George M. Rhetts, age 93, of Marion, passed away on Saturday, December 16, 2017 at Marion General Hospital.

He was born in Indianapolis on February 29, 1924 and lived in Brazil, Indiana the first four years of his life.  His family moved to Marion in 1928.  Mr. Rhetts was with RCA in management for thirty-seven years.  A veteran of World War II, he served in the Pacific Theater as a demolition specialist in the Army Corp of Engineers.  He attended Indiana University for one year prior to his military service and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.   After the war he attended Babson College in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts and graduated in 1949.

He married Ruth Amacher in 1995 and together they have six children, Cyndy Hann (Dwayne) of Scottsdale, Arizona, Christian Rhetts of Acworth, Georgia, Peter Rhetts (Elaine) of Marion, Alan Zimmerman of Wabash, Debra Govan (David) of Windsor, Colorado and Randi Irgang (Rob) of Wabash.  Mr. Rhetts was the widower of Rosemary York who passed away in 1993 and they were married for forty-eight years.  He is also preceded in death by daughter, Gretchen of Victoria, British Columbia, brother, Charles C. Rhetts of Garrett, Indiana and sister, Harriett Wooldridge of Winfield, Kansas.

While active in community affairs he was president of the United Way and served twice as campaign chairman of that organization while also serving on the board and several committees.  He was chapter chairman and was on the board of the Grant County Chapter of the American Red Cross and was the last campaign chairman of that organization before joining the United Way.  In addition to these positions he also served as the Division Chairman for the Members and Funds and a term as a member of the Midwest Advisory Council.  He has been on the boards of the Grant County Cancer Society, the Grant County Foundation of Infantile Paralysis, the Marion East Pageant, the Grant-County Mental Health Association, the Mental Health Center and the Boy Scouts.  Also, he was chairman of the Blackford-Grant County District of the Meshingomesia Council of the Boy Scouts.  He has been president of the Marion Rotary Club and a member of the Kiwanis Club.  While active in the Republican Party he one time served as the treasurer of that organization.

Mr. Rhetts was honored as the JC Man of the Year and received the Exchange Club Golden Deeds Award and the Marion Boys Club Golden Rule Award.  He has served as the moderator of the Temple Congregational Church in Marion, as a trustee and as a deacon.

Graveside Services with Military Honors will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at Estates of Serenity, Marion, Indiana.

Arrangements entrusted to Raven-Choate Funeral Home, 1202 Kem Road, Marion, Indiana.

Online condolences may be made at www.ravenchoate.com

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