George L. Harlow Obituary (1924

George L. Harlow, 91, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, December 15, 2015. He was born February 19, 1924 in Waukegan and lived in Waukegan most of his life. He graduated from Waukegan Township High School after attending North and Washington grade schools in Waukegan. He attended post war University of Illinois Extension in Chicago while employed by the Wetzel and Turner Buick-Chevrolet Agency as Service and Sales Administrative Assistant. He was a Sales Representative for the Johns Manville Friction Material Division of St. Louis, Missouri, covering the North-Central United States. He joined the Bank of Waukegan in 1967 and worked in every department of the bank, finally concentrating his efforts in the Commercial Lending and Trust Departments as the Senior Vice President and Trust Officer. He was a former member of the Waukegan Jaycees and the Waukegan Elks Lodge. He was a member of the Waukegan City Club, Ducks Unlimited, American Legion Post 281, Waukegan Amvets, Purple Heart Association, Navy League of the United States, American Ex-Prisoners of War Association, 8th Air Force Second Air Division Assoc., 8th Air Force Historical Society, the 445th Bomb Group, the Caterpillar Parachute Club and the Waukegan Yacht Club. He was a member of the Lake County Contractors Association serving on the Board of Directors as Treasurer for eight years and then serving on the Board of Governors as an Associate Representative. He was a member of the Glen Flora Country Club for 63 years, serving on the Board of Governors for seven years, holding the Office of President in 1970 and serving on various committees for over 32 years. He was the writer-editor of the club newsletter known as The Caddy in the sixties and seventies and later the writer-editor of the country club newsletter known as The Communicator which was distributed for many years. He served in the Army Air Force during World War II, one tour of flight duty in the Caribbean and then traveling by way of South America, Africa and French Morocco to a permanent 8th Air Force base in Norwich, England. His Liberator Bomber was shot down in a raid over Germany in the winter of 1943-44 and after parachuting in the German mountains, was taken prisoner by the German SS and spent 1 and 1/2 years in three different prison camps located in East Prussia, Poland and Germany. He escaped to the English front in April, 1945, and was then flown to Oxford, England where he was hospitalized for seven weeks. His decorations include the American and European Theatre Ribbons, Army Good Conduct Medal, Victory Medal, Air Force Commendation, French Croix de Guerre w/Palm, Prisoner of War Medal, the Air Medal, The Purple Heart and the Presidential Unit Citation. In late 1945 his bomb group, the 8th Air Force 445th Bomb Group, was awarded the American Order of the French Croix de Guerre by the country of France, only the third American bomb group ever so honored. George is survived by Sandy, the love of his life, daughter Jody (Patrick) Rouse, Sue (Jeff) Martinson, Dan McLaughlin, David McLaughlin, grandchildren Derek McLaughlin, Joseph Rouse, Olivia Rouse and George Martinson. He was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Mabel Harlow. A celebration of George's life will be from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Saturday, March 19th, 2016, at Glen Flora Country Club, 2200 North Sheridan Road, Waukegan, Illinois 60087 with Military Honors at 6:00 PM. . In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Jude Children’s Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN. 38105 or www.Stjude.org.