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Bullied

George

February 1, 1927 – August 8, 2014

Our greatly beloved George, husband and father and friend, died peacefully August 8th at Penticton Regional Hospital, surrounded by family and friends. He was 87 years young. All who knew George will miss him. George was a man of strength, vision and love of his fellow man. He left the world a better place and his spirit will live on in those whose lives he touched, and there were many.

George had a passion for justice and a heart that recognized suffering and a struggling spirit, and he spent much of his life teaching the Art of Living and introducing people to their inner selves, encouraging them to use their God-given talents in ways meaningful to themselves.

George was a Veteran of World War II and of the Korean War. His world was a big one. He was influenced greatly by Gandhi, the Hopi Indians, Martin Luther King, Fritz Perls, Abraham Maslow, and the Basilian Fathers of Windsor University where he became a Social Worker. George founded three rural communities for troubled youth in the 1970’s and 1980’s, the biggest one being Twin Valleys Educational Community near Wardsville, Ontario. Much of his life he worked with people as counsellor, healer, spiritual mentor, loving guide, inspired teacher. He was a long-term member of AA and valued the fellowship and principles of that organization. He became an Essene Minister in 1987 in Washington State, guiding and teaching according to the high principles of this historic group whose teachings had long been so close to his heart and psyche. After returning to Canada, George worked as a Social Worker in Gastown for ten years, and his clients were those addicted to alcohol and drugs and those with AIDS. In 2002 he moved to Okanagan Falls with his wife, and founded and operated Pine Winds Recovery and Treatment Center until 2012.

George is survived by his wife, Patricia Diewold, four children – Marty, Patricia, Adam and Jeremiah, three foster children - George Jr., Robert and Russell. He is also survived by two sisters, Georgina and Gladys, and predeceased by 5 brothers and 2 sisters. There will be a service and celebration of George’s life on Sunday, September 14th at 2 p.m. at St. Saviour’s Church Hall,

150 Orchard Ave., Penticton. All are welcome.



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