George F. Tipsword, of Fulton, Miss., formerly of Lawrenceville, passed away at the home of his companion, Fran Wolf, in Evansville, Ind., on April 20, 2009.

He was born Nov. 6, 1920, the son of George C. and Mary (Hershman) Tipsword. George was married Dec. 4, 1948, to Sydney L. Onines and she preceded him in death on August 9, 1982.

A graduate of Purdue University, George owned and operated Precision Service Company in Lawrenceville until 1986. An avid boater, he retired to his boat in Fulton, Miss.

George was a member of Rotary International, a life member of the Elks, a life member of the Masons, a life member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, a member and instructor for the U.S. Power Squadron and a member of the Sports Car Club of America. He was a WWII veteran, serving in the Pacific Theater and occupied Japan.

Survivors include two sons, George S. and Rosalind Tipsword of Houston, Texas, and Thomas R. and Kathy Tipsword of Lawrenceville; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Alvan retired as Chief of Operations from Burch Plow Works, Inc. in 1980.During his life, he served with many organizations and was very civic-minded.He had served as secretary of the Commerce Regional Expansion Council, and helped with the Indiana Agricultural Experimentation Station at Purdue University. Alvan was a long time Republican and was a member of the Republican Presidential Task Force for the State of Indiana, and served as a delegate for the Republican National Convention in Miami, Florida. He served on many boards as a director, including Welborn Baptist Hospital, Indiana 4-H Foundation, Evansville Association for the Blind, Sonshine Valley Ranch, Sarasota Yacht Club, and was Commander of the Sarasota, Florida, Power Squadron and a member of the Evansville Bend Power Squadron. Alvan was a member of the Reed Masonic Lodge 316, Scottish Rite, past Potentate of the Hadi Shrine Temple in 1953, and a member of Royal Order of Jesters Lodge 102. He was appointed Sagamore of the Wabash by Gov. Otis Bowen in 1973, and was a Kentucky Colonel.

He was a member of Bethel Temple and the Bible Fellowship Hour. In 1999, he traveled to Jerusalem to be baptized in the Jordan River.

Alvan was a loving father to his daughters, Pamela Jane Matthews, Cheryl Lee Beane and her husband Lyle, Virginia "Ginjr" Caine and her husband Herbert, and to his son, Alvan "Skip" Burch III, all of Evansville. Also surviving are grandchildren, Jenifer Meredith, Brandon Caine, Joal Beane, Scott Caine; great-grandchildren, Amanda, Brett, Jeremy, Tyler, Deagon, and Kaedin.

His wife, Virginia, preceded him in death in November of 2003.

Services were held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 3, 2006, at Ziemer Funeral Home East Chapel, 800 S. Hebron Avenue, Rev. R.R. Schwambach officiated. Private burial services were held at Oak Hill Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Sonshine Valley Ranch (a ministry for persons with special needs).

Marilyn was born to Luther and Mildred Crotzer and raised in Chicago, Ill., and then moved to Evansville, Ind.

She was a volunteer for the Vanderburgh Humane Society and for Bethel Manor with pet therapy and library distribution.She also participated in aquarobics therapy at the Rehabilitation Center.

Marilyn was a member of the United States Power Squadrons Evansville Bend. Her hobbies were boating, sailing and genealogy. She also was an avid traveler and enjoyed family and living the good life.

In July 2003, Marilyn was asked to be the "captain" of Evansville Bend's entry into the "cardboard" boat contest at the District 24 Summer Rendezvous at Craig's Creek. Marilyn was selected because of her petite size and "can do" positive, unsinkable attitude.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert A. Brooks, in 1998. Marilyn continued to be very active in the Evansville Bend Power Squadron after Robert's death. She always had a smile on her face and was loved by all members of Evansville Bend.

Marilyn is survived by her sons, Jeffrey Cain and his wife, Kathy, of Evansville, Timothy Cain and his wife, Susan, of Mesa, Ariz., and Christopher Cain and his wife, Sandy, of Evansville; stepchildren, Michael Brooks and his wife, Carol, of Jacksonville, Ore., Jennifer Dawes of Evansville and Will Brooks and his wife, Julie, of Nashville, Tenn.; grandchildren, Eric and Adam Cain, Kristin and Sara Cain and Justin Cain; stepgrandchildren, Jill and Jocelyn Brooks, Eric and Carl Dawes and David and Evan Brooks; and great-grandchildren, Jerry and Madison Cain.

An informal memorial service was held 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 23, 2004, at Forest Hills Wesleyan Church on Claremont Avenue, officiated by Reverend William Gorton and Pastor Kelly McKinley.

Past District Commander Leroy Elwood made these remarks:

"Thank you for allowing the squadron to remember Marilyn at this Memorial Service".

"Marilyn was of great service to the Evansville Bend Power Squadron earning 13 merits marks. Merit Marks are given yearly to members who give of their time and energy for squadron activities."

"When her husband P/C Robert Brooks, AP was living, the sailing class had to show their expertise by sailing on Kentucky Lake, after the sail the students would gather at Bob and Marilyn’s retreat at Light House Landing for food and fellowship."

"On one occasion Marilyn was honored by winning the Squadron’s Bent Prop award. The award was given for heaving the anchor and anchor line out, without having the line attached to the boat."

"Two years ago Marilyn attended the District 24 rendezvous at Dan’s Marina in Warsaw, KY where the squadron had to build a boat out of cardboard in a competition with 9 other squadrons. The object of the competition was to keep the boat afloat and win a race against the other squadrons. Marilyn was selected to be our crew during this race, our vessel did not win, but Marilyn at 75 did not come in last, either."

