George Walter Canning
Born: December 20, 1941
Died: December 29, 2013
George Walter (G.W.) Canning passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, December 29, 2013 at the age of 72. He was born to Oliver and Mary Canning in Cedar Vale, Kansas on December 20, 1941. G.W.’s family returned to Guthrie when he was a baby, and he attended several country schools and graduated from Guthrie High School in 1959. He joined the U.S. Army at the age of 17 and served at several stateside posts before completing his service in Korea.
G.W. married Sherry Bontrager on August 4, 1963. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with their children and families this year. They raised two children on the Canning home place east of Guthrie. They were blessed with nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
In his younger days, most of his life included rodeo and roping events, as well as coaching little league baseball and football. The kids on his teams remember him most for him telling them “it’s a long way from your heart!” G.W. also enjoyed farming and raising cattle. He always raised a large garden that kept the whole family busy every summer. In later years, G.W. enjoyed playing golf with his friends. He loved spending time with his grandchildren on fishing trips, hunting, and watching them play sports. He was also an OU football fan!
G.W. worked for the U.S. Soil Conservation , Oklahoma Natural Gas, and the U.S. Postal Service where he retired as Postmaster at Healdton, OK in 1997. G.W. was a long-time member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Guthrie. He was a past member of the Guthrie Round-Up Club, Guthrie Kiwanis, Ardmore Elks Lodge and charter member of the Guthrie Moose Lodge.
He was preceded in death by his parents, mother and father-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and several uncles, aunts, and cousins. G.W. is survived by his wife, Sherry Canning of the home, son George (Buddy) Canning and wife Michelle of Oklahoma City, daughter, Shelley Berryman and husband, Robert of Guthrie as well as grandchildren: Brittney Jarnagin (Brody), Brayden and Brianna Berryman, Braxton, Brooklyn, and Camber Canning, Christa and Christan Otterman, and Brittany Torres (James), and great-grandchildren, Khloe and Kayden Torres. G.W. also leaves behind his siblings: Wilda Zollinger (Veldon), Bill Canning (Fifi), and Mary Belle Hawkins (Steve).
G.W. was very thankful and often said God had allowed him to do everything in his life that he had ever wanted and it had been a good life.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Christian Church, 402 E. Noble, Guthrie, OK 73044.
Our family is very grateful for the loving care provided by Companion Health Care and Hospice. We are also thankful for Dr. Dennis Clark and our church family and friends for their thoughtful kindness during the past few months.
A celebration of life for G.W. will be held on Thursday, January 2, 2014 at 2:00 PM at the First Christian Church in Guthrie. Interment will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Guthrie. Services are under the direction of Smith-Gallo Funeral Home, Guthrie.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, 12:00 - 8:00 PM
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