George Whitehouse Obituary George Washington Whitehouse passed away peacefully on November 10, 2024 surrounded by his loving family. He was 104 years old. He was predeceased by the love of his life Doris L Whitehouse (nee Allen) and brother Benjamin Whitehouse and sister Marion Palmer. He is survived by his sister Audrey Zeiss of Clarks Summit, PA., children George A. Whitehouse and his wife Kathy of Silver Spring, MD., Thomas J Whitehouse and his wife Marilyn of Roseville, CA. Lynn Birney and husband Allan of Coopersburg, Pa. and David W. Whitehouse and wife Debra of Bethlehem, Pa. Grandchildren include Dawn Quesenberry and husband Jonathan of Roseville, Ca., granddaughter Courtney L. Mochan and husband Tim of Charlotte, NC. and grandson Thomas M. Whitehouse and wife Katey of Middletown,MD. He is also survived by 6 great-grandchildren, Jonah, Nolan,and Riley Quesenberry, Caroline and James Mochan, and Griffin Whitehouse. George was a long time resident of Bethlehem and Emmaus, PA., but he cherished his extended summer stays over 60 years at his cottage on Lake Ariel, PA. He was always working in the yard, tending his beautiful flowers and greeting all the other cottagers who passed by as the "unofficial" mayor of West Shore Drive. He spent his last two years at Sacred Heart Senior Living in Center Valley, PA. He loved the residents and staff members. He engaged in many activities like Bocce and could very often be found dancing to a musical group or recording with staff members or residents. Born in Taylor, PA.to Benjamin Whitehouse and Emma(Bray) Whitehouse. He attended a one room schoolhouse until high school. Growing up in the depths of the Great Depression, jobs were virtually non-existent. After a long effort he found employment at the Lackawanna Plant of Bethlehem Steel in Buffalo, NY. He began training in Metallurgy. Then the war came. Though draft deferred due to his national defense work, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He became a flight engineer on B-24 and B-26 bombers. After training, his first assignment was at Millville Army Airfield in New Jersey. It was the first National Defense Airfield in the U.S. His bomber towed targets for P-47 pilots training in advanced gunnery. He was subsequently assigned to the Pacific Theater and completed his service in 1946 at Kahuku Airfield on Oahu, HI. He married Doris (Dottie) Allen of Scranton, PA. on April 6, 1946. They were married 57 years until her death on January 14, 2004. George used the WWII G.I. Bill to earn a B.A. in Accounting from Syracuse University. He worked many jobs during this time, from selling baked goods to students in the dorms and fraternities to driving a snow plow in the winters. On April fools day 1947 Doris presented him with the first born of four children, George. Subsequently they had two more boys, Thomas and David and their favorite daughter Lynn. She remains the boys favorite sister Although he was accepted to the University of Michigan M.B.A. Program, he accepted a job offer from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. His experiences in the depression taught him that a bird in the hand is worth more than two in the bush. In 1954 he became the I.R.S. Regional Director of a new field office he opened in Bethlehem, PA. He had responsibility for audits of large businesses including major corporations such as Bethlehem Steel. He was also assigned to overseas projects. In the early 1960s he worked on a project in Japan, and on assignment in the Caribbean during the Cuban missile crisis. Attached to United States Agency For International Development, his assignment in Viet Nam ended abruptly in 1975 as he and all other Americans and key allies evacuated the country. Later he was assigned to a project in Egypt during the unrest that ended in the assassination of President Anwar Sadat.. He was a "go to" for complex and challenging situations. After his formal retirement he continued working assignments on contract with the U.S. Government in Egypt, Jamaica and Tanzania. He worked annually into his 90s training volunteers to prepare tax returns for seniors and low income filers for AARP and audited each of hundreds of returns himself. In between his assignments he found time to teach Tax and Accounting courses at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, PA, where a scholarship is endowed in his name. He also taught at Moravian College in Bethlehem and at the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica. He was a 70 year member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Bethlehem, where he taught Sunday School and served on the Finance Committee. He did all this while lovingly fulfilling the role of husband and father, supportingly engaging his family, church and community. Georges generation faced and fought a world war. They have spent the post-war years building the greatest country on earth. If patriotism is defined as love, pride and sacrifice for the sake of your family and your country and its people, George embodies it. His mother would be proud of the boy who lived up to the values of his namesake. A funeral service will be held at 11 A.M. on Saturday, November 16, 2024 at Wesley United Methodist Church- 2540 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA 18017, where family will receive relatives and friends from 10 A.M. until the time of service. Interment will conclude services at Nisky Hill Cemetery- 254 E Church Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the George W. Whitehouse Endowed Scholarship at Northampton Community College. Gifts can be made to NCC Foundation 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem, PA. 18020. Please click here to view the video tribute Services Visitation Saturday November 16, 2024 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM Wesley United Methodist Church 2540 Center St Bethlehem, PA Funeral Service Saturday November 16, 2024 11:00 AM Wesley United Methodist Church 2540 Center St Bethlehem, PA Interment Saturday November 16, 2024 12:00 PM Nisky Hill Cemetery 254 E. Church Street Bethlehem, PA 18018