George Irving
Published: November 8, 2007 Bonners Ferry Herald
George Irving fought a long and courageous battle with lung cancer. He lost the battle on Oct. 29, 2007. His beloved wife, Joy, was with him at the time of his death.
George was born in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, on May 7, 1938, to Wallace and Laura Irving. As a boy, he was active in 4-H and was known for his prize pig every year at the fair.
He completed high school in Bonners Ferry and came to Moscow and enrolled at the University of Idaho, majoring in chemical engineering. He completed both his bachelor of science and doctor of philosophy degrees in chemical engineering.
While at the university, he met Joy Yockey and they were married on Sept. 17, 1960. Together they enjoyed traveling the world.
Upon graduation, George went to work for Exxon Research and Engineering in Baytown, Texas. He was transferred to Florham Park, N.J., and later to Libya to work in the technical department of the Liquified Natural Gas Liquification plant.
He spent the next 35 years working in many capacities with various employers in the industry and at one time or another was involved with every phase of the LNG business.
George and Joy lived in Libya, Algeria, Indonesia, Sultanate of Oman and England during his career. At the time of his death, he was working in Houston, Texas.
His hobbies included photography, woodworking, traveling and reading. He took great pleasure in remodeling the family home in Moscow over the past nine years.
He is survived by his wife, Joy; two sisters, Beuland and Glen Patterson of Bonners Ferry and Lillian and David DeLine of Spokane Valley, Wash.; his aunts, Jean Myers of Seattle, Mildred Beaudreau of Spokane, and Thelma Beaudreau of Cheney, Wash.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
His wonderful attention to detail and delightfully dry sense of humor will be very much missed. He was always a very gracious host, especially for family.
In lieu of flowers, individuals may donate memorial gifts to the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Idaho Foundation, Inc., Gift Administration Office, P.O. Box 443147, Moscow, ID 83844-3147 or the Scottsdale HealthCare Foundation, 10001 N. 92nd Street, Suite, 121, Scottsdale, AZ 85258.
The funeral service will be Monday, Nov. 5 at 1 p.m. at Short's Funeral Chapel in Moscow. Burial will follow at the Moscow Cemetery.
