George R. Short

GEORGE ROSCOE SHORT, age 97, of Berea, Ohio, passed away peacefully at his home, Saturday, April 21, 2018. He was predeceased by his parents, George M. and Alice M. (Roscoe) Short, and beloved wife, Barbara Jean (Fleming); dear brother to Eleanor M. Hamilton of Cocoa, Florida; beloved father to Rev. Linda M. Short of Berea, Lawrence A. Short (Melanie) of Salem, Oregon, Elizabeth J. Anderson (James) of Chardon, Ohio, and Roberta S. Kaiser of Loudonville, Ohio; uncle of Jennifer Tucciarone (Joe) & Lynn Tweed (Dan); grandfather of nine; great-grandfather of eight. A memorial service will be held Saturday May 19 at 11:00 a.m. at the Christ United Church 23114 West St. Olmsted Falls 44138. Contributions may be made to Southwest General Hospice, 18659 Drake Rd., Strongsville, Oh. 44136; Academy for Dramatic Arts,  Berea ARF—Animal Rescue, 390 Barrett Rd., Berea, Oh. 44017; Diabetic Alert Dogs at www.caninehopefordiabetics.com, or the church.  

George Roscoe Short was born in Liverpool, England, April 6, 1921, son of George M. and Alice M. (Roscoe) Short. At the age of four, he and his mother emigrated to Canada, following his boiler-maker father in search of employment. After his sister, Eleanor Margaret, was born, and George had turned six years old, the family moved to Detroit, Michigan to pursue the American Dream. His was a hard-working family and fiercely loyal to the extended family that joined them from England. As a young lad, George found employment as a paper boy, then a grocery store stock boy. After graduating from Cass Technical High School, George walked into the TRW Factory at Hamtramck and was hired on the spot. Ever a seeker of better opportunities, he eventually found his way into the apprentice program at Ford Motor Company, and became a tool & dye maker. When the U.S. entered WWII, George joined the effort by enlisting in the Naval Reserves. After training in Grosse Isle, Michigan, he was shipped off to Oahu to serve as a mechanic on an air base. He wanted desperately to serve on board a ship, but his CO insisted he stay on base. The ship on which George had wanted to be deployed later sank, and all hands were lost at sea! On November 30, 1945, with the rank of Aviation Machinist’s Mate, Second Class, George received an honorable discharge from the United States Naval Reserves.

Raised in the Christian faith at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Detroit, the painfully shy George met and courted his true love, Barbara Jean Fleming. On September 17, 1943, at the tender ages of 22 and 20, George and Barbara were wed. After a brief honeymoon in Chicago, George was deployed to California, then Oahu, leaving Barbara behind in Detroit. After his discharge from the Navy in 1945, George resumed working for Ford Motor Co. while he and Barbara set up house on Freeland Ave. in Detroit and started their family. Three children were born to them while living and working in Detroit. In 1951, an opportunity opened up to transfer to the Brookpark, Ohio plant, so the family settled in nearby Strongsville. Three years later, the couple was blessed with another baby, then another opportunity to move up in the company. This move found the Shorts in Lima, Ohio at the Ford Engine Plant. One last move for the company landed George and his family in Berea, Ohio in 1961. By this time, George was in management—Safety and Industrial Relations. The Shorts stayed put for 17 years, becoming an integral part of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and the local community, and seeing their children graduate from Berea High School and go off to college, work, and marriage. At the age of 58, with 38 years of employment at the same company, George took early retirement to live with Barbara in their dream home outside Loudonville, Ohio. They planted an orchard and large vegetable garden, and built an A-frame house overlooking the Mohican River. Years followed of producing and selling pottery, entertaining their nine grandchildren, and serving in the Loudonville United Methodist Church. In 2001, anticipating their senior years, George and Barbara moved back to Berea together with daughter, Linda, and rejoined St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. Linda was able to provide personal care for them in their waning years.

George honored God, loved his family and was an excellent provider. He worked hard at every task to which he put his hand. He was good at all things mechanical, but also had an artistic bent. He turned thousands of pots on the wheel, painted and drew hundreds of landscapes, and wrote dozens of stories. After struggling through school as a youngster, he earned his college degree in business from Baldwin-Wallace College at the age of 51! George played in golf, softball, and bowling leagues; participated in many work-related activities; participated in square dance group and social gatherings with Barbara; attended their children’s sporting events and concerts; and took regular vacations with his family. He was a past president of Loudonville Rotary and even sang in the church choir.

Dad had a gruff exterior but a soft heart and a great sense of humor. He had a quick temper, but was smart, compassionate and generous. He made friends easily and loved spending time with his buddies at church and Loudonville Rotary. During his last couple of years, he loved to sit on the front porch of his home in Berea on warm, sunny days and receive visiting neighbors.

George’s parents and wife, Barbara, predeceased him. Survivors include four children: Rev. Linda M. Short, Lawrence A. Short (Susan, Melanie), Elizabeth J. Anderson (James), and Roberta S. Kaiser; his sister, Eleanor M. Hamilton (David); nieces Jennifer M. (Hamilton) Tucciarone (Joe) and Lynn A. (Hamilton) Tweed (Dan) of Florida; nine grandchildren: Seth C. (Annie) Short, Nathan A. (Stephanie) Short, of Oregon, and Peter J. Short of California; Christopher J. (Jennifer) Anderson of Ohio, Adam J. (Jaci) Anderson of California, and Sarah E. Anderson of Texas; Heather A. (Brad) Carr of Ohio, Andrew W. and Jason R. Kaiser of Arizona; and eight great-grandchildren: Brianna, Gavin, & Braden Carr; Chase & Ava Anderson, Ewan & Ari Anderson, & Isabella Anderson-Cleary.

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