George M. Leasure, 99, of Belle Vernon, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, June 25, 2022. Born in Connellsville on April 27, 1923, George was the third son of the late Chester A. and Ethel Crise Leasure. Serving in England during World War II in the U.S. Air Force, George was awarded the Soldier’s Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the European-African- Middle Eastern Medal with one silver star, all for bravery. While stationed in England, George met the love of his life, Dorothy Ivy Vickers. At the conclusion of the war, and while still enlisted, George and Dorothy were married before he returned to the states. Dorothy followed him to the U.S., where they began life together in Connellsville. They moved to Belle Vernon in 1961 and remained there the balance of their lives. George was a lifelong member of First United Methodist church in Belle Vernon. He was also a 32nd degree Mason and holds the title of Past Master. George worked for American General Life Insurance (formerly Knights Life) for 35 years before retiring. With Dorothy, they began their entrepreneurial experience together, starting G&D Leasure Truck Hauling. George and Dorothy owned semi-tractor trailers that hauled steel from the Mon Valley to points in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee. George retired from the trucking business in 1987 to enjoy life with Dorothy. Their travels together included visiting family and friends across the U.S. and in England and Germany. George is survived by six children, Mary Leasure of Los Angeles, Calif., Penny (Glenn) Sparrow of Newport News, Va., Alan (MaryAnn) of Cambridge, Ohio, Chet (Dagmar) of Mainz, Germany, Rodger (Karyl) of Rostraver Township and Susan Owens of Belle Vernon.Grandchildren include Wil Ambrose, Robbie Leasure, Alicia Ambrose, Brenda Allen, Becky Spiker, Larissa Bowling, Alan Leasure Jr., Gina Owens, Shawna Mittelsteadt and Sam Cooke, along with 20 great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, George was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy, in 2011; brothers, Chester W. Leasure, Edgar Leasure and Ernest (Pete) Leasure; and nephews, Marlin Leasure and Thomas Leasure. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 30, 2022, at FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY INC., 700 Broad Ave., Belle Vernon, www.FergusonFuneralHomeandCrematory.com, 724-929-5300. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in the funeral home with the Rev. Charles Jack officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Members of F.&A.M. Lodge 252 will meet in the funeral home to hold services at 7 p.m. Thursday. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorial contributions be made to the American Heart Association and Shriners Hospitals.
