George Spontak Kleevic, 88, of St.Clairsville, OH, passed away on Saturday, August 27, 2016.

He was born on March 3, 1928, in Lansing, OH, the son of Eastern European Immigrants, George and Meri (Hludzik) Kleevic.His father was of Carpatho-Ruthenian Heritage, and Mother Meri was of Hungarian descent.

In addition to his Parents, George was preceded in death by an infant son, Jerome Forrest Kleevic, a grandson, Brad Christopher Bilowus, and eight older sisters: Mary (Joe) Kyanko, Dot (Bill) Ogden, Helen (Bob) Feeley, Ann (Al) Mazoch, Julie (George) Kuzma, Liz Kleevic, and two infant girls.

While in Bridgeport Junior High, he showed immense character and a sense of duty, working evenings and weekends at Blaw-Knox Co. in Wheeling, WV, on tank turret dip lines to support the war effort. Later in High School he played lineman on the Bridgeport Bulldogs Football Team.

Leaving home and High School to join the United States Marine Corps, George went to boot camp at Parris Island, SC, in 1945. He went through training at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, SC, and was later assigned to the USS Shadwell near the end of WWII.

In 1950 he was called back to duty in the Korean War and was re-assigned to Battle Groups under the USS Missouri and USS Wisconsin, with final duty at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH, where he worked in support of Chuck Yeager's Flight Test Program.

Upon returning to civilian work back home, George used his military training to operate a D-9 dozer for the Williams Brothers on a new natural gas pipeline that extended into Cleveland, OH.

Later he served a brick mason apprenticeship with Jerome Miller & Sons out of Martins Ferry, OH, going on to lay brick, block, stone, glass block, and glazed tile throughout the Ohio Valley with Donny, Frank, and John, finishing his bricklaying career with Colaianni Construction.

In between he also worked for Hanna Coal/Console on the construction gang out of the Georgetown Office in Harrison County, OH.

As all knew, George was passionate about hunting and fishing, pursuing wild ducks and bass in the strip pits, as well as squirrels, deer and turkey with his extended family on the Kuzma farm, where he also enjoyed helping out during beef butchering time.

He was a master gardener before there was such a phrase, and fermented fruits ranging from wild cherries to elderberries into memorable and delicious wines.

George was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and attended the Calvary Presbyterian Church, both in St.Clairsville, OH.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Wilda (Forrest) Kleevic, three children, Connie (Dan) Fogle, Chris (Mark) Bilowus, George (Lisa) Kleevic, and five grandchildren, Tyler, Clayton, Ryan, Ethan, and Kristen.

A private ceremony was held for family and close friends at Toothman Funeral Home in St.Clairsville, OH, on Monday, August 29, 2016, followed by a burial at Ebenezer Cemetery, Bethesda, OH, and a lovely reception at the Kleevic Residence for intimate family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Clairsville Calvary Presbyterian Church or Liza's Place, Valley Hospice, 308 Mt. St. Joseph Rd., Wheeling, WV 26003.