George Berry

George E. Berry, Jr., 90, died May 25, 2009. He was born Oct. 5, 1918, in Greensburg and lived his entire life there. George earned a degree in journalism from Penn State, followed by a law degree from Pitt. At the time of his death he was the senior member of the Westmoreland County Bar, and during his long career he earned countless friendships and deep respect from his peers. During WW II he served as a Lt. Commander in the navy, receiving a Purple Heart for wounds incurred when his LST hit a mine in the English Channel while preparing for the D-Day landings. He was active for years in the Republican Party, running for Congress in 1952 and for local offices in the 1960s. From college on he was an ardent and skilled bridge player, achieving the level of silver life master over the course of decades in which he was a fixture at local contract bridge venues. In addition to bridge, another of George's signature passions was travel. What the navy didn't show him of the world he made up for by visiting the proverbial four corners on his own and with family members. Happily, he was both a diarist and an 8mm film buff, so there is a vivid record of his many trips that is a wonderful legacy. George loved the company of dogs and had to be restrained from over-indulging them with treats. His beloved Mitzy, whom he rescued from the animal shelter in a truly forlorn condition, never failed to uplift him. He was even more delighted by children, and perhaps the happiest days he spent were with his grandson David. It seems fitting that George died on Memorial Day, given that he was a throwback to straightforward American and small town ideals, to a passing generation for which integrity was the gold standard that truly mattered. He is survived by his son, George III (Skip), of Greensburg; son Michael (and wife Ana Taras) of Trenton, NJ; grandson David of Ann Arbor, MI, and sister Virginia of Greensburg. a�" VISITATION FROM 2 TO 4 AND 6 TO 8 ON WED, MAY 27, AT KEPPLEGRAFT FUNERAL HOME, INC., 524 N. MAiN ST., GREENSBURG. SERVICES WILL BE PRIVATE, FOLLOWED BY ENTOMBMENT AT ST. CLAIR CEMETERY. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS FRIENDS ARE INVITED TO MAKE A DONATION IN GEORGE'S Memory to the Humane Society of Westmoreland County, Route 119 North, Greensburg, Pa. 15601

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