George W. Wamsley, Jr.
courtesy photo
George W. Wamsley, Jr.
HELENA — George W. Wamsley Jr. flew his final mission into the sunset on June 12, 2013, in Helena. George was born in Manhattan, Mont., on April 4, 1915, the third son of Grace and George Wamsley Sr. He was raised in Charlo where he was a star athlete as well as an accomplished musician and bandleader. He attended the University of Montana where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. During WWII he served as a major in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1941-1945. While in the service he flew C-47 cargo planes in Papua New Guinea. He flew over 250 combat missions and was awarded five Distinguished Flying Crosses for his bravery. In 1942 he married Janet Ottman of Missoula and had two sons, Bill and Richard. After his discharge in 1945, he returned to Montana and went to work for the Union Oil Company in Kalispell.
In 1961 George moved his family from Kalispell to Scottsdale, Ariz., where he became a builder and real estate developer. He was also a founder of the Bank of Scottsdale. His wife Janet passed away in Scottsdale in 1970.
In 1974 he married Barbara Wilson from Lewistown, Mont. In 1978 he and Barbara moved to Prescott, Ariz., where he opened a residential brokerage company. In 2003 they moved to Helena where they both lived until their recent deaths.
He was the author of “American Fly-Boy,” a tale of his life growing up in Charlo through the end of his time as a WWII pilot in 1945. George was a generous man with a tremendous sense of humor and a gregarious personality. Everybody who met him instantly became a friend. An accomplished raconteur, he could entertain people for hours with stories of growing up in Montana and flying in the South Pacific. When you picture in your mind the storyteller who kept people enthralled for hours with his tales of flying slow, heavily loaded planes full of soldiers and supplies into remote locations without knowing which side was in control of the airstrip, or of his childhood escapades in Charlo, you are thinking of George. In addition to his fun side, he will always be remembered for his warm, kind and gracious spirit.
We want to extend a special ‘Thank You” to Chuck Butler of Helena, a family friend who selflessly provided hours of companionship to George over the past few years.
Survivors include his son Bill Wamsley and his wife Anne Scully of Mill Valley, Calif.; his sister Marney Wamsley of St. Paul, Minn.; daughter-in-law Joanne Wamsley and granddaughters Amy and Katie Wamsley, of Gilbert, Ariz.; stepdaughters Katherine Cox of Clayton, N.C., and Mary Jo Cyr of Grand Rapids, Mich.; sister-in-law Connie Wamsley of Billings; as well as many nephews and nieces, including Rod Wamsley of Charlo.
George’s son Richard; wives Janet and Barbara; and brothers Joe, Jim, Gene, Philip and Francis; all precede him in death.
There will be a memorial Mass at 10 a.m. Monday, July 8, at St. Joseph’s Mission in Charlo. A short memorial will follow at the Catholic Cemetery in St. Ignatius. There will be a social gathering at Ninepipes Lodge immediately following the service in St. Ignatius.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in George’s honor to the Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana, 69316 U.S. Highway 93, Charlo, MT. 59824; or to a charity of your choice. To offer condolences to the family please visit: www.helenafunerals.com.
