Obituary of George C McWilliams

George C. McWilliams, age 87, of N. Cape May died Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at home surrounded by his loved ones. George, a man devoted to his country and his family, was born July, 1925 in Camden at West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital to George and Alice Orr McWilliams. An Army veteran of World War II, he served in the rank of corporal from October, 1943 to December, 1945 in Battery C, 241st Coastal Artillery, 28th Infantry Division. Following his time in the Army, George married Ellen Foley of Philadelphia, a union that lasted until her death in 1989. He remained devoted to her the rest of his life. In his early life he had a variety of jobs: as a driver for Bond Bread, a machinist for General Electric, and journeyman for several printing firms in Philadelphia. It was not until he was recruited by a young company based in Emporia, KS specializing in full color web presses called Didde Glaser (later Didde Graphics) that he began an exciting career in service and sales taking him, during the 1950s and 1960s, to major cities in most of the countries in Europe. When he no longer traveled to Europe, he continued to represent the company throughout the United States and Canada. His job had the family moving from the East Coast to Emporia, KS several times over 30 years, but he promised his wife they would retire to the seashore and they moved to North Cape May in 1987. George always had an interest in politics and government. He was a lifetime member of the VFW. George was a lifelong Republican and an election day volunteer. In the early 1990s, he co-founded the Civic Betterment Association of Lower Township and the Coalition of Civic Associations of Cape May County (CoCA) to help facilitate relations among residents, local government and various groups throughout the area. Declining health necessitated his retirement from those activities, but up to a couple of years ago he was still a presence around town and was a lunchtime regular at many of the eateries in North Cape May and the Villas where he enjoyed visiting with other regulars and restaurant employees. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Ellen; his parents, his brother Richard McWilliams, his sister, Patricia McWilliams, and three sisters who died shortly after birth. He is survived by his son George (Julie) of Ocean View, daughters Ellen (Briant Lewis) of Augusta, KS; Elizabeth (Michael Piarulli) of Medford; and Mary (Charles Johnson) of North Cape May; his grandchildren: Ellen (Cori) Young, Susan Lewis, Gavin Lewis, Megan McWilliams (JD Ramirez), Michael Piarulli III, Anne Piarulli, Stephanie (Eric) Snyder, Erica (Steve) Coco; and great grandchildren: Jaxen, Alyssa, Gabriel, Aria, Luke, Jake, Cole, Gabriella, Sophia, and Cecillia. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 PM on Monday, February 25, 2013 at the Evoy Funeral Home, 3218 Bayshore Rd, North Cape May, NJ 08204; where friends may call from 1:30 to 2:30 PM. Burial with honors will follow at Cape May County Veteran's Cemetery. Donations in George's memory may be made to Holy Redeemer Hospice, 1801 Route 9, Swainton, NJ 08210; or to the USO, www.uso.org. To share condolences, please visit www.evoyfuneralhome.com. . .