Audra Alfred "Audie" George

Audra Alfred (Audie) George, 88 of Belle Vernon went to be with the Lord on Friday, March 3, 2023, at the Cambridge Creekside Nursing Home Dementia Unit, Charleroi, Pa.

Formerly of Coal Center where he was born and raised, he lived many years in Belle Vernon.  He was born on August 16, 1934 in Coal Center., Pa.  Audra was the youngest child of John George, Sr and Mae Higginson George.

Audie as he was known was very close to his family especially his mother Mae whom he adored. 

In his younger years he spent many wonderful times swimming in the river and running with his best friend Buzzy Garnic.  He lived on Water St. close to the river and loved swimming.  When he was around 12 years old, he swam across the river and back.  He made his friends promise not to tell his mother or she would “ring his neck.”  Later on, you could find Audie and Buzzy riding all over on their motorcycles taking many interesting road trips.  He loved going to the family cabin to hunt and spend time with his favorite brother-in-law Martin Perecko and Martin’s 3 sons, Gary, David and Ricky Perecko. 

Audie enlisted in the Air Force in 1952.  He is a Korean War veteran.  He worked for Liggett Spring and Axel for a short time and then took a job working on the river boats as a deck hand, sometimes working away from home for 10 days at a time.  This job would take him down the Mississippi River to New Orleans many times.   This led him to being hired  as a Lock and Dam operator by the Army Corp of Engineers, Pittsburgh Division.  He spent 35 years at the Lock # 3 Dam in Elizabeth, Pa.  This was so appropriate since he spent so much time near the water when he was growing up.  When he was hired his boss Mr. Miller said “there are two kinds of can’t boy, if you can’t do the job you can’t stay” He proved he could do the job, so he stayed.  He retired in 1994.  In his leisure time he could be seen running with his boys Buzzy, Pottsie, Danny and Bob.

In 1988 he married the former Ann Gohosky Kobaly.  They enjoyed 32 years together.

Audie was preceded in death by his parents, John and Mae George; his wife Ann M George; three brothers John, Jr., Clifford and Wilbur George; four sisters, Betty Adams of California, Phyllis Perecko of Monongahela, Evelyn Baczewski and Delores “Hannah” Elias of Bellvue; Step-son, Milton Kobaly II and Step-daughter Cynthia Kobaly.

He is survived by a step-daughter Bonita Kobaly Kline and husband Dennis Kline; step-grandchildren, Alesandra, Angel, Jacob and Milton Kobaly III; step great-grandchild Claira Clutter along with many nieces and nephews. 

Friends will be received Tuesday, March 7, 2023 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm in the Eley/McCrory Funeral Home, Inc.  www.eleymccroryfuneralhome.com

Funeral service will be held Wednesday March 8, 2023 at 11:00 am in the funeral home with Rev. Mary Kay Glunt officiating.

Interment will follow in the Belle Vernon Cemetery.

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