George Becraft
2nd Lt. George E Becraft was assigned to the 459th BG 756th Squadron.
Military Occupational Specialty (MOS): Pilot.
Dr. George Earle Becraft (1922 - 2011)
Obituary
The family and friends of Dr. George Earle Becraft of Sugarmill Woods, Homosassa, Florida, with deepest regret report the passing of his ready smile, quick laugh and warm embrace on May 30, 2011, in Brooksville, Florida, fittingly on Memorial Day.
He was born Oct. 11, 1922, in Sedro-Woolley, Washington.
George was retired from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) after many years of service as a research and administrative scientist.
During World War II, he served as a bomber pilot in the Army Air Corps, flying more than 50 combat missions in Europe. He earned his B.S. (1949) and M.S. (1950) in geology from Washington State University and his PhD in geology from the University of Washington (1959). Before joining the USGS, George taught geology at Vassar College. He joined the USGS in 1950 and worked on a variety of mineral resource studies in Idaho, Montana, and Washington. In 1967, he was appointed chief of the Office of Scientific Publications. George was later appointed chief of the Office of Mineral Resources, where he directed the activities of 300 mineral resource specialists stationed in Reston, VA, Menlo Park, California, and Denver, Colorado.
Dr. Becraft authored numerous scientific publications on the geology of ore deposits in the northwestern U.S. and was honored with the Interior Department Meritorious Service Award for his many scientific and administrative contributions. Dr. Becraft was a Fellow of the Geologic Society of America, councilor and member of the Executive Committee of the Society of Economic Geologists, past president of the Association of Earth Science Editors, and past secretary-treasurer of the American Geological Institute and member of its Board of Governors.
Upon retirement, George moved to Sugarmill Woods, Homosassa, Florida, to pursue his passion for golf and avoid another winter shoveling snow. He was a member of Southern Woods Golf Club.
Dr. Becraft was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary, the mother of his 4 children. He is survived by his lovely wife, Sharon; sons, Craig (Robin), Eric (Kathy) and Bruce (Helen); daughter, Karen Foard (Wayne); 10 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; 3 stepchildren, Kim Morin (Mike), Keith Sheppard (Ly) and Karen Fuss (David); 2 stepgrandchildren; and one step-great-grandchild.
A private family service will be held at a later date in Washington, D.C., at the World War II Veterans Memorial. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Washington State University Foundation Scholarship Fund.
Heinz Funeral Home & Cremation, Inverness, FL.
- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chronicleonline/obituary.aspx?n=george-earle-becraft&pid=151461993#sthash.dk1yluDr.dpuf
