Marilyn George

Marilyn Wilson George was born on October 7, 1926, in Duncan, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of Carl Wilson, an Oklahoma oil field worker, and Gerda Miller Wilson, a New York City native who grew up in a family of Danish immigrants. Marilyn was the fourth of Carl and Gerda’s five children: older siblings, Carl Wilson, Kathryn Wilson Schroeder, Alan Wilson, and younger sister Janice Wilson Baker. Marilyn grew up mostly in the town of Burrton, Kansas, with a few unexpected adventures along the way, like visiting the newly opened Rockefeller Center in New York City with her mother as a young child.

After high school graduation and World War II, Marilyn married Dick Reusser and the two of them moved to Emporia, where they spent the next three decades working at a local grain company called Teichgraeber Milling. Throughout her years there, Marilyn was Teichgraeber’s office manager, earning the respect of her co-workers and taking on increasing responsibilities along the way. In the mid-1960s she and Dick became licensed private pilots, purchasing a Cessna airplane that they flew on trips all over North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

After Dick Reusser’s death in the early 1980s, Marilyn married her second husband, Tommy George, an engineer with specialties in both aviation and broadcasting. Tommy had been a long-time friend of both Marilyn and Dick. The Georges built a house next to Tommy’s hangar at High Point Airpark, where she lived until her death.

Marilyn had a number of hobbies and pastimes, including cooking, painting and learning Spanish, but her two favorite pursuits were always bowling and flying. Marilyn continued to play in a bowling league well into her late 90s, and her love of aviation and numerous hours in the air ultimately brought her a prestigious Wright Brothers Master Pilot award, given to private pilots of distinction.

After moving to Valley Center, Marilyn became an active member of the Valley Center Christian Church, where she enjoyed multiple friendships and volunteered her services in various ways, including helping with after-school programs for grade-school kids.

Marilyn was always a strong believer in the importance of family, and though she had no children of her own, her nieces and nephews considered her a second mom — and for a later generation she was a second grandma. She is survived by several nieces and nephews, plus an even greater number of grand-nieces and nephews and great-grand-nieces and nephews. Marilyn also leaves behind a wide circle of friends. Until the end of her life, Marilyn remained a social butterfly, never losing her energy or enthusiasm for road trips, restaurant outings and assorted outings with friends both old and new.

Marilyn’s last big social appearance took place less than two months ago, at her 99th birthday reception, where she reigned as guest of honor. What most of the party guests did not realize was that earlier that day she had been rushed to the emergency room for what turned out to be a serious medical issue. Marilyn being Marilyn, she insisted to the ER doctors that she be released long enough to make an appearance at her party. Only after doing so did she return to the hospital to resume treatment.

Until the very end, Marilyn never stopped being her gregarious, sharp, funny and ornery self. She died at home in her sleep early Thanksgiving morning, November 27, 2025, at the youthful age of 99.

A funeral for Marilyn will be held on Monday, December 8, 2025, at 10:00 AM at the Valley Center Christian Church 1801 E. 5th Street, Valley Center, Kansas. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Newton. Friends may pay respects at a visitation on Sunday, December 7, 2025 from 2:00-4:00 PM at Petersen Funeral Home, 215 N. Main St., Newton, Kansas. Memorials are suggested to the EAA Young Eagles Wichita Chapter 88 and may be left in the care of the funeral home.