HOOTEN, George -
George Wesley Hooten, Jr., 89, died on November 4, 2009. George was a native Atlantan and grew up in the Sylvan Hills area. He attended Tech High and Georgia Tech. He served his country in World War II in North Africa, Italy and France as a B-24 gunner in the U. S. Army Air Corps. He was a 63 year member of the American Legion and a charter member of the Sons of American Legion, where he was the oldest member in the United States. George was a member of American Legion Post 134 and served in local, district, state and national leadership positions, including 28 years as Executive Director of The National American Legion Press Association. He was a Master Mason at Glenwood Hills Lodge #703 in Decatur and also a York Rite Mason. George was a member of the YAARAB Shrine Temple since 1969, where he was Commander of the Flying Fez Unit, flying burned children to the Shriner’s Burn Centers in Cincinnati, Boston and Galveston. He was also a member of the Shrine Legion of Honor, The Royal Order of Jesters, Khorassan Grotto and a member of the Silver Wings Fraternity. He was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Decatur where he was a Deacon, member of the Alert Sunday School class and served on numerous committees. He loved greeting people in the parking lot and carrying them to the building in the Alert golf cart. He served on the Board of Directors of Clairmont Oaks and Briarcliff Oaks Retirement Centers. Also, George served on the Board of Directors for the Decatur/DeKalb YMCA, where he was once selected as Metro Atlanta YMCA Volunteer of the Year. George was known for his outspoken love of his family, church and country and he was a tireless advocate for veterans. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Joanne Ward Hooten; sons, Michael Hooten and his wife Charlene, Donald Hooten and his wife Becky, all of Decatur; his beloved grandchildren, Hunter and Hannah Hooten and Leigh, David and Cal Hooten; and his loving nephews, Steven Tribble, Randy Tribble and Robb Tribble, Robb’s wife Pam and grandniece, Drew Tribble, also of Decatur. Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 7th at 1:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Decatur. The Alert Sunday School class will serve as Honorary Pallbearers. Graveside services will follow at Decatur Cemetery with full military honors provided by the American Legion. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to the YAARAB Shrine’s Fund for burned or crippled children, 400 Ponce de Leon Ave., Atlanta, GA 30365 or the First Baptist Church of Decatur, 308 Clairemont Ave., Decatur, GA 30030. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, November 6 at A. S. Turner & Sons.
