George Walter Hubler, a 65-year resident of Lyerly, GA, died Thursday, August 24, 2017, at age 94. He suffered a long illness from Alzheimers disease.

Mr. Hubler was born October 13, 1922, in Auburn, PA where he spent his boyhood years. He graduated in three years with a chemistry degree from Haverford College, a liberal arts school near Philadelphia, PA. Upon graduation, he took a job with the Shell Oil Company and worked at its oil refinery in Alton, IL.

Mr. Hubler was drafted into the US Army in June 1944 and was ultimately transferred to the government’s top secret facility in Oak Ridge, TN. There he was assigned to the lab at the Electromagnetic Isotope Separation Plant (Building Code Name: Y12).  He worked on the Manhattan Project, code name for the US government’s effort to produce and develop the uranium for the first atomic bomb during World War II. His job was to monitor quality control of Uranium U-235 that came from the facility and was used in the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan in 1945. 

George was discharged from the Army in May 1946 as a Tech 4 (Sergeant) and received several commendations for his World War II service, including the Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Services Medal and Meritorious Unit Award.  

He married Nancy Hill Holland from Holland, GA in 1946. They were married 29 years until her death in 1975 and had three children. The Hublers returned to Alton, IL following their marriage and he resumed work at the oil refinery. The family moved to Chattooga County, GA in 1953 where Mr. Hubler farmed and worked at the new Georgia Kraft Paper Mill in Rome, GA. He was assistant foreman in charge of the laboratory for 30 years until his retirement in 1984. At the same time, he farmed family property in Holland, raising timber, cattle and cotton.  

He married Louise Busbin Downey of Cloudland, GA in 1980. They were also married for 29 years until her death in 2009.   In Chattooga County, Mr. Hubler served as Chattooga County High School trustee during the 1960s-1970s and helped supervise the construction of the high school building that opened in 1964.

He was baptized and remained a lifelong member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Auburn, PA.  However, he faithfully attended Menlo United Methodist Church for the past 40 years. There he served as a Trustee, assisted with financial reports, and helped maintain the church building and grounds.   When the church’s stained glass windows began to sag with age several years ago, Mr. Hubler designed and helped install outer coverings to strengthen and protect them. The windows still stand today, thanks to his ingenuity. Along with his wife and other church members, he helped plant many of the bushes and trees on the church grounds.

Mr. Hubler was a Master Mason and 71-year member of the Schuylkill Lodge No. 138 in Orwigsburg, PA and the Lyerly Lodge No. 338 in Lyerly, GA. In 2016, the state and local Masons recognized him with a 70-year membership ceremony, a milestone rarely achieved by Masons.  Proud of his military service, he attended many local Veterans’ recognition events, including the dedication of Summerville’s WWII Memorial Wall where his name and service are inscribed.

Mr. Hubler is survived by his children, Pamela Hubler Bulman of Woodstock, GA, Howard and Elizabeth (Beth) Hubler of Rome, GA and Cynthia Hubler of Summerville; grandchildren Talley Bulman Autrey and husband Alex of Woodstock, Tyler Bulman and wife Jessica of Canton, Cyndell Hubler of Jacksonville, AL, Nancy-Ann Hubler of Atlanta and Colin Crider and wife Sara of Tucker, GA; great-grandchildren Jackson Bulman and Mason Bulman, of Woodstock; niece Dianne Seigfreid Vanderhoof and husband John of Locust Grove, VA and nephew Kerry Seigfried of Shillington, PA. He was preceded in death by his parents George Harold & Dora Degler Hubler and his sister Arlean Hubler Seigfried, all of Auburn, PA.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M. Saturday, August 26, 2017 at the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jody Brock officiating.  Interment will follow in Lyerly Cemetery.  Active pallbearers include Richard Womack, Bill Kinsey, Tyler Bulman, Alex Autrey, Wayne Cauthen and James “Buz” Busbin. Honorary pallbearers will be all members of the Free and Accepted Masons.

Mr. Hubler will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 2:00 P.M. until the hour of service on Saturday.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Georgia Masonic Home for Children (1417 Nottingham Drive, Macon, Georgia 31211), the Alzheimer’s organization online at www.alz.org, or other charity of your choice.

 Service Information