George M. Boland's Obituary
George McKellen Boland, 96, of Millstadt, passed away on July 9, 2024. He was born on November 14, 1927 in East St. Louis to the late Oscar Lafayette and Rose Marie (nee Miller) Boland.
George learned to play the guitar and mandolin at a young age. As a member of the Falling Spring Ramblers, he was a Southern Illinois State Country Music champion in 1939. He continued to play until the very end, often accompanied by his nephew, Darby. George was a Navy veteran of the Korean War, and became a life member of VFW Post 7980 in Millstadt. After leaving the Navy, he worked as a civilian airplane mechanic at Scott Air Force Base until his retirement in 1981. He was a member of the Ainad Shriners for over 50 years, and was a strong supporter of the Shriners Children’s Hospital in St. Louis. George was also a 32nd degree Mason of Blue Lodge 474 in Columbia, having joined the Masons in 1961. He had been a member and trustee of Crossroads Trinity Church in East Carondelet since 1987.
George was the last surviving member of his immediate family. He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Martha Boland, nee Miller, who died in 1985, his second wife, Goldie Boland, nee Austin, who died in 2015, and his siblings, Irene, Clarence, Melvin, Dorothy, Robert, William, Lloyd, James, and Nancy.
He is survived by numerous nieces and nephews scattered across the country, including Darby Boland and Joyce Stumph, his caretakers in the last years of his life. He will be dearly missed.
Visitation will be held on Monday, July 15, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at Leesman Funeral Home in Millstadt, IL. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Leesman Funeral Home in Millstadt, Il., with Rev. Phil White, officiating. Burial with military honors will be in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, MO.
The family asks that donations be made in George’s memory to the Shriners Children’s Hospital in St. Louis.
For more information, please access our website, www.leesmanfuneralhome.com. Arrangements were handled by Leesman Funeral Home.
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