George M. Dirgo
January 8, 1930 — May 13, 2014
George Mavis Dirgo was born on January 8, 1930 to Harry and Gladys (Mavis) Dirgo in Omaha, Nebraska. He was a life-long student, always wanting to learn more, and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in his seventies.
George lied about his age when he entered the United States Navy in March of1946, at the age of sixteen so he could serve his country during World War II. He received an honorable discharge in March of 1947. After his discharge from the Navy, then he enlisted in the United States Army in January of 1949 and served during the Korean War in Fairbanks, Alaska, receiving an honorable discharge in July of 1952. He moved to Baltimore, Maryland where he learned the electronics trade and in 1957, moved to California and worked on aircraft electronics and radar for the U2, SR71 Blackbird, F117 Stealth fighter planes, and the Cheyenne Gun ship that was never put into military service.
On December 23, 1953, George was united in marriage to Darlene Johnson in Irvington, Nebraska. They had eight children: Douglas, Denise, Deborah, Nadine, George, Darlene, and twin boys John and Johann who died in infancy.
George also worked for the FAA as a worthiness inspector in California. He earned his private pilot’s license and flew a Piper Cherokee. He retired from Lockheed Aircraft in California and returned to the Harlan area in 1992 and enjoyed his church family. During his retirement he continued working as a air worthiness inspector privately and for the US Navy doing the final air worthiness and acceptance inspections on the Lockheed P-3 Orion He also traveled to Poland so they could receive FAA certification on avionics for use in the United States. George was also fluent in many languages and genealogy was his lifetime passion.
George died at his home on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 having attained the age of eighty-four years, four months, and five days. He was preceded in death by his parents; sons John and Johann; brothers Earl, Ray, and Vern; and sisters Katherine, Helen, and Ruth.
He is survived by his children: Douglas Traynor of Palmdale, California, Denise and her husband Russell Ackley of Lancaster, California, Deborah and her husband David Fischer of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Nadine Dirgo-Jones of Rosamond, California, George Jay Dirgo and his wife Kay of Rosamond, California, and Darlene Sue and her husband Jimmie Rogers of Lancaster, California; sixteen grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; brother Harry “Bud” Dirgo of Omaha, Nebraska; other family members and many friends.
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George lied about his age when he entered the United States Navy in March of1946, at the age of sixteen so he could serve his country during World War II. He received an honorable discharge in March of 1947. After his discharge from the Navy, then he enlisted in the United States Army in January of 1949 and served during the Korean War in Fairbanks, Alaska, receiving an honorable discharge in July of 1952. He moved to Baltimore, Maryland where he learned the electronics trade and in 1957, moved to California and worked on aircraft electronics and radar for the U2, SR71 Blackbird, F117 Stealth fighter planes, and the Cheyenne Gun ship that was never put into military service.
On December 23, 1953, George was united in marriage to Darlene Johnson in Irvington, Nebraska. They had eight children: Douglas, Denise, Deborah, Nadine, George, Darlene, and twin boys John and Johann who died in infancy.
George also worked for the FAA as a worthiness inspector in California. He earned his private pilot’s license and flew a Piper Cherokee. He retired from Lockheed Aircraft in California and returned to the Harlan area in 1992 and enjoyed his church family. During his retirement he continued working as a air worthiness inspector privately and for the US Navy doing the final air worthiness and acceptance inspections on the Lockheed P-3 Orion He also traveled to Poland so they could receive FAA certification on avionics for use in the United States. George was also fluent in many languages and genealogy was his lifetime passion.
George died at his home on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 having attained the age of eighty-four years, four months, and five days. He was preceded in death by his parents; sons John and Johann; brothers Earl, Ray, and Vern; and sisters Katherine, Helen, and Ruth.
He is survived by his children: Douglas Traynor of Palmdale, California, Denise and her husband Russell Ackley of Lancaster, California, Deborah and her husband David Fischer of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Nadine Dirgo-Jones of Rosamond, California, George Jay Dirgo and his wife Kay of Rosamond, California, and Darlene Sue and her husband Jimmie Rogers of Lancaster, California; sixteen grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; brother Harry “Bud” Dirgo of Omaha, Nebraska; other family members and many friends.
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