WILBRAHAM - George J. Hellyar, 90, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 19, 2011. He was the youngest of four sons of Thomas J. Hellyar, a conductor on the New York and New Haven Railroad, and Alice (Cunningham) Hellyar, a registered nurse at Springfield Hospital. While in grammar school, the family moved from Middletown, Connecticut, where he was born, to Springfield, Massachusetts. He attended the High School of Commerce, graduating as the president of the Class of 1939. In 1942, he enlisted in the Army Air Corp, serving as pilot of B-25 Mitchell bombers. He was stationed in Corsica and assigned to the 488th Bomb Squadron of the 12th Army Air Corp. For his 66 missions, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal (with seven Oak Leaf Clusters). After discharge from the Air Corp, George flew with the Massachusetts Air Nation Guard and remained active with the USAF Reserve, retiring with the rank of major. He was employed by the IBM Corporation for 35 years, supporting mainframe computer operations primarily at insurance companies in the Connecticut River valley. In 1962, George and his family moved from the Indian Orchard section of Springfield to Wilbraham. Since the early 1980s he has been active in area organ clubs, serving as president of the Sounds of Music Club for more than a dozen years. He was an active member of St. Cecilia's Parish in Wilbraham. George was predeceased by brothers Thomas and Edwin and is survived by brother Albert. George leaves his wife of 65 years, Eleanor, sons Kenneth and Mary Jane of Rochester, New York, Dennis and Glee of Winter Park, Florida, and daughters Gail and Patrick Hayes of Hubert, North Carolina and Mary and Evan Bandouveres of Wilbraham, Mass. He is also survived by fourteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. Family and friends are invited to meet on Thursday, February 24, 2001 at 8:30AM at the Forastiere Smith Funeral Home, 220 North Main St., East Longmeadow followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM at St. Cecilia's Church, 64 Main St., Wilbraham. Burial will be held in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Springfield. Calling hours will be from 5 - 7 PM on Wednesday, February 23, 2011. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in George's name to a charity of one's choice. forastierefuneralhome.com