George Christopher Boston

Longtime pillar of the community Rev. George Christopher Boston, Jr. went to be with his Lord and Saviour on Sunday morning May 13, 2012, with his family at his side at the age of 91 years two months and twenty eight days. George was born February 16, 1921, in Fort Worth, Texas. He was the son of George C., Sr. and Anne Ruth (Warren) Boston. As a young boy George moved with his parents to Pawhuska, Oklahoma where he graduated with the Class of 1940. Soon after graduation George was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Virginia Meeks on October 19, 1941. George later joined the United States Marine Corps during World War II. George served his time in the Pacific as well as the notorious battle of Saipan in the Mariana Islands. During his time in Saipan, George received the Purple Heart for his injuries received while in action. That was also a turning point in George's life. Prior to the gunshot he received George witnessed his sergeant killed in action and prayed to the Lord that if he made it out of there alive he would return home and preach the gospel. He was headed home the next day. Following that George was honorably discharged and returned to Oklahoma and began spreading the gospel at Cravens Baptist Church in October of 1946. He also pastored several mission churches in the Hominy area. George and Virginia later moved to Elm Grove Baptist Church in 1948 where he remained for several years. Then George began preaching at Morris First Baptist Church where he also taught school. The ironic part was that he was the spelling teacher, but was one of the worldís worst spellers. George then accepted the job at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Henryetta, Oklahoma where he was the first pastor and helped build the new church. In 1956, George and his family moved to Wichita, Kansas where he was the Pastor at Midway Baptist Church. George remained in Wichita for nearly nine years before moving to Cleveland in 1965. George began preaching at the First Baptist Church in Cleveland where he remained for nearly 25 years. On March 1, 1989, Rev. George Boston resigned from his position as pastor from the First Baptist Church in Cleveland, Oklahoma. During his time at the church, George helped establish and began the building of the current First Baptist Church on Crestview Drive. Following his resignation, Brother George was still active in spreading the gospel in the area. He was interim pastor at Hominy, Drumright, Yale, Mannford, Pawnee, Masham as well as many other churchís in the area for many years to follow. George also served on the Executive Committee for the National Southern Baptist Convention as well as the Oklahoma Baptist Convention. He served his community in numerous capacities on several committees, ministerial alliance and was even the Citizen of the Year at one time. When he was no longer able to preach he made his church home at The First Christian Church of Cleveland. Most of all Brother George was a man of great compassion who loved his family and his fellow man. George and Virginia have taken many trips but one of his most memorable and most talked about was the trip to the Holy Land with several members of the First Baptist Church in 1979. You could often find George at Judy Annís and he wanted everyone to know that it ìwas a restaurant because of all the checks he had written there.î During his ventures to Judy Annís he and several of the patrons began the ìGray Haired Mafiaî and he was a proud charter member. One of many things that George did was love his God, family, country and community dearly. Survivors are his loving wife of over 70 years Virginia of the home, daughter Elisabeth Joan Sanmann and her husband Wayne of Perkins, Oklahoma, daughter-in-law Beverly Boston of Ashboro, North Carolina, daughter Beverly Ann Kinman and her husband Robert of Cleveland, Oklahoma; grandson Gary Shirley and his wife Rebecca of Kansas City, Missouri, granddaughter Melissa Maxey and her husband Stewart of Perkins, Oklahoma, grandson Matthew Shirley and his wife Katrena of Olathe, Kansas, granddaughter Rebecca Polley and her husband Greg of Carthage, North Carolina, grandson Christopher Kinman and his wife Tiffany of Cleveland, Oklahoma, grandson Jacob Kinman of Cleveland, Oklahoma and his fiancÈ Valerie Welles of Berryhill, Oklahoma, step granddaughter Connie Sanmann of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, step grandson Dr. Richard Kern and his wife Christie of Dalton, Georgia, step granddaughter Stephanie Kern of Asheboro, North Carolina, great grandchildren Emily Maxey, Brooke Maxey, Alexa Shirley, Josh Maxey, Kaden Shirley, Andrew Maxey, Kyler Shirley, Kalista Shirley, Jarren Kinman, Zoe McCoy, Caroline Polley, Rachael Polley, Daniel Kern, and a host of other relatives and friends that will mourn his passing. In addition to his parents, George was preceded in death by his son Robert J. Boston, two sisters, Elisabeth Glasgow, Bette Miller and one granddaughter Victoria Jo Boston and one step grandson Ricky Wayne Sanmann. Services will be held 2:00 pm, Thursday, May 17, 2012 at The First Christian Church, with Pastor Dan Edens officiating. Burial will conclude the services at the Woodland Cemetery under the direction of Chapman-Black Funeral Home.