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When George and Betty Wear were married in Fort
Benning, GA, in 1950, they had a big military wedding, complete with
crossed sabers and uniformed groomsmen. They had met when Betty was a
senior at Auburn U. and George was tutoring her in math. The newlyweds
came west for their honeymoon, to George’s home in Meeker. Brides fifty
years ago had elaborate trousseaus, including lovely linens and a
wardrobe of finery. Of course Betty brought her trousseau to Colorado,
so George’s younger sister, Mary, immediately took her to the local dry
goods store to buy a flannel nightgown and a pair of Levis. Thus begins
a beautiful love story of East meeting West and the support a wife gives
to her husband who makes a career with the Army.
Betty had a tradition with the Army, as her own father was an Army
General. Her first two years were spent in China and the family lived
for six years in Hawaii, before Pearl Harbor. Betty attended eight high
schools and three colleges, as her father had different postings. She
says that the Army teaches you to make and loose friends quickly. Hawaii
is one of Betty’s favorite places, with memories of her childhood and
three years at U. of Hawaii. She learned to surf on heavy mahogany
boards and tells of sliding down hills on large tea leaves. She became
an excellent tennis player, which she still is today.
George left almost immediately after the honeymoon for Korea. Betty
stayed in Fort Banning, where daughter Trish was born in 1951. Jessie
was born at Fort Leavenworth, KN, and son George was born at West Point.
See the picture evolving of moving from base to base, as George’s career
became so successful? One of Betty’s favorite postings was Verona,
Italy, where George was Plans and Operations Officer, G-3 Section, for
over three years. Here the entire family learned to ski.
During George’s second tour of duty in Viet Nam, the family lived
together in the Philippines, where George could occasionally visit. The
children attended an American School at Clark Air Force Base. By this
time George was a Brigadier General and had received his Helicopters
Pilot Wings. He had previously earned the Master Airborne Badge and
Glider Wings. In Viet Nam, George com-manded an Infantry Brigade Task
Force of about 4,500 people. He was also an educator. He received his
Masters degree in International Affairs from George Washington U. in
1965. He spent seven years in the academic side of the Army, including
the important post of Director of Instruction of the Infantry School,
which had a student body of over 10,000 officers and non-commissioned
officers.
The last several years of George’s military career the family lived in
Washington, D.C. George was Director of Personnel, J-l, Joint Chiefs of
Staff. He retired in 1974 and in 1975 he was honored at Ft. Benning, GA,
the home of the Infantry School, by having his name placed on a plaque
in the Infantry Museum. He was honored for being one of the few infantry
officers awarded the coveted Combat Infantry Badge in three wars. George
spent over five years in active combat zones.
In 1974 George and Betty moved to Glenwood Springs. Betty was a bit
reluctant and George bought their home for the past 30 years on Hyland
Park Drive before Betty had even seen it. They soon were very involved
in the community. Betty sold real estate and became a volunteer at the
hospital, which she still does 30 years later. She is very active in the
Altar Guild of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church and past president of
Episcopal Church Women. George became a member and past president of
Rotary and has served on many committees of St. Barnabas. He has served
on the Valley View Hospital Board.
George also went to work for the State of Colorado assisting in the
management of the Oil Shale Trust Fund. Four years and some $30 million
in fund distributions later, he quit to run (unsuccessfully) for the
state legislature. The final ten years of his working career, George was
employed by Mid-Continent Resources Co., assisting in the preparation
and monitoring of the many permits and licenses required by the mining
company. He retired in 1988.
Betty and George are original members of the 100 Club. Betty has hiked
and skied and played tennis and bridge (one of her loves) with the Club.
George is prime mover behind the hiking and has received his 3000 mile
pin. He still skis the easier slopes. And so the love story continues.
What an amazing story this has been. The Wears are very active in the
community, with the 100 Club, and with the successful, full lives of
their three children and grandchildren. How fortunate we are to have
them in our lives, too.
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