George Clinton Rankin

George Clinton Rankin crossed over to be with his sweetheart on Dec. 13, 2010. He was born April 12, 1923 in St. Paul, Ark. to William Allen and Hattie Maude Clayborn Rankin, the youngest of their eight children. His parents both died when he was quite young so he and two of his brothers moved in with their Uncle John and Aunt Laurie Rankin in Oklahoma.

George served in the Heavy Duty Armored Division under General Patten in World War II and was with them when they captured Herman Georing the head of the Luftwaffe, the German Air Force. They cleaned out his smoke house and butchered and ate his American Bison.

George traveled for a while after the war and on a trip to West Virginia, he met and married Margaret Marie Starcher on July 23, 1949.

They worked their way across the country settling for a awhile in California where George worked on a turkey farm. They had two children while living in Exeter. After a flood in the area they moved to Pateros where George went to work in the orchards and added four more children to the family.

Marie passed away in Dec. of 2000.

They are survived by son Delford Lewis and daughters Goldie Susan (Kenneth) Selzer of Pateros and Catherine Mae (Gary) Swenson, Patricia Gail and Hatti Lynn (Neal) McKee and son Timothy George, all of Brewster, seven grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, 14 great- grandchildren and many friends.

Graveside services will be held at the Pateros Cemetery on Dec. 20, 2010, at 11 a.m. with an honor guard and dinner afterwards at the American Legion in Brewster.

Wenatchee World - Thursday, December 16, 2010

George Clinton Rankin

George Clinton Rankin, 87, of Brewster, died Monday, Dec. 13, 2010.

He had lived in Brewster for 10 years. He had worked for Lee Cooper until the Chief Joseph Dam was completed, worked briefly in Ephrata and last worked for Neff Orchards.

Survivors include his children, Delford Rankin of Black Canyon, Hatti McKee, Cathy Swenson, Tim Rankin and Patricia Rankin, all of Brewster, and Goldie Selzer of Pateros.

Graveside services with military honors will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Pateros Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday and 8 to 10 a.m. Monday at Barnes Chapel in Brewster.

Arrangements are by Barnes Chapel.