- Date Of Birth: August 2, 1921
- Date Of Death: January 14, 2018
- State: Pennsylvania
George F. Haines, Jr., 96, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 14, 2018, at Kirkland Village, Bethlehem. He was the husband of the late LaVerne (Francis) Haines, who died in 2005.
Born in Tonawanda, NY, George was the son of the late Rev. George F. and Bertha (Burns) Haines, Sr. A 1943 graduate of Bucknell University, he was inducted into the Bucknell Athletic Hall of Fame in 1980 as the leading scorer of the Eastern Collegiate Basketball League, and the Associated Press selection to the All- Pennsylvania first team in 1942. He went on to play professional basketball for the Pittsburgh Raiders in 1944-1945. As a Chemical Engineer, he earned his MS from the University of Pittsburgh in 1954, and began his working career as a Fellow at the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research in Pittsburgh. He conducted synthetic rubber research for the US Government, and then after the war years concentrated on air and water pollution control, working for Hemeon Associates, while also teaching a course in air pollution at the University of Pittsburgh. He joined Bethlehem Steel Corp in 1960, where he conducted and managed many air and water pollution projects. He retired from Bethlehem Steel Corp in 1982.
Among his many athletic interests, he assisted in the creation of Bethlehem’s City Line Little League in 1960, serving on its Board of Directors and as President in 1963. He and his wife LaVerne opened their home for many years to welcome incoming Bucknell freshman and their families. They also received the Christian Statesman Award in 1998 at the First Baptist Church of Bethlehem for their many years of service on many levels.
Survivors: daughter Holly Kent and her husband Bruce of Bethlehem; son George F. Haines, III, and his wife Karen of Shawnee, OK; grandchildren Wesley, Allison, Sarah, Daniel, Kristopher, and Drew. George was predeceased by his brother William R. Haines.
Lewisburg, PA 17837
JAN 19. 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (EST)
Kirkland Village
1 Kirkland Village Circle
Bethlehem, PA, 18017
