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George
Thomas Hebbel (1923 - 2017)
 George Thomas Hebbel
George
Hebbel was born March 14, 1923 in Brooklyn, New York and died August 22,
2017 in his north Wilmington home of 59 years with the love and support of his
children and Compassionate Care Hospice.
He
grew up in Broad Channel, NY, a small island of converted summer bungalows
in the middle of Jamaica Bay, New York and attended St. Virgilius
Elementary School. He learned his lifelong love of the bay and most things
aquatic-swimming, crabbing, sailing and clamming with his toes- growing up
in Broad Channel. He was the youngest son of Charles, Jr. and Lillian (Reutlingschoefer) Hebbel who predeceased him. His
brother Charles, III, sister Margaret and infant brother Francis X. as well
as his son-in-law Jimmy Wilson also predeceased him.
After
graduating from John Adams High School he enlisted in the Army and trained
as a Fighter Pilot with the 27th Fighter Group. He was stationed in Corsica
during World War II. On September 9, 1944 his P-47 Thunderbolt was shot
down on a mission behind enemy lines in German occupied France. With the
help of a local farmer who hid him in a secret attic room, and the French
Resistance, who disguised him and got him to Switzerland, he was able to be
reunited with his unit. He was honorably discharged as a 1st Lieutenant
and, after returning to Broad Channel, met Sabina Heslin
at a club in Rockaway Beach.
They
were married at St. Vincent Ferrer RC Church in
Manhattan on June 19, 1948. Taking advantage of the GI Bill of Rights,
George attended and graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in
Troy, NY with a BS in Chemical Engineering. He moved to New Jersey with
Celanese Corporation and then in 1959 to Brandywine Hundred in Wilmington,
Delaware with Allied (General) Chemical from which he retired as Production
Supervisor in 1987. Along the way he and Sabina had five children: Sean
(Deb), Kerry (Marty) Mullane, Meegan
Harman, Tara (Keith) Strouss and Moira (Jeff)
O'Connor; 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He was also a loving
father figure to several more.
He
was a man of varied interests -biking, gardening, aeration, kayaking into
his 90's and travelling. He especially loved vacationing in Stone Harbor,
New Jersey. He maintained his interest in fishing-especially salt water
fishing and kept aquaria throughout his life. He was a member of the
American Killifish Association and he belonged to DelVets
Post#1, and the American Legion.
He
led a long and active life showing his children, grandchildren and
great-grandchildren curiosity about the world. He was a caring and
compassionate man. He especially showed this in his decade long care of his
wife Sabina before she died of dementia related causes in February 2011
after 62 years of marriage. His active mind and his ability to be current
with technology and national and international events will be missed by
all.
A
celebration of the long life of this humble man will be held Friday evening
August 25, 2017 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at McCrery and Harra
Funeral Home, 3924 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803. Mass of Christian
Burial will be Saturday August 26, 2017 10:30 a.m. at Immaculate Heart of
Mary Church 4701 Weldin Road, Wilmington, DE
19803 with a luncheon to follow at DelVets Post
#!, Veterans Drive in Wilmington.
A
private committal service will be held Monday August 28th at the Delaware
Veterans Cemetery. Although he loved flowers and gardens please consider
donating to the Home of the Brave, (services for homeless veterans) 6632
Sharps Rd., Milford, DE. 19963, or the Cancer Support Community 4810
Lancaster Pike, Wilmington, DE. 19807. To send condolences visit: www.mccreryadharra.com
Funeral Home
McCrery
& Harra Funeral Home
3924 Concord Pike Wilmington, DE 19803
(302) 478-2204
Published in The News Journal from Aug. 23 to
Aug. 25, 2017
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