George T. Mckinstry

East Palestine - May 17, 2008 - George T. McKinstry, 92, of 566 Alice Street, died at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Caprice Health Care Center, North Lima.

Mr. McKinstry was born August 18, 1915 in Brilliant, OH, a son of Jesse and Grace Heile McKinstry and had lived in East Palestine since 1946, coming from Brilliant. He was a 1939 graduate of Thiel College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in Biology and a minor in French. After college, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served as commander on a mine sweeper during WW II. After the war, he taught at Brilliant High School for four years and then taught at the East Palestine High School for three years where he coached basketball and was assistant coach of the football team. From 1948 until 1998, he represented Mutual Benefit Life Insurance in this area.

He was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church where he had taught Sunday School and had served as an Elder, Deacon, and Trustee. He was an active member of the East Palestine Kiwanis Club where he had served in all offices numerous times and was very active in forming the Little League Organization. He was an umpire for the former "Carolina League" and his love of sports continued as he attended youth sporting events his sons coached up until this past Spring. He was a member and past president of the Youngstown Life Underwriters Association and served from 1972 - 1980 on the East Palestine Board of Education. He also served on the park board and was active with the East Palestine Chamber of Commerce.

His wife, the former Charlene E. Davis, whom he married June 22, 1943 died December 14, 1986.

He is survived by two sons, Dana H. "Dan" (Cindy) McKinstry and Kevin L. (Ruby) McKinstry, both of East Palestine; a brother, Charles R. McKinstry of Brilliant; and four grandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by a brother, Gerald McKinstry.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at the First United Presbyterian Church with Pastor Donald Aull officiating. Burial will follow in Glenview Cemetery. Friends may call at the Van Dyke-Swaney-Rettig Funeral Home, East Palestine, from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday and one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday.

Memorial tributes may be made to either the East Palestine Meals on Wheels or East Palestine Social Concerns.