Ray Hickey Hospice House for the very loving care George received in his final months. No service will be held, at George's request. But donations in George's honor can be made to your local blood bank, as he was a strong blood bank supporter, donating over 12 gallons to Blood Bank of the Redwoods in his lifetime.
George Charles Kidwell was the son of Amelia Louella Hillard (1894-1957) and Charles Washington Kidwell (1892-1937). He was born March 4, 1927, in Santa Rosa, California.

George attended schools in Sebastopol, Guerneville, and Santa Rosa, California. He graduated from Analy Union High School, Sebastopol, California in 1945.

On June 16, 1945, he was drafted and served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. He was stationed in Adak, Alaska during his enlistment and received an honorable discharge on November 25, 1946.

After his service in WW II, George returned to school and graduated from Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, California, in June 1951.

On October 6, 1950, George Charles Kidwell and Rebecca Elizabeth Banks were married in Sebastopol, California by George's cousin, the Rev. Donald Ralph Fellers, a Methodist Minister. Becky was born on April 5, 1926, at Sebastopol, California. She was the daughter of Edward M. Banks of Palouse, Washington and Nellie (Zerba) Banks of Athena, Oregon, who were married in Athena, Oregon. Becky graduated from Analy Union High School, Sebastopol, California, in 1944.

Their son, Gary Edward, by Becky's former marriage, was adopted by George on December 6, 1957.

The four children of George Charles and Rebecca Elizabeth (Banks) Kidwell are:

• Gary Edward (1946-2015)
• Charles James (1956-1994)
• Linda Sue Bisch (1958-__)
• Mary Louise (1965-__)

George worked for Pacific Gas and Electric from June 1951 till July 1955. From July 1955 till 1965 he was in the wholesale automotive accessory business. He then accepted a position with the California State Board of Equalization where he remained until he retired in 1988.

Obituary published in the Press Democrat May 1, 2017.

Kidwell George Charles March 4, 1927 - April 25, 2017 George Kidwell died peacefully on April 25, 2017 at the age of 90, due to complications related to dementia, at the Ray Hickey Hospice House in Vancouver, Washington. George was born in Santa Rosa, California to Charles and Amelia Kidwell, joining sisters Kathryn and Norma at their home in Guerneville. In 1934, the family moved to an eight-acre property on Armstrong Woods Road, where they lived in an upstairs room above the garage while the home was being built.
After the sudden death of George's father in 1937, the family moved to Sebastopol, CA. George graduated from Analy High School in 1945 and was drafted immediately into the army. He spent his enlisted time on the Alaskan island of Adak and was honorably discharged on November 23, 1946. On October 6, 1950 George married his 'Honey' and best friend, Rebecca Banks, and became a father to her son from an earlier marriage. Over the next few years, the family grew to include another son and a daughter.
They lived in Santa Rosa, Cloverdale, Ukiah and Petaluma before moving back to Santa Rosa in 1964, where another daughter was born the following year. George and Rebecca resided in their Rincon Valley home for over 42 years.
In 2007 they moved to the Lodge at Paulin Creek due to concerns about George's loss of sight from Macular Degeneration. In June of 2016 they moved to Vancouver, Washington where George lived with Rebecca in an Adult Family Home close to a daughter and her family.
After retiring in May of 1987 from a 20+ year career as a Sales Tax Collector for the California State Board of Equalization, George and Rebecca turned their travel trailer hobby into a full-time endeavor. They ventured east to New York, south to Florida, and north to Alaska, along with frequent trips to Santa Cruz to stay at one of their favorite spots, Seacliff State Park. They also enjoyed attending local and regional theater productions, jazz festivals, and taking frequent trips to Reno and Tahoe for shows and Black Jack; a game at which George excelled and thoroughly enjoyed.
George was a great storyteller, making friends wherever he went. He was always industrious, hardworking, and honest, and he loved a good (clean) joke. He was especially fond of Big Band music and The Lawrence Welk Show, and enjoyed researching his ancestry. He never ceased to be amazed at the advances made in technology and medical care within his lifetime.
George leaves behind his wife Rebecca of 66 years, daughter Linda Bisch (Scott) of Vancouver, WA, daughter Mary Kidwell of Orinda, CA and daughter-in-law Karen Kidwell of Oakley, CA. He is also survived by grandchildren Matthew Bisch of Seattle, WA, Kyle Bisch (Stephanie) of Vancouver, WA and great-grandchildren Leah and Viktor of Vancouver, WA. George was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, and by sons Gary Kidwell and Charles Kidwell.
The family wishes to thank the caregivers of Victoria's AFH, Peace Health Hospice Southwest and Ray Hickey Hospice House for the very loving care George received in his final months. No service will be held, at George's request. But donations in George's honor can be made to your local blood bank, as he was a strong blood bank supporter, donating over 12 gallons to Blood Bank of the Redwoods in his lifetime.


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