George F. Ivey, 1916-2011

11-04-2011
The Rev. Dr. George Franklin Ivey, 94, passed away Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011, following a long illness.

Born on Oct. 12, 1916, in Graceville, Fla., he was a graduate of Alabama State College and John Brown University in Siloam Springs. He received his Masters and Ph.D. in family counseling from Florida State University and an honorary Doctor of Divinity from John Brown. He did postgraduate work at Harvard and Princeton Universities and attended seminary at Southern Methodist and Southwestern Universities.

He served as a chaplain in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, including combat postings in the South Pacific and the Philippines, and reached the rank of Major. During his military service he was awarded three campaign ribbons, two unit citations and six battle stars. Near the end of the war, he toured the country raising money for War Bonds and was repeatedly honored by the U.S. Secretary of Treasury for his outstanding contributions.

Ivey entered the Methodist Conference in Abilene, Texas in 1938 and served several churches in west Texas before becoming vice president of Centenary College in Shreveport, La. He served at First UMCs in Springdale, Camden, Hot Springs and Fort Smith, and as superintendent of the Fort Smith District. He retired in 1981.

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Doris; a son, David, of Fredericksburg, Va.; two granddaughters, Patty Landry of Little Rock and Jennifer Farrar of Locust Grove, Va.; four great-granddaughters; and a brother, Charles Edward Ivey, of Graceville, Fla.. His elder son, G. Frank, Jr., of Little Rock, preceded him in death.

A member of the Arkansas Conference, he connected with St. James United Methodist Church Little Rock in retirement. He was a Life Member of the Fort Smith Rotary Club, the American Legion, was a 32nd degree Mason, the York Rite Shriners, the Knights Templar and Red Cross of Constantine. He was a member emeritus of the Board of Regents of John Brown University and pastor emeritus of First UMC Fort Smith.

A memorial service was held Monday, Oct. 3 at St. James UMC Little Rock, with inurnment at the St. James Columbarium. The Rev. Siegfried Johnson officiated.

Memorials may be given to St. James UMC, 321 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock, AR 72212, or Arkansas Hospice, 14 Parkstone Circle, North Little Rock, AR 72116.