IRVINGTON—George Urban will always be cherished by his wife Naomi and by all the other ladies in his family for his sweet way of holding their hands against his cheek while he danced with them, as he dearly loved to dance throughout his long, full life.
George William Urban Jr., 95, died on Monday, November 30, 2020. He was born on May 12, 1925, and was raised in the community of Mollusk. He was the son of George William Urban and Gretchen Korbach Urban.
George and his wife, Naomi, resided in the Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury Retirement Community in Irvington during his last years.
George is survived by his loving wife of 72 years, Naomi Potter Urban; his children, Shelia (John) Bareham, Regenia (Mac) McClain, and GW (Debbie) Urban III; as well as his grandchildren, Emily (Rob) Reader and Stephen (Kristen) Harding, Carrie (Herbert) Rieder, and Will McClain and Gretchen and Kelle Urban. He is also survived by 10 great-grandchildren, Anna Katharine and Caroline Ping, and Kelsey and Ryan Reader; Trey, Alex and Kate Harding; Erik and Miriam Rieder; and Summer Urban.
He was predeceased by his sisters, Louise Lankford, Anna Gray, Lottie Taft, and Myrtle Conrad; and his brothers, Frank Conrad, E.J. “Butsie” Conrad, and John Conrad.
George served the U.S. Navy in the Pacific during World War II as the (only) gunner’s mate on two LCIs (Landing Craft, Infantry), LCI-177 and LCI(L)-773, that landed troops in New Guinea and the Philippines. One day, George received a set of barber tools that had been sent for use on the landing craft. Since no barber was aboard, George began cutting hair. After the war, George went to barber school in Richmond then barbered at Patuxent River Naval Air Station. From 1959 until 1963, he worked in Washington, D.C., as a barber in the U.S. Capitol Building and in the Longworth House Office Building.
For over 60 years, George barbered in Kilmarnock, beginning in 1950. He owned George’s Barber Shop on South Main Street in Kilmarnock from 1963 through 2019. His quiet manner and skill was greatly appreciated by generations of men and boys in this area of Virginia. George was grateful to have Donnie Lewis working with him during the later years.
George was engaged with the community. He was one of the founding members of the Kilmarnock-Lancaster Volunteer Rescue Squad. He worshiped at Kilmarnock Baptist Church. In addition to barbering, George and Naomi owned and operated Ed’s Country Store in Mollusk for several years in the early 1980s. A member of Indian Creek Yacht & Country Club for many years, George frequently enjoyed rounds of golf there. He made three holes-in-one, the last when he was in his 80s.
Papa was revered as the head of the Urban family, and was truly loved by each of his family members. George would wish that each of us who shared some good times with him over parts of nearly a hundred years will smile when we remember those times fondly and try to live our lives as fully as he lived his.
His cremains will be interred at Historic Christ Church Cemetery in Weems. A service will be held after the risks due to the current pandemic are reduced.
Memorials may be made to the Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury Foundation. The family is deeply grateful to the staff of Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury who gave George excellent care.
