George Thomas McLeod passed into his heavenly home on April 22, 2025, at the age of 96. The world has lost a great man—one who always put God, family, and country first.

Born in High Point, N.C., on October 4, 1928, George was the son of Cicero Lafayette and Lona Mae Priddy McLeod. Alongside his beloved younger sister, Rebecca McLeod Craven, George grew up in the close-knit “Mill village” of Mooresville, N.C. His mother passed away when he was just 15 years old, a loss that shaped much of his strength and resilience. George went on to graduate from Asheboro High School, where he served as president of his senior class.

He dreamed of becoming a surgeon, but as life often does, it led him down a different—and deeply impactful—path. At the close of World War II, George joined the Army Air Force and was stationed in Texas. In 1949, George met and married his one true love, Johnie Ruth Ray, on her birthday—March 13. They celebrated their 76th anniversary this year, a testament to enduring devotion.

George attended Vanderbilt University and later graduated from Appalachian State University in 1975. Though he never became a surgeon, he found his calling as a teacher, spending 30 years teaching auto mechanics at Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, N.C. A natural-born educator, he left a lasting impact on many students.

In Statesville, N.C., Johnie and George worked together, and had a family, Mike and Sue Ellen. Each summer they grew and harvested a large garden to preserve food to feed their family year round. They celebrated many happy times on their yearly vacations traveling and camping across the United States of America. After retirement, George and Johnie opened Country Antiques, where he repaired and restored furniture from the auctions they loved attending, while she curated beautiful finds. Always a craftsman at heart, George built furniture for family and clients, created dollhouses for his granddaughters, wooden chests for his grandsons, and gifts from little more than imagination and ingenuity. Short on money but full of resourcefulness, he once built a tandem bike from two old bicycles for his children and later welded two wrecked Opal Cadets into one working car. His motto: “If a man made it, a man can fix it.” He crafted his own Scrabble board, completed countless crossword puzzles, and had an exceptional vocabulary to match.

He was a cherished grandfather to eight and the very best Great Papa to 23 great-grandchildren. His freezer was always stocked with ice cream, and at Christmas, his famous homemade chocolate fudge brought joy to all—chocolate being his favorite treat. In their later years, George and Johnie learned to dance, often stealing the show with their graceful steps. They also enjoyed traveling together with Christian Tours, traveling through Europe, Canada, and the United States.

George gave generously of his time and talents—refurbishing bicycles to donate through First Baptist Church, teaching adult Sunday School for over 25 years, building houses for Habitat for Humanity or his architect son’s designs and always staying busy with a new project.

He is deeply loved and missed by his son, Michael Ray McLeod (Laura) of Hampstead, N.C., and daughter, Sue Ellen Sims (Gus) of Asheville, N.C., both of whom adored him with all their hearts and benefitted from his example.

In his final years, after breaking his ankle stepping out of a sailboat he had built, his health declined and he eventually became bedridden. Even in pain, George held onto hope, and it was his faith in Jesus Christ that carried him through every day.

He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jennifer M. Edwards (Scott) of Holly Ridge, N.C.; George T. McLeod II (Jennifer) of Newbury Park, Calif.; Mary M. Fischer (Jake) of St. Louis, Mo.; D. Alex McLeod (Heidi) of Allen, Texas; J. Brad McLeod (Megan); Hannah S. Mashburn (Sam) of Delray Beach, Fla.; Kathleen M. Hunter (Scott) of Belmont, N.C.; B. McLeod Sims (Jill) of New York City, N.Y., and great grandchildren, Stratton (Malia), Weston, Michael, Landon, Laura Kayte, Trenton, Braden, Jack, Greyson, Braxton, Addy, Will, Macie, Kingston, Bradley, Jane, Brittany, Penny, James, Bryce, Thomas, Garrett, and Beau.

Burial will take place at Salisbury National Veterans Cemetery in Salisbury, N.C., on Monday, April 28, 2025. A memorial service in Hampstead, N.C. will be held at 4 p.m. on April 26 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Troutman Funeral Home is honored to serve the McLeod family.