George Hanlon

George Marcus Hanlon

  May 10,1937-July 13,2021

Son of John (Jack) Plummer and Gertrude Jenness Travis Hanlon, born on May 10, 1937, in Escalon, youngest of 7. He attended Burwood Elementary, Dent Elementary and Escalon High School where he participated in basketball, track, football and FFA.  George started working young with his first job being on the Hale’s Dairy in Escalon, feeding and milking cows. He was known around town as having a fast car and that is how he met Faye Doris Klatt. They married October 2, 1954.  George continued to work on dairies around Escalon and applied for an apprenticeship through Hogan Manufacturing (then Blow Pipe).  He completed his apprenticeship education through Stockton College (now known as Delta Junior College) where he excelled in drafting, math, and metal work.  He became a Journeyman in California Sheet Metal Workers’ Union and has been a member ever since.  With his knowledge and skills, he was able to progress in his field and became an asset to other metal shops.  He was a hard worker and became a leader to others he worked with.  Some of these shops included Hogan Manufacturing, United Sheet Medal, his brother Jack’s shop in Manteca, and Ram Mountain Manufacturing.  George worked as a welder, fabricator, designer, and job foreman, and retired with 36 years of service in the industry.

 George’s hobbies started with waterskiing, horses, and packing into the back country on horseback.  He also enjoyed fabrication of transport trailers; a two-horse trailer, a three-horse trailer, a trailer for 12 sled dogs, a trailer for two motorcycles, as well as other numerous projects.

George was an active member of Saron Lutheran Church in Escalon.  After George retired, he enjoyed singing in the choir with Faye, being a greeter and usher, and assisting the minister.  He enjoyed singing with Faye so much that they joined the Townsend Opera singers and the Stockton Chorale while maintaining their participation in Saron’s choir.  They were able to sing in Germany, toured Austria, and performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City.  George enjoyed traveling, visiting family, and sharing stories with younger family members.  He was always looking to improve or teach someone how to complete a project better or how to improve their techniques.

George was preceded in death by his parents John (Jack) and Gertrude Hanlon, his 6 siblings: Helen Hodgson, Jacquelyn Borges, Ruth Mello, Thelma Silveira, and Jack, Jr., and Jim Hanlon, and his daughter Dianne Hanlon Adams Jones.  His surviving family include his wife of 66 years, Faye D. Hanlon, daughter Sherry Higginbotham of Fresno, sons Lonny Hanlon of Escalon, and David Hanlon of Mineral Wells, Texas, as well as 14 grandchildren, and 40 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great granddaughter.