George died August 10, 2018, in Blaine, Washington. He spent three seasons as a smokejumper (1952-55-56) and volunteered for the Army in 1953 where he spent two years. George returned to jumping in 1955 and was in New Mexico when he hung up in a burning snag. In August of that year, he was one of 103 jumpers to be dropped on a fire in the Salmon River area.

George joined the U.S. Border Patrol in 1956 and was assigned to the Mexican Border. He was later assigned to the northern border and moved to Blaine in 1962 and retired in 1983 as the Deputy Chief for the Blaine section.