George Kish

Princeton, WV- George Kish, 92, died Thursday, June 17, at Princeton Community Hospital after a brief illness. He had been a resident of the Glenwood Park Retirement Village since January 2008. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margie, who died Jan. 22, 2009; and two sisters, Margaret K. Coles and Emma E. Woodall. He is survived by two sons, Martin Albert Kish of Lexington, Ky., (Mary) and Timothy George Kish of Christiansburg, Va.; two grandchildren, Neal and Mary Allison Belshoff; nieces, Teeny Linehardt and Mitty Crymes; one nephew, Frank Woodall; and several great nieces and nephews. George was born on Dec. 7, 1917, in Ottawa, WV, to Albert Kish, a coal miner, and Emma K. McGallard. Both were Hungarian immigrants. George and his family moved to Beckley for a short time before finally settling in Bluefield in 1931 when George was 13. Emma and then husband Frank Moore were entrepreneurs and started two businesses, the City Newsstand and Presto Lunch, directly across the street from the busy train station. George worked in the family businesses and later earned a starting lineman position for the Bluefield Beavers football team, where he was selected to the All-Area team. After high school, he enrolled in Greenbrier Military School for a short time, then spent a year at West Virginia University before serving in North Africa as a military policeman. Following his World War II service, he returned to Bluefield and went back to work to help his mother manage the City Newsstand and Presto Lunch, where he met Margie Hager. George and Margie married on Nov. 19, 1950, and the couple moved to Washington, D.C. where George was hired by U.S. Postal Service. They soon returned to Bluefield where George worked as a mail clerk on the Norfolk & Western railway. By the mid 1960s, the Post Office moved George into the South Bluefield Post Office, where he remained until his retirement in 1978. George and Margie enjoyed traveling to India, China, Europe, nearly all of the 50 states and the Holy Lands. A West Virginia University Mountaineer football fan, George frequently wrote letters to the coaches and attended several games. He was a longstanding member of the Maple View Church of Christ. The family will receive friends at Mercer Funeral Home on Sunday evening June 20, 2010 from 4:00 ?" 5:00 p.m. A graveside service will be held on Monday June 21, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at Monte Vista Park Cemetery with Minister Tony Reed officiating. Those wishing to attend the service are asked to meet at the cemetery. Those wishing to share memories or condolence messages may do so by visiting www.MercerFuneralHome.com Mercer Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family of Mr. George Kish.

George Kish

June 17, 2010