George Quitman Cain Sr., 94, proud Christian, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, departed this life as he lived it, in peace and in the presence of his beloved wife of 68 years, Betty Love Cain, on July 19, 2014.

George was born on Oct. 14, 1919, to William Eugene and Judie Jones Cain in McCall Creek.  Visitation will be at Glenwood Funeral Home on Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m., and Wednesday July 23, 2014, at First Baptist Church from 9:30 a.m. until the service at 11. Interment will follow at Greenlawn Gardens, with Dr. Gordon Sansing officiating.

George, “Tip,” grew up in Franklin County and graduated from Independence High School. As the only boy of seven children, he vividly remembers his days as a dirt farmer and the many hours he spent in the fields behind his mule and tending crops. He recently spoke of this and concluded, “I knew early on that I didn’t want to be a farmer!”

At the age of 18, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and worked conservation projects in Mississippi and as far away as California.  He was drafted and inducted into the Army at Camp Shelby on Feb. 3, 1942.  He trained at Camp (Fort) Polk, La., and performed maneuvers in and around Louisiana and Texas until his unit was called overseas.

He departed the United States on June 7, 1944, to the European Theater and eventually was deployed to Utah Beach where his unit, Co A, 33rd Armored Engineers, 7th Armored Division, was part of Gen. George Patton’s charge in Central Europe. While in Europe, his unit helped liberate France.

During the next seven months of intense action, his company was involved in four major battles, including the Battle of the Bulge.

One of his favorite stories is that of Gen. Patton jumping into the same foxhole during a strafing mission. They had quite an “interesting” conversation!

His service medals include the National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, WWII, European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Ribbon with four Bronze Battle Stars, WWII Battle of the Bulge Commemorative Ribbon and the American Defense Commemorative Ribbon.

In April of 2013, he was honored to receive the French Legion of Honour medal and appointed a “Chevalier” of the Legion of Honor for his part in the liberation of France.  True to the life he lived, he remained humble to the end and was truly part of “The Greatest Generation.”

Upon his discharge in October 1945, he moved to Vicksburg where his sister was living. On Nov. 11, he met the love of his life, Betty Lou Love, on a blind date, and they became “Mr. and Mrs.” six months later.

He was employed by PP Williams Co. from 1945-1953, and then spent the remainder of his working life with Spencer Chemical, Gulf Oil Co. and Vicksburg Chemical, where he retired in 1985.

He loved being outdoors and was very active coaching Dixie Youth baseball teams.  He loved to fish private lakes around Vicksburg and mastered his fly-fishing while Betty paddled him around in the boat. He also maintained his love for farm life and planted many backyard gardens and ventured into the cattle business in Franklin County.

Upon his retirement, he began crafting furniture as a hobby, resulting in many beautiful handmade pieces throughout the U.S. especially among family members who watched him craft from wood for many he loved.

George was preceded in death by his parents, William Eugene Cain and Judith Elizabeth Jones of McCall Creek; and his sisters, Vera Evans, Golda Mathews, Judie Mae Ratcliff, Cleo Havis and Alice Matthews.

He is survived by his wife Betty Lou; son, George Q Cain Jr. (Cindy) of Clinton; daughter Susan Carol Stark (Bill) of Marion, Ala.; “adopted daughter”, Carolyn Walden (Jim) of Jackson; grandchildren, Courtney Cain Skelton (Casey) of Starkville, Tripp Cain (Marlee) of Greenville, Brittany Wilson (John Michael) of Clinton, Kayla Chandler (Bennett) of Brandon and Katie Compton of Memphis, Tenn.; six great-grandchildren, Walker and Tucker Skelton, Sellers and Anna Love Cain, and Ryder and Rhodes Wilson; a sister, Dorothy LaNell Carson of Omaha, Neb.; and nieces and nephews.

George was a longtime member of First Baptist Church and loved being part of the Grand Adventure Bible Class and Joy Fellowship.

The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Eugene Ferris and Dr. Russell Barnes, his caregivers Jean Rampy and Elizabeth Wicker, and nurses Susan Crawley and Kim Cain and special friends at First Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to First Baptist Church Medical Ministry or St Jude Hospital.