Ouachita County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....GEORGE, ERNESTINE BOWEN January 7, 2014 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Gina Brown rootsgirl36@gmail.com January 26, 2014, 1:04 am News Star World - January 09, 2014 ERNESTINE BOWEN GEORGE Ernestine "Ernie" Bowen George, age 85, of Lafayette, LA, passed away at her home on January 7, 2014, after a lengthy battle with dementia. Ernie was born on June 25, 1928 in Marion, Louisiana. She is preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Albert Lynwood George; her parents, Willie Earl Bowen and Theola Abscent Bowen and her brother Billie Ray Bowen. She is survived by her five children, Lynwood George Creswell and her husband, Tim, David Bowen George and his wife Jan, John Michael George, Ginger George Adams and her husband, Charlie and William Paul George and his wife, Jo. Surviving grandchildren include Todd Granberry and his wife, Jennifer, Debbie Granberry Tabchouri and her husband, Elie, Julie George Bryant and her husband, James, Philip David George and his wife, Sarah, Elizabeth George, Kathryn George Arthur and her husband, John, Allison George Galioto and her husband, Nick, Emily George Rapier and her husband, Jim, Stephanie Presley and her husband, Todd, Joshua Adams and his wife, Carla, Abigail Larsen and her husband, Matt, Lauren Taylor George and William Chandler George and by fifteen great grandchildren. Ernie graduated from Marion High School in 1945. She then attended Louisiana State University, where she met and married her life long husband, Al George. She graduated from LSU with a Degree in Merchandising in 1949. During the 1950's, while raising five children, she was active in the Society of Petroleum Engineers Wives Auxiliary. In 1962, Ernie and her sister-in-law, Marie opened a gift store called La Tienda. In 1967, Ernie sold La Tienda and began working with her husband Al in the family business. In 1969, Ernie began administering personality profile testing to business applicants and subsequently opened a separate company called Personality Profiles, Inc. She continued to play a role in the companies begun by her husband, Al, until her complete retirement in 2010. In the early 1980's, Ernie developed an interest in the political arena as so much of the legislation affected their businesses. She has served on the State Commerce and Industry Board. In 1986, she was a delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business. She has served on the U.S. Small Business Administration Advisory Council. She was active in the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and was a charter member of the Acadiana Women's Business Owner in Lafayette. She was a member of the National Federation of Independent Businesses and served as a federal liaison officer for the State of Louisiana. In the late 1990's Ernie was honored as an NFIB Small Business champion. She was also awarded the 1992 state Small Business Advocate of the year and in 1996 she served as a member of the Republican Presidential Task Force. She and Al were active at church and often taught Sunday School and lead home Bible Studies. She loved to dance and she and Al could be found on the dance floor at the Petroleum Club on Friday evenings. She was a stylish dresser and her grandkids remember her bling as well as her full cookie jar and Santa Boot. Ernie will be fondly remembered for her annual trips to Las Vegas with her daughters, daughter-in-laws, and friends. Funeral services will be held on Friday January 10, 2014 at 1:00PM in Martin & Castille's La Fleur de Lis Chapel. Honorary Pallbearers will be Robert Todd Granberry, Philip David George, Joshua Benjamin Adams, William Chandler George, Elie Tabchouri, Cpt. John Elliott Arthur VI. The family requests that visitation be observed in Martin & Castille's SOUTHSIDE location on Thursday January 9, 2014 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM and on Friday January 10, 2014 from 11:00 AM until time of service File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/ouachita/obits/g/george2331nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/lafiles/ File size: 4.3 Kb