May 31, 1924 - June 04, 2017
George (Age 93) was welcomed to heaven by the Lord and a big welcoming committee of family on June 4th, 2017. - George was born in Naperville, Illinois, on May 31, 1924, to John and Antionette Kobylensky. He grew up in Naperville. He loved playing the drums and worked as a drummer in dance bands while in high school and then to pay his way through college. - He attended North Central College for a year before leaving to serve in the Army Air Corps during WWII. After his discharge, he enrolled in the University of Illinois and studied engineering. - At U of I he met the love of his life, Barbara Gravenhorst. They were married in 1945 and the marriage lasted 63 years until Barbaras death in 2009. They have 2 children, Barbara and Robert. - In 1952 George and his family moved to Connersville, Indiana, where he spent many satisfying and productive years working as an engineer for AVCO working on top secret government missile projects. Later he served as the Vice President in charge of Manufacturing at Connersville Casket Company. While in Connersville, he and his wife were very active in Civic Theater as well as with church and community work. - In 1971 George and Barbara moved to Spokane, WA, and were soon joined by their children. George worked as the Vice President of Manufacturing at SCAFCO and then in 1980 purchased and ran a Sun Rental store on Francis Ave. In 1993, he sold the store and went back to his first love, engineering, working as a consultant for several years at what was then Johnson Matthey. - He was a man of faith and very dedicated to his church, Messiah Lutheran, where he served in many volunteer capacities, including treasurer. Though he thrived on the challenges and opportunities that work and volunteering brought him, he loved nothing more than spending his retired life being close to his family. - He and Barbara raised two children, Barb (Gordon) Miscoi of Colbert, and Bob (Pat) Kobylensky of Rathdrum, Idaho, who gave them six grandchildren: Jennifer (Chad) Rankin of Seattle, Lauri (Harley) Kendrick of Spokane, Jodie (Shane) Ulrick of Spokane, Nick Kobylensky of Spokane Valley, Paul (Monica) Kobylensky of Fort Wayne Indiana, and Brittany (Matt) Schaefer of Lexington, Kentucky. He has eight great-grandchildren with 2 more on the way. He also cherished his many nieces and nephews scattered throughout the US. - George's heavenly welcoming committee included his father John, mother Antionette, wife Barbara, and granddaughter Lauri. - George often reminded his family and friends how truly blessed he was. His family reminded him that it was they who had been blessed. - A Memorial Service will be held at Messiah Lutheran Church, 4202 W. Belt Street, Spokane, WA 99205, on Saturday June 17th at 1:30 pm with a reception to follow. - In lieu of flowers please consider donating in his name to either River's Edge Church, an outreach ministry, by going online to respokane.org/give or donate to Messiah Lutheran Church. - It truly can be said that George Kobylensky knew what love was.
