George Thomas Backer

Asheville – George Thomas Backer, 83, died Wednesday, June 15, 2005, in the Givens Estates Health Care Facility. A native of Waverly, New York, he was the son of the late Raymond and Mary Backer. Mr. Backer was an Army veteran serving in the 38th Signal Corp Construction Battalion, in Europe and the South Pacific, during World War II. He retired from Corning Glass after 34 years of service in sales and marketing including 11 years in Tokyo and Hong Kong. He enjoyed raising Paso Fino horses and was a member of the Asheville Civitan Club and the Saturday Downtown Men’s Club. He is survived by his wife, Geraldine Cole Backer; two daughters, Jill Lerch, and her husband Kenneth, of Manlius, N.Y. and Pamela Channell, and her husband Jeffrey, of Groveland, Mass.; a brother, Donald Backer of New York and three grandchildren, Meredith, Kirsten and Joshua Lerch. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Monday in the chapel of the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery conducted by the Rev. Joe Fulk. His family will receive friends from 6 pm until 7:30 pm Sunday at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian. Memorials may be made to “Memory Care”, 100 Far Horizon Lane, Asheville, NC 28803.