Dr. George Richard Clerihew, 95, passed away on February 21, 2025, in Denton, Texas. He was born on April 1, 1929, in Antelope, Texas (Jack County), to Arthur and Claudia Alford Clerihew.

At the age of 16, George earned his pilot’s license, a passion that led him to serve in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He spent two years flying during the Berlin Blockade in Germany. After his military service, George went on to own an appliance store before transitioning to regional sales manager at Westinghouse Electric Corporation. His love for aviation called him back, and he became a corporate pilot, flying for celebrities and business executives. He later served as Vice President of King Flight Services in Wichita Falls, Texas.

George was a proud graduate of William Carey University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and earned his Doctor of Divinity degree from Southern Bible Seminary. In 1966, he was ordained as a Southern Baptist minister and served as pastor in churches in Columbus, Ohio, and Hattiesburg, Mississippi, before returning to Texas. He pastored several churches in Texas, including First Baptist Church in Sanger, North Irving Baptist Church, First Baptist Church in Grapevine, and Highland Baptist Church in Denton. He also served as Director of Missions for the Denton Baptist Association before retiring.

In addition to his ministry work, George was an entrepreneur. He opened two small businesses: Clerihew Men’s Clothing Store in Grapevine and Golf By George in Denton, where he built custom golf clubs—a hobby that grew into a business.

George’s passions were many. He was an avid golfer, winning several tournaments and recording multiple hole-in-ones. He also loved shooting and won numerous skeet shooting tournaments. His enthusiasm for both golf and shooting remained strong well into his 90s. George was a longtime member of the Denton Country Club and North Texas Shooters Association. He was also a Master Mason and a member of Bolivar Lodge.

George was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife of 57 years, Vera Lois Clerihew, his brother Walter “Corky”, son-in-law Hal Ostrander, and his second wife of 14 years, Gail Curry Clerihew.

He is survived by his three children: Carla Ostrander, Claudia Clerihew, and George Clerihew II and his wife Toni; eight grandchildren: Alison Santos and her husband Denis, Mark Ostrander and his wife Melissa, Sara Schwartz and her husband Nick, Andrea Ostrander, Brian Burke and his wife Jackie Kelley, Breann Burke, Jacob Clerihew, and Alex Clerihew; and six great-grandchildren: Jackson, Aiden, and Max Ostrander, Chloe and William McNeely and Walker William Burke.

The visitation for George is 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at Coker Funeral Home in Sanger. Funeral services are at 11:00 am, Thursday, February 27, 2025, at the First Baptist Church in Sanger. Pastor Grant Bowles will officiate the services. George Clerihew, Alex Clerihew, Brian Burke, Denis Santos, Jake Clerihew, and Bill Bryant will serve as pallbearers. A Masonic service will be conducted at the graveside by members of the Bolivar Lodge.

Respectfully,

Charles Kesseler, Past Master Bolivar Lodge 1979