George Cecil Hohnbaum

George Cecil "Cec" Hohnbaum Family Man, April 1, 1926 to October 2, 2017. You know how the story begins….he was born to the Hohnbaums- oh, wait!-that is not how his story begins. Son. In his case, our Dad was born 91 years ago, to the joyful, jovial Gaines family who were hit by tragedy when his birth father, Hoyt Gaines, died at only 37. Sometime later, while working several jobs to feed her five children and a niece, a heartbroken Janet Davidson Gaines placed four year old George and his brothers in the Black Mountain Orphanage, near Asheville, N.C., to as-sure their nourishment and shelter at the onset of the Great Depression. Then came the Hohnbaums. George, chosen. Chosen by Richard and Pearl Hohnbaum, who moved the tod-dler to Rocky Ford, Colorado where George became a brother, a friend, a governor, a jock, an academic, a violinist, a wordsmith, an actor, a military policeman, a Merchant Mariner and a world traveler. Romance. Marjorie Louise Kirkhart spotted him. She, an 18 year old, freshmen in college at the Olympic College in Bremerton, Washington. He, a heartthrob! Kismet. She kicked off her purple pumps, blocked the brake, and forever ensued…. Then, Husband. Father. Provider. TV Producer. Southwestern State Graduate. Perkins Theolo-gian. Preacher. Candy Factory Owner. Restaurant Manager. Chef. Designer. Appraiser. Motiva-tor. Joke Teller. Shoulder. Supporter…Grandpa. Family man. George's legacy endures with his wife of 64 years, Marjorie Louise Kirkhart Hohnbaum, of Sherwood; sons, Mark Lane Hohnbaum, David (Dixie) Hohnbaum, Paul Hohnbaum; daughters, Sherah Hohnbaum Fulton (Keith), Prisca Hohnbaum Selhorst (Mark); grandchildren, Caleb Hohnbaum, Erin Hohnbaum (Jackson Farrow), Paul Hohnbaum (Cate Da-vison), Jacob Hohnbaum, Tyler Hohnbaum, Jesse Hohnbaum, River Warnock, and brother, Sterling, Sullivan, Liam and Tallulah Selhorst; brother, Richard "Dick" (Kathy) Hohnbaum of Portland, Oregon, and many beloved nieces and nephews. Celebration. Celebration of life service will take place Saturday, October 7th, 2 p.m. at NLR First United Methodist Church, followed by a gathering at the Selhorst home. All who loved George and his family are welcome. For more information, you may contact priscad-awn@aol.com. Memorials may be made to: Black Mountain Home for Children, Youth & Families, 80 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain, N.C. 28711. 828.686.3451. https://www.blackmountainhome.org/donate/ or NLR First United Methodist Church.