George Andrews Jr.

George J. Andrews, Jr. of Willsboro, N.Y. passed away on November 3, 2018 in Willsboro.

Born in Newark, N.J. on November 12, 1927, he was the son of George J. Andrews, Sr. and Ethel (McNabb) Andrews.

George was raised in Hackensack, N.J. and graduated from Hackensack High School in 1945. He was a veteran of the US Army serving in the Philippine Islands from 1946 to 1947.

George went to work as a lineman for New Jersey Bell, afterward working in various NJB offices throughout northern New Jersey, retiring in 1983 as a District Manager.

During his days as a lineman, George crafted a short saying: “No job too big, no pole too high, just point it out, I’ll climb to the sky.”

George married Marilyn “Lynn” Thowless on September 22, 1951 in Bogota, N.J., initially living in New Milford, N.J. and Westwood, N.J. The family moved to River Vale, N.J. in 1959 at Pine Tree Farm.

Together they raised three sons: Glenn S., Greg A., and Robert “Bob” J. Andrews and one daughter, Sue Andrews. In River Vale, they had a small tree nursery and vegetable and fruit garden with a roadside stand.

While living in River Vale, George was a Little League coach and Boy Scout Troop 335 Scoutmaster from 1969 to the early 1980’s having many of his scouts earn the rank of Eagle Scout. In 1972, George led scouts on a trip to Philmont Scout Ranch in the Sangre de Cristo range in New Mexico. In 1977 he was recognized with the Boy Scout Silver Beaver Award. George was also the Grand Marshall in a River Vale Memorial Day parade in recognition of his contributions to scouting.

George was a member of the Trinity Reformed Church in Old Tappan, N.J., a member of the Church Consistory and a regular participant of the church’s annual work bees. He also enjoyed woodworking and completing renovations on their 1920’s Sears & Roebucks kit house in River Vale.

After retiring, George and Lynn moved to Shohola, PA in 1983. While there he was a member of the Walker Lake Association, serving as an officer and engaged with organizing events and planning for the future lake management.

In 1990, George and Lynn moved to Tupper Lake, where they were active as AARP chapter members in Long Lake, and were Charter Founding Members and long time volunteers of The Wild Center in Tupper Lake. There, George would often be found sharing stories of loons and presenting live owl programs to the public. George, with Lynn, also volunteered their time and pontoon boat in supporting the Tupper Lake Tin Man Triathlon and the Tupper Lake Lumberjack Regatta.

George’s hobbies included creating rustic birch bark furniture and frames and crafting wood carvings of birds specializing in waterfowl and loons. George and Lynn moved to Saranac Lake as residents of Saranac Village at Will Rogers. While there his hobbies included reciting verse by his preferred poet, Robert Service. His favorite poem being “The Cremation of Sam Magee” offered while participating in several talent shows.

George and Lynn had many travels across the country and Central America, where he brought Lynn after having promised to share the Panama Canal with her “someday” after traversing it when in the Army. A favorite cruise, enjoyed many times was to Alaska, where they shared many journeys, and almost annual trips to Cape Cod, MA sealed that as the top choice anytime.

Survivors include his wife Marilyn “Lynn”, three sons Glenn of Tupper Lake, Greg Andrews (Dawn) of Addison, ME, and Bob Andrews of Saranac Lake, and one daughter Sue Andrews (Becky Warren) of Pepperell, MA. Grandchildren Nicole (Patrick) Curtin of Long Lake, and David (Kaylee) Andrews of Oneonta, N.Y. George is also survived by one sister, Ethel Rodberg of Point Pleasant Beach, N.J. as well as several nieces and nephews.

Final arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake, there will be no calling hours and burial will take place at the convenience of the family. A Celebration of Life will take place on Friday, November 16 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Saranac Village at Will Rogers, 78 Will Rogers Dr., in Saranac Lake. All are invited to come and share memories of George.

Friends wishing to remember George can make memorial contributions to The Wild Center (wildcenter.org) in care of the funeral home. Family and friends wishing to remember George J. Andrews, Jr. can also share their memories and sign the online guest book at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com