George Washington Stowe, Jr. ’40

George Washington Stowe, Jr. ’40, of Gastonia, N.C., died June 9, 2007. At Davidson he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He continued his education at N.C. State University, earning a master’s in textile engineering. During World War II, he was a captain in the U.S. Army Air Corps, flying B-25 Bombers for the Fourteenth Air Force as a member of the Flying Tigers Squadron in China. After completing his training, George flew his new B-25 from Greenville, S.,C. across the Atlantic Ocean and North Africa to his base in Kunming, China. He flew fifty-two missions, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service. After the war, George married his college sweetheart, Kathryn Crosby from Leland, Miss. The newlyweds moved back to Belmont and George joined his father in managing Crescent Spinning Company. He took over as president in 1958, and led a profitable company until sale to Pharr Yarns in 1972. He was an officer of the Combined Yarn Spinners Association, and served a term as president. He was a longtime board member of the Bank of Belmont, and later served on Wachovia’s Belmont Advisory Board. He was also a member of the boards of directors of several Gaston County textile companies, including Eagle Yarn Mills and Belmont Heritage Corporation. George was a faithful member of First Presbyterian Church of Belmont and served several terms on both the diaconate and the session. Survivors include his wife of sixty-two years, Kathryn Crosby Stowe, 1351 Robinwood Rd., Gastonia, N.C. 28054; sons and daughters-in-law, Harold Crosby Stowe and wife Claudia of Pawley’s Island, S.C.; George W. Stowe, III and wife, Jill of Asheville, N.C.; daughter Merrilyn Stowe Williams and husband Bill of South Windsor, Conn.; eight grandchildren whom George especially enjoyed, Crosby, Maya, Blair, Patrick, and Judson Stowe, and Eli, Jake, and Matthew Williams; and two great-grandchildren, Jack and Noelle Williams. In addition to his parents, his stepmother, Hazel Stowe, and two sisters, Mary Margaret Stowe Hunter of Belmont and Mabel Stowe Query of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., preceded him in death. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the George W. Stowe, Jr. Scholarship Fund supporting Gaston County students at Davidson College, in care of The Community Foundation of Gaston County, P.O. Box 123, Gastonia, N.C. 28053.