George H. Levya Jr., age 91, passed away peacefully in his New Durham, New Hampshire home on Friday, November 6, 2020. Born in Walpole, Massachusetts on July 12, 1929, he was the son of the late George and Jessie (George) Levya. He was raised in Norfolk, Massachusetts, however, as Norfolk did not have a high school, George graduated from Walpole High School with the Class of 1947.
George married his beloved wife, Barbara A. Ross, on February 26, 1949 in her hometown of Norwood, Massachusetts. The couple made their first home together in Norfolk for two years, before settling on Lincoln Road in Walpole in 1952, where they raised their three children. As a young father, George would pack up his family and take the long drive to Nova Scotia, where he and Barbara had relatives.
In August of 1958, George partnered with his friend, Kenneth Smith, to form Levya and Smith Service Stations, with locations in Walpole, East Walpole, South Walpole, and Westwood. George's hard work and dedication paid off in 1973, when he was able to purchase a cottage in New Durham, New Hampshire on Merrymeeting Lake. He loved taking his family to the lake almost every weekend; spending time aboard his boat in the summer and taking snow mobiles to the top of the mountain in the winter. George worked hard maintaining his business for nearly thirty years before his retirement in 1984. As a man who enjoyed keeping busy, George picked up a retirement job with the Town of Walpole, working as a custodian at the Old Post Road Elementary School.
In the late 1980s, George and Barbara began converting their lakeside cottage into a beautiful second home. Following his second retirement in 1993, George and Barbara headed north, leaving Walpole, to enjoy the beauty of New Hampshire year round.
Beloved husband of the late Barbara A. (Ross) Levya.
Loving father of Karen Murphy and her husband, John, of Walpole, Kevin Levya-Gardnerand his wife, Brenda, of Cincinnati, and Kim Levya and his wife, Joanne, of Walpole.
Cherished grandfather of Alyssa, Alex, Ryan, Danielle, Ashley, and Michael; and great grandfather of Emma.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend George's Life Celebration on Tuesday, November 10, 2020 from 4 to 7 PM in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole.
A graveside service will take place in the spring at Knollwood Memorial Park in Canton.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer's Association, 309 Waverley Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452, or to the charity of your choice.