George W. Wolfmeyer Jr., 1918–1999

George William Wolfmeyer Jr. was born on 25 February 1918 to George W. Wolfmeyer and Josephine Elvira Cook in St. Louis, Missouri.

George graduated in 1931 from Holy Name Parochial School in St. Louis, Missouri. He entered the Civilian Conservation Corps about 1936 at what is now Babler State Park in St. Louis County. He participated in various construction projects to erect picnic pavilions, recreation facilities, bridges, and culverts. He was also a member of the camp baseball team.

He married Alma Irene Chasten at the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church in St. Louis in August 1940. They took residence in Rock Hill, St. Louis County. George worked as a painting contractor for a time, and as a machinist at the Ramming Machine Company in St Louis.

In 1944, George was called to service and was inducted into the U.S. Army at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, on 7 June 1944. He was sent to Camp Barkeley near present-day Abilene, Texas, and received training as a combat medic. He was shipped out to the Philippines, where he served in the Battle of Luzon. After V-J Day, he was assigned to the Army of Occupation in Japan. He returned to Jefferson Barracks in 1946 as a staff sergeant where he received his Honorable Discharge from the Army.

In 1947, George and Alma purchased a farm in Iron County, Missouri, near the location where Alma had grown up. George used his GI Bill to enroll in the Iron County Vocational Agriculture School to improve his farming skills. Together George and Alma raised crops, cattle, pigs, chickens, and five children. In 1951, George began working for the U.S. Post Office in Arcadia, Missouri. George was nominated by President Eisenhower for the position of postmaster and was confirmed by the U. S. Senate in August 1959. George served as postmaster in Arcadia until his retirement in 1978.

George was active in the Veterans of Foreign War, and served as post commander and district commander. He was active in his church, Ste. Marie du Lac Catholic Parish in Ironton. Health issues caused George and Alma to relocate to Texas in 1995 where they lived their final years. The farm was sold in 1997, thus bringing to a close fifty years on Marble Creek in Iron County.

George and Alma both passed in 1999, in Texas City, Galveston, Texas—Alma on 25 June, and George on 10 October. They are at rest at the Arcadia Valley Memorial Park in Arcadia, Missouri.

Written by George W. Wolfmeyer III

January 2024

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