George
George Thomas Backinger
George Thomas Backinger died peacefully at home in Aurora, Ohio of natural causes on January 22, 2022. George was born in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania on August 29, 1929 to George (Snooks) and Jane Backinger. George lettered in football, track and boxing at Mt. Lebanon High School and was voted “most outstanding” by his football teammates. His senior high school year book stated that he “put a tremendous punch into everything he did” and that sure was true of life.
After graduating from the University of Maryland in 1951 with a B.S. in agriculture, George married Nancy Fox and then was sent to Korea where he was a First Lieutenant navigator on B-26 Marauder planes. He was awarded several medals including the National Defense Service Medal and the Air Medal for “heroism or meritorious achievements while participating in aerial flight.” Once George returned from the Korean War, he started his career in the frozen food industry working for Birds Eye, Roman Pizza and Stouffers-Nestle, which required moving to several states. He eventually became Vice President for Manufacturing at Stouffer’s before retiring in 1988. During his tenure at Birds Eye, George is listed first on the 1963 patent, “Method of Making a French-Fried Potato Product” where he and others invented a new process of making frozen French-fried potatoes from mashed potatoes and potato bits. His children always told everyone that George invented what became “tater tots.”
George and his second wife, Marie Carey Courtney, moved to Aurora, OH in 1983. He was an avid golfer winning several local tournaments. George loved travelling, visiting several countries and locales throughout the U.S., and especially liked being on an ocean beach. He cherished spending time with his children and grandchildren and had family reunions in Yosemite, CA, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, Washington, DC, Santa Rosa Beach, FL, and Aurora, Ohio.
George is survived by his children: Sandra Backinger (Clarke McKenna), Cathy Backinger (Stephen Corbin,) Martha Jane Esser, Gail Ross (Philip), Robert Backinger, and Carol Backinger Gaouette; and step children: Kelly Werley (Bradley) and William Courtney (Julliette). He is also survived by grandchildren: Kevin and Collin Corbin, Natalie Emberger (Carl), Valerie Parris (Brett) and Derek Corbin, Alexandra Lee and Mitchell Allen Esser, Terra and Calen Backinger, Carey and Brendon Werley, and Christina and Will Courtney; and great grandchildren: Khalil and Rosie Parris, and Carter and Ezra Emberger. George was preceded in death by Jane Lodie (sister), Marie (wife) and Timothy Carey Courtney (stepson).
George lived his 92 years full of love, laughter, and adventure. He was always a tease and maintained a sense of humor his whole life. As he slowed down in his later years, he would remark what a great life he had and tell his children, “very good, very good.” George had a “very good” life and more.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation:
Honor & Memorial Giving | Cleveland Clinic
Forever in our hearts.
After graduating from the University of Maryland in 1951 with a B.S. in agriculture, George married Nancy Fox and then was sent to Korea where he was a First Lieutenant navigator on B-26 Marauder planes. He was awarded several medals including the National Defense Service Medal and the Air Medal for “heroism or meritorious achievements while participating in aerial flight.” Once George returned from the Korean War, he started his career in the frozen food industry working for Birds Eye, Roman Pizza and Stouffers-Nestle, which required moving to several states. He eventually became Vice President for Manufacturing at Stouffer’s before retiring in 1988. During his tenure at Birds Eye, George is listed first on the 1963 patent, “Method of Making a French-Fried Potato Product” where he and others invented a new process of making frozen French-fried potatoes from mashed potatoes and potato bits. His children always told everyone that George invented what became “tater tots.”
George and his second wife, Marie Carey Courtney, moved to Aurora, OH in 1983. He was an avid golfer winning several local tournaments. George loved travelling, visiting several countries and locales throughout the U.S., and especially liked being on an ocean beach. He cherished spending time with his children and grandchildren and had family reunions in Yosemite, CA, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, Washington, DC, Santa Rosa Beach, FL, and Aurora, Ohio.
George is survived by his children: Sandra Backinger (Clarke McKenna), Cathy Backinger (Stephen Corbin,) Martha Jane Esser, Gail Ross (Philip), Robert Backinger, and Carol Backinger Gaouette; and step children: Kelly Werley (Bradley) and William Courtney (Julliette). He is also survived by grandchildren: Kevin and Collin Corbin, Natalie Emberger (Carl), Valerie Parris (Brett) and Derek Corbin, Alexandra Lee and Mitchell Allen Esser, Terra and Calen Backinger, Carey and Brendon Werley, and Christina and Will Courtney; and great grandchildren: Khalil and Rosie Parris, and Carter and Ezra Emberger. George was preceded in death by Jane Lodie (sister), Marie (wife) and Timothy Carey Courtney (stepson).
George lived his 92 years full of love, laughter, and adventure. He was always a tease and maintained a sense of humor his whole life. As he slowed down in his later years, he would remark what a great life he had and tell his children, “very good, very good.” George had a “very good” life and more.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation:
Honor & Memorial Giving | Cleveland Clinic
Forever in our hearts.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of George Thomas Backinger, please visit our flower store.
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