George Edwin Hubbard

George Edwin Hubbard, longtime Moses Lake/Ephrata resident, passed away in Moses Lake Thursday.

Born Oct. 15, 1923 on a farm near Letcher, S.D. to George H. Hubbard and Elsie Mae (Clapsaddle) Hubbard. Mr. Hubbard attended the Stekel School near Letcher until his family moved to Mt. Vernon, S.D. in 1928, where he attended Lisbon #20 School and graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in May 1941.

Mr. Hubbard joined the Army in 1942 and served with the 78th Infantry Division with the rank of Staff Sergeant during World War II. He saw active combat at the Bohn River and the Battle of the Bluge. He also served as honorary guard to President Eisenhower while stationed in Berlin.

On Oct. 20, 1946 he married Iris Ione Lorang in Mt. Vernon, S.D. They farmed and raised children in Mt. Vernon until 1962 when they moved to Plankinton, S.D. They lived in Plankinton and worked at a reformed school for teens for four years. They then sold everything, packed up their ten children and moved to Moses Lake, where George had taken a job at U & I Sugar as a maintenance supervisor.

George and Iris were dealers for the Seattle PI and USA Today for 35 years. George was a well-known early morning sight. George also worked as an insurance agent for Prudential Insurance and made many good friends for his kindness and willingness to help others. He retired in 1979.

George worked many jobs during his life and often worked multiple jobs to support his family, which had grown to 12 children. He loved to fish and went whenever he could get away, alone or with anyone he could get to go with him. He also golfed for many years and enjoyed that too. George was the South Dakota Post Commander and the Washington Post Commander for the VFW. He also served as the District Commander for Washington VFW Post 5926. He was a life member of the All State Post Commanders for the VFW. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Ephrata.

Mr. Hubbard is survived by his wife of 59 years, Iris I. Hubbard; six sons: David L. Hubbard (Ginger), Rodney G. Hubbard, Richard D. Hubbard, Timothy R. Hubbard (Monica), Dennis M. Hubbard (Karen) and Duane M. Hubbard (Bonnie); six daughters: Cherrill I. Hockett (Tom), Deborah I. Hubbard, Cynthia M. Beck (John), Teresa M. Colley (Greg), Janice D. Hubbard and Christine "Ann" Carver (Kenny); 35 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father George H. Hubbard in 1960; his mother Elsie May (Clapsaddle) Hubbard in 1962; his sister Ruth in 1966; his brother Robert "Henry" Hubbard in 1999; and son-in-law Rick Atkinson in 1980.

He was a strong and caring husband, father, grandpa and friend. Rest easy in God's care.

There will be a celebration of life at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church at 7 p.m. today and a funeral mass at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church at 11 a.m. Tuesday, followed by interment at Ephrata Cemetery.

Arrangements are in care of Nicoles Funeral Home.