George M. Underwood (92) died October 9, 2017 at home. He was born June 20, 1925 in Oakland, CA to Harry and Agness (Wilson) Underwood. He married his first wife Rilla, with whom he had three children in 1948. He married his present wife Jerene in 1978.
He moved from Oakland to Los Angeles at the age of 2 months. He attended grade school, Junior high school and high school in Los Angeles. He left high school before graduating and enlisted in the Navy in February of 1943. He served in the South Pacific during World War II and reached the ranking of Petty Officer First Class before being discharged in June of 1946.
He attended Compton Junior College and the University of Southern California with assistance from the G.I. bill. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1951. He was a member of Chi Epsilon National Civil Engineering Honors Fraternity and was selected for Tau Beta Pi National honors fraternity as a graduate student.
He was employed as a truck driver in Hollywood, CA during his college years. After graduation, he was employed by the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering. He moved from Los Angeles to Greeley, Colorado in 1955. He remained in Colorado from 1955 until his death.
While residing in Colorado he worked as a consulting engineer and was involved in managing many projects in Colorado and Wyoming, including numerous projects for the City of Greeley.
He was a registered professional Engineer in California, Colorado and Wyoming. He retired from the firm of Norton, Underwood and Lamb in 1987, but continued to work as a part time consultant until 1997 at which time he fully retired.
He was at various times a member of the American Water Works Association, the Water Pollution Control Federation and the National Society of Professional Engineers.
He enjoyed fishing and was an avid golfer. He played frequently at the Greeley Country Club where he was a member and a past director.
He is survived by his wife Jerene; two sons Val of Kamuela, Hawaii, and Jay of St. Augustine, Florida; and one granddaughter Evan of Firestone, Colorado and three great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Angess Underwood, sister Evelyn Weed and son Ray Underwood.
Life Celebration Services will be held at the Greeley Country Club on Sunday, October 15th at 2 p.m.
Memorial Contributions can be made to Hawaii Performing Arts Festival (www.hawaiiperformingartsfestival.org) or Humane Society of Weld County (www.weldcountyhumane.org) in care of Adamson Life Celebration Home, 2000 47th Ave., Greeley, CO 80634. Friends may leave condolences at adamsoncares.com.