Obituary of Carl L. George

Carl Lewis George passed away in his sleep on December 25, 2021, at the age of 92. Carl was born March 9, 1929, to Carl L. George Sr. and Bertha (Koerner) George of Portland Oregon. Bertha passed away when Carl was a child, and at 12 his father married Ruth (Schmale) George, who continued to play a role in Carl’s life for many decades, as a business bookkeeper and devoted grandmother to his children. A lifelong Portlander, Carl was the 3rd generation owner of George & Son Cutlery until his retirement in 2005. George & Son Cutlery was established in downtown Portland in 1870 by Carl’s grandfather, John George, who moved to Portland from Hamburg, Germany in 1864. Although known by many in and outside of Portland for his knife sharpening skills and a large selection of quality knives, scissors, and wood carving tools, Carl most enjoyed talking to his customers, who came back to the shop year after year. Carl attended Hosford Elementary School in southeast Portland. He graduated from Benson Polytechnic High School in 1947, majoring in Aviation. Next, Carl attended Vanport College until it was destroyed in the devastating 1948 flood. He continued his studies at Portland State College and was a founding member of the Sigma Delta Omega Fraternity in 1949. After college, Carl enlisted in the Oregon National Guard and served in the 142nd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron in Galena, Alaska during the Korean War. He achieved the rank of sergeant. After returning from the war in 1951 Carl joined the family cutlery business and purchased a home in the Colonial Heights neighborhood, just a few blocks from Ruth and Carl George Sr. In 1955, at a meeting of the Carlton Singers, Carl met and later married Alma Mae (Sue) Ferrell, his wife of 47 years. When Sue passed in 2002, Carl endowed a scholarship in her memory for Portland Community College (PCC) business students. Carl touched many people through business and civic involvement as an active member of the downtown Rotary Club of Portland, Portland Chamber of Commerce, and Better Business Bureau where he worked tirelessly to promote business in downtown Portland. He was also a member of the City of Portland Parking Board, President of the Benson Polytechnic Alumni Board, and member of the Trails Club of Oregon. Carl was a proud contributor to the Oregon Historical Society, the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation, and an enthusiastic attendee and donor to the Portland Opera. Later in life, Carl, accompanied by his dear companion Nancy, enjoyed traveling throughout Europe, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. They enjoyed downtime at a favorite house near Mr. Hood when not traveling abroad. Carl is survived by two sons, Richard (wife Mary Ann) and Kevin (wife Nicole), 2 grandchildren, brother Kurt (wife Joann), several nieces, and a nephew. A date for a memorial service has not been set at this time. Carl requested that any donations in his memory be made to The Sue George Scholarship at Portland Community College Foundation, which provides scholarship support to business students. The foundation’s contact information is PCC Foundation PO Box 19000 Portland, OR 97280 971-722-4382 https://www.pcc.edu/foundation/ways-to-give/donate/