Audra Alfred ‘Audie’ George – Belle Vernon
Audra Alfred “Audie” George, 88, of Belle Vernon, went to be with the lord on Friday, March 3, 2023, at the Cambridge Creek-side Nursing Home Dementia Unit, Charleroi. Formerly of Coal Center where he was born and raised, he lived many years in Belle Vernon. He was born on Aug. 16, 1934, in Coal Center., Pa. Audra was the youngest child of John George Sr. and Mae Higginson George. Audie, as he was known, was very close to his family, especially his mother, Mae, whom he adored. In his younger years, he spent many wonderful times swimming in the river and running with his best friend, Buzzy Garnic. He lived on Water Street, close to the river, and loved swimming. When he was around 12 years old, he swam across the river and back. He made his friends promise not to tell his mother or she would “wring his neck.” Later on, you could find Audie and Buzzy riding all over on their motorcycles taking many interesting road trips. He loved going to the family cabin to hunt and spend time with his favorite brother-in-law, Martin Perecko, and Martin’s three sons, Gary, David and Ricky Perecko. Audie enlisted in the Air Force in 1952. He is a Korean War veteran. He worked for Liggett Spring and Axle for a short time and then took a job working on river boats as a deckhand, sometimes working away from home for 10 days at a time. This job would take him down the Mississippi River to New Orleans many times. This led him to being hired as a lock and dam operator by the Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh Division. He spent 35 years at Lock No. 3 Dam in Elizabeth. This was so appropriate since he spent so much time near the water when he was growing up. When he was hired, his boss, Mr. Miller said, “There are two kinds of can’t boy, if you can’t do the job you can’t stay.” He proved he could do the job, so he stayed. He retired in 1994. In his leisure time, he could be seen running with his boys: Buzzy, Pottsie, Danny and Bob. In 1988, he married the former Ann Gohosky Kobaly. They enjoyed 32 years together. Audie was preceded in death by his parents, John and Mae George; his wife, Ann M George; three brothers, John Jr., Clifford and Wilbur George; four sisters, Betty Adams of California, Phyllis Perecko of Monongahela, Evelyn Baczewski and Delores “Hannah” Elias of Bellvue; stepson, Milton Kobaly II; and stepdaughter Cynthia Kobaly. He is survived by a stepdaughter, Bonita Kobaly Kline and husband Dennis Kline; step-grandchildren, Alesandra, Angel, Jacob and Milton Kobaly III; step-great-grandchild, Claira Clutter; along with many nieces and nephews. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at ELEY/MCCRORY FUNERAL HOME INC., www.eleymccroryfuneralhome.com. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 8, 2023, in the funeral home with the Rev. Mary Kay Glunt officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.
