George John Wentland Sr. passed away peacefully Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, at FirstHealth Hospice and Palliative Care.
The family will receive friends on Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at Boles Funeral Home, in Southern Pines. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, with Greg Newton officiating. Burial will be private, at Pinelawn Memorial Park.
George was born Oct. 23, 1932, in Lake Andes, S.D., to Paul and Hannah Wentland, one of 12 children. After serving in the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne, George and his late wife, Katie, moved to Southern Pines in 1960, where they raised six children: Deborrah Little (Grady), of Charlotte, George J. Wentland Jr. (Jean), of Charlottesville, Va., Darlene Brenner, of York, Pa., Richard M. Wentland (Mary), of Pinebluff, Donna Bertram, of Southern Pines, and Christopher D. Wentland (Beth), of Aberdeen.
He worked for North Carolina Natural Gas prior to working for the U.S. Postal Service, retiring in 1992 with 30 years of service. He served as a volunteer fireman, including assistant fire chief, and was an active member and an officer of Woodmen of the World, Lodge 851, holding several offices. He enjoyed several summers as a little league baseball coach. After retiring, George was active until this summer doing what he loved best, carpentry, four-wheeling, gardening and spending time with family and friends.
He is survived by brothers Paul, Alvin, Harold, Glenn, Robert and Larry, as well as sisters Mavis, Rosemary, Norma and Alice. In addition to his wife, he was also preceded in death by his brother Walter, who died in his youth, as well as two grandchildren, Meaghan and Thomas.
George was the proud grandfather of seven grandchildren: Eric Little, Matthew Wentland, David Wood, Tiffany and Brandon Wentland, Samantha and Daniel Bertram; and nine great grandchildren: Braden, Luke, Jace Little; Davion, David, Davire, Tajire, Tajea Wood and Alex Hough.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to FirstHealth Hospice, 150 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374, or Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, P.O. Box 386, Southern Pines, NC 28387. Online condolences may be made at www.bolesfuneralhome.com.
Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines is serving the family.