George E. Logue Sr., 85, of Trout Run, Pa., passed away Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, at the Gatehouse, surrounded by family, while holding his wife's hand. He was born Jan. 30, 1927, in Williamsport, Pa. He was the son of Dr. Joseph Logue and the former Frances Baier.
George received a bachelor's degree in agricultural engineering from Penn State in 1951. From 1944-1946, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps.
Logue met the love of his life Elizabeth in 1953 and they married soon after. They would have celebrated 59 years of marriage in January 2013.
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George E. Logue Sr.
Logue began his career in Huntsville, Mo., at International Harvester as head of Research and Development. Soon he discovered that he preferred the challenge of inventing and construction. Subsequently, he worked as a machine design engineer for Sprout Waldren in Muncy, Pa., until he launched his own construction contracting business with a homemade backhoe. In 1957, George E. Logue, Inc began.
Logue fabricated specialized parts and developed new designs. As a result of his ingenuity, he holds five U.S. patents for heavy construction equipment and dump truck bodies. In 1984, Logue sold what remained of the construction portion of his business and the manufacturing division changed and was renamed Logue Industries.
As a known engineering innovator, Logue was contracted by the U.S. Navy to develop a remotely controlled surface/ subsurface clearance vehicle.
Logue is also known for his efforts to memorialize the crew of the World War II submarine, the USS Wahoo, on which his oldest brother Robert was lost when the sub was sunk in the Sea of Japan in 1943. He donated land for a monument in Williamsport and traveled to Japan to dedicate a peace memorial.
George was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church as well as many community and professional organizations, including the Susquehanna Contractors Association, the American Society of Highway Engineers, the Corporate Board of Directors for Northern Central Bank, the Williamsport Regional Airport Authority, the Montoursville Rotary Club, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association , and the Loyalsock Valley Antique Machinery Association.
George has one of the world's largest antique Caterpillar collections. He also holds helicopter and multi-engine, instrument, airplane pilot licenses with over 4,000 pilot hours of flying.
Three years ago he had the distinguished honor of receiving Penn State's Outstanding Alumni Award for his many years of achievements. Most recently he was awarded Man of the Year by two organizations in Bowling Green, Ohio, the Antique Caterpillar Machinery Owners Club and the Historical Construction Equipment Association.
With all of Logue's success and interests, his greatest passion by far was that of his marriage to Elizabeth Stark and being the father to 10 children, and grandfather to 36, great-grandfather to four with three on the way.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Stark; children, Robert (Jacqueline) Logue of Trout Run, Pa., Kate (Craig) Kissell of State College, Pa., Herman (Molly) Logue of Trout Run, Pa., Patricia (John) Driver of Lewisburg, Pa., Carolyn (Rick) Martin of York, Pa., Joseph (Lisa) Logue of Trout Run, Pa., Anna (Roland) Von Marburg of Albury, Australia, Amy (Tom) McNamara of Montoursville, Pa., and Hugh (Nora) Logue of Montoursville, Pa.
Grandchildren include Joe Choate; Lindsay (Andy) Naporano; Meredith, Lydia, Isabelle and Robert Logue; Damon (Stacey), Taylor (Stephanie), Cody (Jenny), Alexei and Katarina Kissell; Cassidy, George III (Danielle) and Cade Logue; Derek, Liesl and Sylvia Driver; Claudia, Eric (Melody) and Elliot Martin; Meggie Logue; Jack, Georgina, Mary, Lucy, Max, Frank, Gus and Joseph Von Marburg; Caroline, Grace and Libby McNamara; and Shannon Jane Logue.
He is also survived by his sisters, Marjorie Ort, Rita Alvarado and Susan (Bill) Reighard.
He was predeceased by his daughter, Jane Choate; grandchildren, Brock Choate, Paul Driver and Nicholas Martin; brothers, Thomas and Robert Logue; sisters, Mary Bernadine Bower and Joanne Christenson.
A viewing will be held Friday, Nov. 2, 2012, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Spitler Funeral home, 733 Broad St., Montoursville, Pa. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Nov. 3, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. at Saint Ann's Catholic Church, 1220 Northway Road, Williamsport, Pa., with Father Eugene Gunning as celebrant.
Burial will follow in Assumption Church Cemetery, Cascade Township, with Military Honors accorded by the Lycoming County Korean War Veteran Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Saint Ann's Church, 1220 Northway Road, Williamsport, PA 17701, The Gatehouse, 1001 Grampian Blvd., Williamsport, PA 17701, or Lycoming County Young Life, P.O. Box 254, Montoursville, PA 17754.
