Sweeney, Lt. Col. George Paul, III United States Marine Corps, retired Born St. Paul, Minn., Apr. 16, 1944; passed peacefully Jan. 31, 2019, Merritt Island, FL. Survived by wife Ann (Baird), Titusville, Fla.; daughter Mary Fairlie, Boise, Idaho; two sisters; two brothers and their wives; and extended family. Educated at Cretin High School and University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn.; master's degree, American University, Washington, D.C. Joined the Marine Corps in 1966. Distinguished F-4 Marine Naval Flight Officer. Flew 320 missions in Vietnam, 1968. Won the Naval Flight Officer of the Year award, 1981. Retired from the Corps in 1986. After his career in the Marines, worked for Allen Corporation Washington, D.C.; Northwest Airlines, Mendota Heights, Minn.; and United Space Alliance, Cape Canaveral, Fla. George enjoyed studying the Civil War, the Alamo conflict, Custer's last stand and the Crimea War. He was a member of the Crimean War Society, London, England. George's sense of humor was legendary. He loved his family, his many friends and especially loved the Marine Corps. His presence in our lives will be greatly missed. Farewell until we meet again. "You have slipped the surly bonds of earth, And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward you've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds." Memorials preferred to Dogs for Life dogsforlifevb.org or to Cretin-Derham Hall cretin-derhamhall.org

Published on February 10, 2019