"The squadron has a bell that is used to bring our meetings to order, Bob and Marilyn gave that bell to the squadron."

"Marilyn served as Membership Chairman, was on the calling committee as well as working at the annual boat shows. She helped proctor the Public Boating Courses in years past."

"On a personal note, Marilyn found a cat in Danville, IL that is now a member of our household. The cat’s mother died right after birth and the kitten was hand feed until it was able to be on its own. The cat is named ‘Puddy' and is a large, long hair black cat."

"We at Evansville Bend Power Squadron truly will miss Marilyn and her adventurous spirit!"

"Thank you."

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Evansville Vanderburgh or any local humane society or the American Cancer Society.

Condolences may be made online at www.mem.com. Arrangements were by Alexander North Chapel.

Virginia was born to the late Art and Jane McCready of Indianapolis, Indiana. On March 23, 1940, she married Evansville industrialist Alvan V. Burch Jr. Virginia and Alvan moved to Sarasota, Florida, in 1982, where she was active in the Sarasota Power Squadron and the Sarasota Yacht Club.

In 1999, the Burches returned to Evansville. A loving mother and supportive wife, she will be greatly missed. Virginia attended Abundant Life Church in Newburgh and Bethel Temple in Evansville and was a member of the Bible Fellowship Hour at Bethel.

Alvin transferred his membership to the Evansville Bend Power Squadron after returning to Evansville. Ginny and Alvin attended many squadron meetings.

The family expresses their sincere gratitude to the staff of caregivers of St. Mary's Adult Intensive Care Unit.

Virginia is survived by her husband of 61 years, Alvan V. Burch Jr., daughters, Pamela Garman Matthews, Cheryl Lee Beane and Virginia "Ginjr" Caine and a son, Alvan "Skip" Burch III, all of Evansville; a brother, Richard McCready of Indianapolis; grandchildren, Jenifer Meredith of San Diego, California, Brandon Caine and Joal Beane, both of Evansville and Scott Caine of Clinton, Indiana; and five great-grandchildren, Amanda, Brett, Jeremy, Tyler and Deagon.

Memorial services were held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26 at Ziemer Funeral Home East Chapel, 800 South Hebron Avenue, with the Rev. R.R. Schwambach officiating.

Visitation was on Wednesday, November 26, from 3 p.m. until service time at the funeral home.

Private burial services were in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Dick was instrumental in the leadership of Evansville Bend Power Squadron for over 25 years. For many years he was the "mainstay" of our squadron serving in many different offices and capacities including serving as a teacher for many different courses.

An avid sailor, Dick loved to sail "Egret" his 19'3" boat. He moored "Egret" for many years in Kenlake Marina at Kentucky Lake.

Dick served as Commodore of the Kentucky Lake Sailing Club and was a founding member in 1975 of the Evansville Bend Power Squadron unit of the U.S. Power Squadron. He had served as Commander of Evansville Bend Power Squadron in 1981 and 1984. He was the first commander to serve two watch years. Dick was Evansville Bend's first Education Officer and served in that office several years. He had the grade of Junior Navigator and received his 25-year pin in 1997. Dick designed the Evansville Bend Burgee,our squadron flag.

The courses Dick took were Seamanship, Piloting, Advanced Piloting, Junior Navigation. In addition, Dick took these elective courses: Engine Maintenance, Sailing and Officer Training.

Dick used his creative talents to design several "teaching aids" for Evansville Bend that were used in competition at the District 24 Fall Conferences. He provided his artist talent to design and make many of the signs we used at various functions. For many years, he also was the publisher of our monthly newsletter "The Pilot" and lettered the first editions with calligraphy.

A commercial artist, Dick was employed by Creative Press from 1957 to 1983, where he was Vice President of Design. He won several national awards for his advertisements. He was a member of the Tri-State Advertising Club and was the recipient of the first Silver Medal Award. Previously, he had worked as Advertising and Sales Promotion Managers at Servel, Inc., art director at Hathaway Advertising Agency, and industrial editor at both Mead Johnson and Sunbeam Electric.

In his early years, he was served as head of the Graphic Arts Department and board member of the Evansville Museum. He taught commercial art at the University of Evansville and was active in the county Unit School movement to consolidate township schools. He was an active member of Old North United Methodist Church and sang in the choir. An accomplished calligrapher, he was a member of the Ohio Valley Scribes.

Mr. Geier is survived by a son, Dr. Richard Geier Jr. of Rochester, Minn., and his wife Karen and their children Heidi Geier of Minneapolis, Minn., Dr. Richard Geier III of Hamilton, N.Y., and Kirsten Geier of Seattle, Wash.; a son Stefan Geier of Raleigh, N.C, his wife Sidney (Jones), and their children Dr. Christine Childs of Little Rock, AR, and Natalie Mann of Mooresville, N.C.; a daughter, Libby Geier of St. Paul, Minn. and her daughter, Dr. Stefana Lefko of Berlin, Germany; a daughter, Martha Geier of Louisville, Ky., and her daughter, Sarah Kruse of Boston, Mass.; a daughter, Julie Haddan, and her husband, Jim and their children, Max, Meredith, and Lauren, all of Evansville; great-grandchildren, George Richard Geier IV, Erik Geier and Anna Mann.

Mr. Geier was predeceased by his wife of 50 years, Elizabeth, and his youngest son, Quentin, and his brother, Philip.

A memorial service was held at Old North United Methodist Church on Friday, November 29 at 7:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Old North United Methodist Church, Willard Library, Good Samaritan Foundation, or to a favorite charity.