George Lee Risk, 76, was born Dec. 4, 1938 and died July 24, 2015 after suffering a sudden massive heart attack.
George started his adult life as a musician with the United States Army Band; re-entered civilian life running his family business, Risk Key Market; and completed many years as a merchandiser for the Nestle Foods Corporation and Brown & Williamson Tobacco Company.
George was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Adele Risk, and daughter, Daytonia Runyon.
George is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Kathy Risk; daughters: Gina Risk Namay (Elliot) of Charleston, and grandson, Eli Namay (Ruby) of Chicago, Ill.; Debbie Mitchell (Jay), and granddaughters, Wendy Lucas (Sean) and Missy Mitchell of Hurricane; granddaughters, Charity (Rick) DeLoche and Chastity (Tim) Fortson of Savannah, Ga.; grandson, John Runyon of Scott Depot; 14 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Visitation with the family will be from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, at Allen Funeral Home, Hurricane, with Trisagion prayers and funeral immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to your favorite local charity in George's memory.
George was a man of unparalleled faith, boundless love, infectious humor and unique energy. He was a firm believer in the adage, "God Bless the whole world, no exceptions," so his purpose in life was to make his community, his country and his world a better place for all people in all places. George made it his life's mission to seek out and build conversations with total strangers, anywhere and any time, sometimes several times per day, especially those who appeared to need a kind word or a loving embrace. George carried with him always small slips of paper with a quote from essayist Bronwen Dickey that he would give to each new acquaintance as they parted, as a reminder of their random and unique few minutes with him: "When you communicate to another person even a complete stranger something meaningful that has happened to you, not only do you understand better yourself, but you are also, in some small way, understood."
George will be missed more than we can articulate. Our hearts are broken. Memory Eternal.
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